“By the players, for the fans,” the tagline read of the media company featuring household names in the sports realm such as Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, Travis Kelce, Chris Paul, and close to sixty others. A few months into taking the initial steps for, what we can call, a new era in athlete-fan interaction, PlayersTV is now expanding, ushering somewhat of an evolution in sports media.

In 2024, PlayersTV has now secured a major deal with video programming distributor DirecTV. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson tweeted about the collaboration while giving athletes their flowers for the feat.

“Broadcast News: DirecTV has added @ThePlayersTV to their viewership package…it’s great to see athletes at the negotiating table while also controlling their own likenesses and navigating their own digital footprints through intellectual property,” the X post read. 

As Robinson explained in his tweet, this is likely a great opportunity for PlayersTV. Teaming up with DirecTV will ultimately help boost the network’s popularity and expand its presence as athletes try to maximize their digital footprint via intellectual property and involvement in content production.

After his incredible work with his production company 59th Prairie Entertainment including winning an Emmy award, Wade has quite the experience in the content creation. The channel features a star-studded roster of investors who are well-versed in business and creativity. Other members include Carmelo Anthony, DeAndre Jordan, and CJ McCollum among a reported total of 70.

PlayersTV makes history with new partnership 

PlayersTV is the first-ever athlete-owned network. From comedy to sports fans’ favorite documentaries, the network promises to deliver engaging content. In line with this, it is available across Fire TV Channels, Prime Video, and more.

“This relationship marks a significant milestone for PlayersTV, as it allows us to amplify our mission of showcasing the human side of sports through captivating storytelling. Together, we will bring our content to a broader audience, giving viewers an immersive experience that goes beyond the game,” PlayersTV co-founder Deron Guidrey said about the partnership.

WNBA stars aren’t lagging either. WNBA champion Natasha Cloud and 2x WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike are stakeholders in the venture as well. Apart from the 3x Super Bowl Champion, NFL legend Vernon Davis is also part of the venture. This new partnership is likely just the beginning of something huge, with many more opportunities on the horizon.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.