Former Disney CFO Richard Nanula was named Chair & CEO
of Broadband Sports, an L.A.-based Internet company that
creates Web sites for "some of the biggest stars in sports,"
according to Paul Bond of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Nanula
was most recently President & COO of Starwood Hotel & Resort
Worldwide. Nanula: "Broadband Sports has the potential of
becoming one of the leading new media sports companies in
the world. ... We create our own content and commerce."
Business units under the Broadband Sports banner are Athlete
Direct, Pro Sports Xchange and College Sports Xchange
(HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/27). In L.A., Karen Kaplan writes
that Nanula's appointment "immediately raises the privately
held company's profile as it looks for a way to set itself
apart from a crowded field of online competitors."
Broadband Founder Tyler Goodman "wouldn't reveal the
company's revenue, but Nanula said Broadband Sports is well-
financed" (L.A. TIMES, 10/27). Nanula was interviewed on
"Moneyline" last night and discussed the possibility of the
company going public: "I can't really talk about its
likelihood, but I can say it's something we talked about ...
but it's not something that needs to happen in the near
future." Nanula: "I'd like us to be one of the real
survivors in the online media world. ... We have 200
athletes signed up with their exclusive Web site with their
partners online. They can talk to their fans, they can sell
merchandise to their fans. We want to expand that and find
new capabilities for it" ("Moneyline," CNN, 10/26).
