IRIS Sport Media

What IRIS Sport Media does

IRIS Sport Media is a UK-headquartered boutique advisory firm founded in 2023 by Ioris Francini (former President of IMG Media and Co-President of WME-IMG) and Floris Weisz (former IMG senior sales leader) that delivers integrated sports media advisory services to rightsholders, investors, and operators globally. The firm operates through three service lines: Commercial (media distribution and representation, betting and data advisory, sponsorship and ad sales, hosting, experience and content development), Strategy (commercial growth strategy and planning, media valuation and demand analysis, commercial diligence and benchmarking, new IP creation), and Capital (sell-side and buy-side M&A, strategic advisory, IP and NewCo creation). Customers include sports governing bodies and leagues (IOC, FIFA, Concacaf, MLB, NBA, Bundesliga, ATP, LPGA, LIV Golf, PFL, Volleyball World, World Climbing), sports investment platforms (SURJ, Springboks, Helios, UAE Investment), and brands seeking sports audiences (Uber, Rexona, ESPN, Fox Sports, JBL, Menarini).

The firm does not develop or operate a technology platform; its services are delivered through senior human expertise and advisory relationships, with revenue generated through professional services fees — likely a mix of retainer, success, and project-based billing. IRIS competes on the strength of its leadership team's collective experience at IMG, DAZN, MP&Silva, Aser Ventures, and beIN Media Group, and on its distribution footprint spanning ten offices across EMEA, Americas, APAC, and Africa. In February 2026, IRIS secured exclusive in-ship and in-flight broadcast rights for four consecutive Olympic Games (Milan-Cortina 2026 through Brisbane 2032), displacing IMG's Sport 24 service after its 14-year tenure, and acquired Buenos Aires-based CRACKS Sports & Media to establish IRIS Latam with operations across nine Latin American countries.

Name

IRIS Sport Media

Legal name

IRIS Sport Media

Website

https://irissport.media

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Boutique London-headquartered sports media advisory firm founded in 2023 by ex-IMG executives, providing integrated commercial, strategic, and capital advisory services to global sports rightsholders, leagues, investors, and brands through senior relationship-based engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Media Advisory Services

NAICS

Media Representatives (541840), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Media Buying Agencies (541830)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Rights Agencies & Brokers (Acquisition/Packaging) (MPABAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports & Event Media Rights Licensing (MPADALAE), Sponsorship Sales, Valuation & Analytics Services (Rights Sales, Measurement, Consulting) (MPAKALAK)

Keywords

• Sports media advisory
• Media rights consulting
• Sports sponsorship solutions
• Sports investment advisory
• Commercial strategy services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Consulting Services: The firm generates revenue through professional services fees for strategic advisory, commercial consulting, and investment banking services provided to sports rightsholders, investors, and operators. Revenue is likely earned through retainer fees, success fees on transactions, and project-based billing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IRIS Sport Media is a sports media advisory and consulting firm that works with sports rightsholders, investors, and operators through three integrated service areas: Commercial (media distribution and representation, betting and data advisory, sponsorship and ad sales, hosting, experience and content development), Strategy (commercial growth planning, media valuation, commercial diligence, new IP creation), and Capital (sell-side and buy-side M&A, capital raising, strategic advisory, IP and NewCo creation). The firm also holds exclusive in-ship and in-flight broadcast rights for the next four Olympic Games (2026-2032).

Product overview

IRIS Sport Media is a sports media and marketing agency offering three integrated service areas: Commercial (media distribution, betting and data advisory, sponsorship and ad sales, hosting, experience and content), Strategy (commercial growth planning, media valuation, commercial diligence, new IP creation), and Capital (sell-side and buy-side M&A, strategic advisory, IP and NewCo creation). The agency operates globally with recent expansion through the acquisition of Latin American-based CRACKS Sports & Media. IRIS also holds exclusive in-ship and in-flight broadcast rights for the next four Olympic Games (2026-2032).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Services Integrated commercial services for sports rightsholders including media distribution and representation, betting and data advisory, sponsorship and ad sales, hosting, and experience and content development.
• Strategy Services Insight-led commercial strategy services for rightsholders, investors, and operators including commercial growth strategy and planning, media valuation and demand analysis, commercial diligence and benchmarking, and new IP creation.
• Capital Services Fully integrated advisory driving investment across the global sports and media ecosystem, including sell-side M&A and capital raising, buy-side M&A, strategic advisory, and IP and NewCo creation.
• Olympic Games In-Ship and In-Flight Broadcast Rights Exclusive in-ship and in-flight broadcast rights for the next four editions of the Olympic Games (2026-2032), covering Milan-Cortina, Los Angeles, French Alps, and Brisbane Olympics.

Named customers23 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IOC (International Olympic Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026IRIS Sport Media was selected as the exclusive in-ship and in-flight broadcast rights partner for the next four editions of the Olympic Games (2026-2032). The partnership covers Milan Cortina 2026, Los Angeles 2028, French Alps 2030, and Brisbane 2032. This represents a significant mandate, taking over from IMG's Sport 24 service which had held these rights for 14 years.
• Cracks Sports & MediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026IRIS Sport Media acquired Cracks Sports & Media, a Latin American-based sports marketing company, marking IRIS's expansion into a truly global operation. The acquisition enhances IRIS's ability to develop data-driven, outcome-focused sponsorship partnerships across the Americas. Cracks CEO Rodolfo Travers continues as CEO of IRIS Latam, and other Cracks executives including Gustavo Huertas (Chief Commercial Officer, LATAM) and Francisco Laplumé (COO, LATAM) have joined the IRIS leadership team.
• SURJ Sports InvestmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRIS Founding Partner Ioris Francini serves as a Board Member at SURJ Sports Investments, indicating a strategic relationship between the two organizations.
• BLASTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRIS Founding Partner Ioris Francini serves as a Board Member at BLAST, the esports tournament organizer, indicating an ongoing strategic relationship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Total Sports Asia: Total Sports Asia is an APAC-focused sports media rights consultancy. Tricia Chuah previously held senior roles there, indicating it as a regional peer in APAC rights distribution and commercialization where IRIS competes via its Kuala Lumpur office.
• Torneos: Torneos is a leading LATAM sports media rights and production company (Argentina Football Distribution). Santiago Sluzewski Monti (IRIS Partner LATAM) was previously CCO/CEO of Argentina Football Distribution at Torneos, making it a directly comparable LATAM rights distribution peer.

Emerging players

• RSM Sports Advisory: RSM is a global sports advisory firm with transaction, valuation, and consulting practices. Comparable to IRIS's Capital and Strategy verticals given similar M&A advisory, commercial diligence, and media valuation offerings.
• Sportradar: Sportradar provides sports data, content, and betting services. Freddie Longe (former President of IMG ARENA, now IRIS Senior Advisor) built IMG ARENA into a top-3 global betting aggregator, suggesting IRIS overlaps in betting/data advisory at the rightsholder level.

Direct peers

• Oakwell Sports Advisory: Oakwell Sports Advisory is a boutique sports advisory firm focused on M&A, growth capital, and strategic financing in sports. Tom MccGwire (IRIS Head of M&A Advisory) was previously a Senior Associate at Oakwell, making it a direct peer in sports-focused investment banking.
• Spring Media: Spring Media is a Stockholm-based sports media rights and distribution agency. Tricia Chuah (IRIS Director of Media Rights) was previously a senior APAC leader at Spring Media, indicating overlapping capabilities and APAC market competition.
• Octagon: Octagon is a global sports marketing agency representing rightsholders in media rights, sponsorship, and consulting. Directly competes with IRIS in commercial advisory for leagues, federations, and brands worldwide.

Broad incumbents

• IMG (Endeavor): IMG is the global leader in sports media rights representation, sponsorship sales, and events. It is the most direct comparable given that the bulk of IRIS's senior team came from IMG and IRIS took over IMG's Olympic in-ship/in-flight mandate after 14 years.
• DAZN: DAZN is a global sports streaming platform and rights buyer. Lara Vanjak (IRIS Head of BD) and Graham Wallace (who led Eleven Sports sale to DAZN) bridge IRIS to DAZN as both a buyer of rights that IRIS sells on behalf of clients and a former employer of senior IRIS staff.
• Endeavor (WME): Endeavor owns IMG and operates as a broad sports and entertainment conglomerate. Ioris Francini was previously Co-President of WME-IMG, making Endeavor both the legacy employer of IRIS founders and the most powerful incumbent competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iris-sport-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IRIS Sport Media