{{short description|Broadcasting and production company based in Toronto, Ontario}} {{Infobox company | name = Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. | logo = Anthem Sports & Entertainment logo.svg | type = Private | foundation = {{start date and age|2010|12}} | founder = Leonard Asper | key_people = Leonard Asper<br>(President & CEO)<br>Ed Nordholm<br>(Chief Corporate Officer) | industry = Mass media | products = Broadcasting<br>Television Production<br>Digital media<br>Live event promotion | production = Sports<br>Entertainment | num_employees = | owners = Sygnus Corp. (72.95%)<br>Fight Holdings Inc. (25.62%) | location = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | area_served = Canada, United Kingdom, United States | subsid = {{ubl|AXS TV (Majority owner)|EdgeSports|Fight Network|GameTV|Invicta Fighting Championships|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling}} | homepage = {{URL|anthemse.com}} }}
'''Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc.''' (formerly '''Anthem Media Group''') is a Canadian multinational media company based in Toronto, Ontario and founded by Leonard Asper.
Anthem is majority-controlled by Asper via his Sygnus Corporation. Fight Holdings, Inc. holds the remaining ownership stake, via the investors Mayhem Capital (59.01%), North American Bond Company (7.19%), Goldfarb Management Services (7.19%), and Slaight Communications (7.19%).<ref name="crtc" />
==History== ===Founding=== Anthem Media Group was founded in December 2010 by former Canwest president Leonard Asper, through his acquisition of a majority stake in Fight Network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fightnetwork.com/news/9106:leonard-asper-joins-the-fight-network-as-ceo/|title=Leonard Asper Joins The Fight Network as CEO - Fight Network|access-date=2014-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927042824/http://fightnetwork.com/news/9106:leonard-asper-joins-the-fight-network-as-ceo/|archive-date=2014-09-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On January 10, 2013, Anthem purchased an equity stake in the U.S-based Pursuit Channel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pursuit Channel Welcomes Anthem Media Group|url=https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2013/01/10/pursuit-channel-welcomes-anthem-media-group/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=OutdoorHub|language=en-US}}</ref> In August 2013, the company would acquire My Combat Channel.<ref>[http://fightnetwork.com/news/40765:anthem-media-group-acquires-us-based-my-combat-channel/ Anthem Media Group Acquires U.S.-Based My Combat Channel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328160201/http://fightnetwork.com/news/40765%3Aanthem-media-group-acquires-us-based-my-combat-channel/ |date=2014-03-28 }} Fight Network 2013-08-22</ref>
In August 2013, Anthem acquired the fantasy sports websites RotoExperts and SportsGrid, as part of efforts to launch a dedicated fantasy sports-oriented channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsgrid.com/press-release/anthem-media-group-acquires-rotoexperts-and-sportsgrid/|title=Anthem Media Group Acquires RotoExperts And SportsGrid|date=1 August 2013|access-date=26 July 2014|archive-date=15 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215194612/http://www.sportsgrid.com/press-release/anthem-media-group-acquires-rotoexperts-and-sportsgrid/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Anthem Media CEO Asper Eyeing Launches in U.S. and Canada">[http://www.multichannel.com/distribution/fantasy-sports-network-looks-become-reality-march/146994 Fantasy Sports Network Looks To Become a Reality In March] Multichannel.com 2013-12-03</ref> The following year, FNTSY Sports Network launched in March 2014.<ref name="Anthem Media CEO Asper Eyeing Launches in U.S. and Canada" /> In January 2015, Anthem acquired the daily fantasy sports website LuDawgs.com,<ref>{{cite web|date=14 January 2015|title=Anthem Media Acquires LuDawgs.com, A Sprawling Daily Fantasy Community|url=http://www.sportsgrid.com/fantasy/anthem-media-acquires-ludawgs-com-sprawling-daily-fantasy-community/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629015300/https://www.sportsgrid.com/fantasy/anthem-media-acquires-ludawgs-com-sprawling-daily-fantasy-community/|archive-date=29 June 2019|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> and relaunched the site as DailyRoto.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsgrid.com/fantasy/anthem-media-announces-launch-of-dailyroto-com/|title=Anthem Media Announces Launch Of DailyRoto.com|access-date=2016-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417183052/https://www.sportsgrid.com/fantasy/anthem-media-announces-launch-of-dailyroto-com/|archive-date=2019-04-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Anthem Media Group was renamed to Anthem Sports & Entertainment in May 2015.<ref name="crtc">{{cite web|date=January 6, 2017|title=Anthem Digital Specialty Services|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/ownership/eng/cht217.pdf|access-date=August 10, 2017|website=crtc.gc.ca|publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission}}</ref> In August 2016, Anthem announced its intent to acquire the Canadian specialty channel GameTV, pending CRTC approval.<ref name="rotoex-gametv">{{cite web |title=Anthem Sports and Entertainment Acquires GameTV |url=http://rotoexperts.com/109503/anthem-sports-and-entertainment-acquires-gametv/ |access-date=24 September 2016 |work=RotoExperts.com |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404101311/https://rotoexperts.com/109503/anthem-sports-and-entertainment-acquires-gametv/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===TNA investment and acquisition=== In October 2016, Anthem invested in the professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Fight Network was its Canadian broadcast partner, and Anthem would loan the company money throughout 2016.<ref name=tn>{{cite news|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2017/06/30/tna-wrestling-rebrands-gfw-eyes-global-expansion/435802001/ |title=TNA wrestling rebrands as GFW, eyes global expansion |first=Nate |last=Rau |newspaper=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=June 30, 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref>
On January 4, 2017, Anthem acquired a majority stake in TNA, forming the subsidiary Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/anthem-acquires-majority-interest-tna-impact-wrestling/409982|title=Anthem Acquires Majority Interest in TNA Impact Wrestling |website=Multichannel|date=5 January 2017 |language=en|access-date=2017-11-03}}</ref> the promotion would then rebrand as Impact Wrestling, after its flagship weekly program ''Impact!''. Impact founder Jeff Jarrett rejoined the promotion as chief creative director and, during tapings for the April 20, 2017 episode of ''Impact'', it was announced that Impact Wrestling would merge with Jarrett's own Global Force Wrestling (GFW) promotion under the "GFW" name.<ref>{{cite web|last=McMahon|first=Mike|date=April 20, 2017|title=McMahon's Impact report 4/20: Lashley vs. Storm for the Impact Title, ODB vs. Rosemary, X-Division six-man title match|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2017/04/20/mcmahons-impact-report-420-lashley-vs-storm-impact-title-odb-vs-rosemary-x-division-six-man-title-match/|access-date=April 21, 2017|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Anthem later announced its intent to formally acquire GFW's assets,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/impact-wrestling/2017/6/28/15886794/impact-wrestling-officially-announces-acquisition-global-force-jeff-karen-jarrett|title=Impact officially announces acquisition of Global Force|work=Cageside Seats|access-date=2018-05-21}}</ref> but by October 23, 2017, Anthem had cut its ties with Jarrett and Global Force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/tna-news/jeff-jarrett-officially-gone-impact-wrestling-245066|title=Jeff Jarrett Officially Gone From Impact Wrestling|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|last=Currier|first=Joseph|date=October 23, 2017|access-date=October 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="doublejtnareturn">{{cite news|last1=Satin|first1=Ryan|author-link=Ryan Satin|title=Jeff Jarrett Returning to TNA as Executive Consultant, 'It's Great For the Wrestling Business'|url=http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/jeff-jarrett-tna-return-executive/#.WG9vLlzasdU|access-date=January 5, 2017|work=Pro Wrestling Sheet {{!}} Insider Wrestling News and Reports|date=January 5, 2017}}</ref>
In October 2017, Anthem launched the Global Wrestling Network, a streaming service featuring archive content from Impact as well as other independent promotions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/impact-wrestling/2017/10/10/16453274/anthem-global-wrestling-network-wwe-alternative-launches|title=Anthem's Global Wrestling Network is here|work=Cageside Seats (SB Nation)|access-date=2017-11-04}}</ref>
On June 26, 2018, it was announced that Peter Einstein would become the new chief operating officer of Anthem.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Mike |title=NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR ANTHEM SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT |url=https://pwinsider.com/article/118420/new-chief-operating-officer-for-anthem-sports-entertainment.html?p=1 |website=Pwinsider |access-date=July 1, 2018 |date=June 26, 2018}}</ref>
On August 14, 2018, Jeff Jarrett and Global Force Entertainment filed a lawsuit against Anthem in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee for copyright infringement over the rights to GFW content, as Jarrett owned all Global Force Wrestling properties since its creation in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Mike |title=JEFF JARRETT & GFW SUE IMPACT WRESTLING PARENT COMPANY |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/119627/jeff-jarrett-gfw-sue-impact-wrestling-parent-company.html?p=1 |website=Pro Wrestling Insider |access-date=August 15, 2018 |date=August 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/jeff-jarrett-and-global-force-entertainment-hit-impact-wrestling-and-anthem-lawsuit|title=Jeff Jarrett And Global Force Sue Impact Wrestling And Anthem - Fightful Wrestling|work=www.fightful.com|access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref> A mistrial was declared after a 2020 trial but Jarrett and Anthem settled the case in January 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://superluchas.com/jeff-jarrett-y-anthem-sports-llegaron-a-un-acuerdo-por-gfw/|title=Jeff Jarrett y Anthem Sports llegaron a un acuerdo por GFW|work=Súper Luchas|last=Valdés|first=Apolo|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=July 9, 2021|language=Spanish}}</ref>
===International expansion=== On September 9, 2019, Anthem announced that it had acquired a majority stake in the U.S. cable networks AXS TV and HDNet Movies, with existing stakeholders Mark Cuban and Anschutz Entertainment Group maintaining equity stakes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/anthem-sports-buys-majority-stake-in-axs-tv|title=Anthem Sports Buys Majority Stake in AXS TV|last=Farrell|first=Mike|website=Multichannel|language=en-us|access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-cuban-sells-stake-axs-tv-hdnet-movies-steve-harvey-anthem-sports-1238448|title=Mark Cuban Sells Majority Stake in AXS TV, HDNet Movies to Steve Harvey, Anthem Sports|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=9 September 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref>
On April 13, 2021, Anthem acquired the women's mixed martial arts promotion Invicta Fighting Championships.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-15|title=Invicta FC sold to Anthem Sports & Entertainment, events to air on AXS TV|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/04/invicta-fc-sold-to-anthem-sports-entertainment-events-to-air-on-axs-tv|access-date=2021-04-16|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}</ref>
On November 16, 2021, Anthem acquired Cleveland-based film distributor Gravitas Ventures from Red Arrow Studios, the content production and distribution arm of German company ProSiebenSat.1 Media, for US$73 million in a cash-and-stock deal. The company stated that it planned to use its library across its linear television properties, as well as future free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) businesses.<ref name="gravitas">{{Cite web|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=2021-11-16|title=Gravitas Ventures Sold to Anthem Sports & Entertainment for $73M|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/gravitas-ventures-sold-anthem-sports-entertainment-1235048128/|access-date=2022-02-23|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-16|title=Cleveland film distributor Gravitas Ventures is sold in $73 million deal|url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/arts-entertainment/cleveland-film-distributor-gravitas-ventures-sold-73-million-deal|access-date=2022-02-19|website=Crain's Cleveland Business|language=en}}</ref> In April 2025, Anthem sold Gravitas Ventures to Shout! Studios, with Gravitas and Shout! continuing to operate as separate brands.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=7 April 2025 |title=Shout! Studios Acquires Gravitas Ventures |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/shout-factory-acquires-gravitas-ventures-1236362158/ |access-date=7 April 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
In June 2022, Anthem announced that it would launch AXS TV Now and Fight Network channels on Xumo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=2022-06-09 |title=Anthem Launching Two Streaming Channels on Xumo's Platform |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/anthem-launching-two-streaming-channels-on-xumos-platform |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Broadcasting Cable |language=en}}</ref>
On September 25, 2024, Anthem announced its intent to acquire the Canadian premium television service Hollywood Suite pending CRTC approval.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thiessen |first=Connie |date=2024-09-25 |title=Anthem Sports & Entertainment to acquire Hollywood Suite |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/anthem-sports-entertainment-to-acquire-hollywood-suite/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Broadcast Dialogue |language=en-US}}</ref> The deal was approved by the CRTC in September 2025.<ref>Kelly Townsend, [https://playbackonline.ca/2025/09/12/crtc-approves-anthems-acquisition-of-hollywood-suite/ "CRTC approves Anthem’s acquisition of Hollywood Suite"]. ''Playback'', September 12, 2025.</ref>
==Assets== ===Current=== ====TV====
===== Canada ===== * Fight Network * GameTV * Game+ * Hollywood Suite
===== United States ===== * AXS TV, LLC (majority ownership stake; with 2929 Entertainment and AEG) ** AXS TV ** HDNet Movies
====Combat sports==== * Invicta Fighting Championships * Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) ** TNA+
===Former=== * Edge Sport HD (with Trans World International, 80.5%) * Fight Network (UK) * Pursuit Channel (minority ownership stake)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://anthemse.com/who-we-are/ |title=Anthem Sports & Entertainment | WHO WE ARE |access-date=2018-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115083122/https://anthemse.com/who-we-are/ |archive-date=2019-01-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * SportsGrid (joint venture with Nexstar Media Group)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sportsgrid|date=September 1, 2021|title=SportsGrid Multicast Network Launches Today in Nine Major Markets Across the United States|url=https://www.sportsgrid.com/press/sportsgrid-multicast-network-launches-today-in-nine-major-markets-across-the-united-states/|access-date=October 31, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> * Gravitas Ventures
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|www.anthemse.com}} * [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/ownership/eng/cht217.pdf CRTC chart of Anthem Media Groups' Canadian assets] {{Anthem Sports & Entertainment}} {{Total Nonstop Action Wrestling}} {{Professional wrestling in the United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anthem Sports and Entertainment Corp.}} Category:Anthem Sports & Entertainment Category:Canadian companies established in 2010 Category:2010 establishments in Ontario Category:Companies based in Toronto Category:Mass media companies established in 2010 Category:Television broadcasting companies of Canada Category:Television production companies of Canada Category:Entertainment companies established in 2010