In Scotland, Perry Gourley reports FanDuel has acquired Scottish app developer Kotikan for an undisclosed sum. The firm employs 56 staff and "has a turnover" of $3.7M. FanDuel CEO & co-Founder Nigel Eccles "described the deal as an 'acqui-hire' given all Kotikan’s staff will be taken on (SCOTSMAN.com, 7/20).
WHAT'S THE SKINNY? CABLEFAX DAILY reports Verizon's skinny bundle, which "makes ESPN available in a $10/month add-on Sports package" has seen "strong demand since it launched in April." Verizon Exec VP & CFO Fran Shammo said the service "continues to exceed expectations" with 33% of the 26,000 net new FiOS subscribers in Q2 opting for it. ESPN is "suing the telco over the service ... claiming the bundle is a violation of their contracts." However, Shammo said Disney/ESPN "continue to be 'great partners' ... noting ESPN's participation in Verizon's coming mobile OTT video service, which is expected to launch in late summer" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 7/22).
NOT BLUFFING: In Louisville, Gregory Hall reports Churchill Downs Inc. is "folding the digital publication" of Bluff Magazine. CDI earlier this year announced that it was shutting down the print version of the magazine, which focuses on online poker. Bluff Media Founder Eric Morris recently tweeted the remaining staff "had been let go and operations would cease in August." CDI acquired Bluff in '12 as "part of its effort to start an online poker business." CDI Dir of Corporate Communications Courtney Yopp Norris said that CDI "could use the Bluff name as it continues to develop an Internet casino gambling platform" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/22).
SOUTHERN COMFORT: ESPN and the Southern Conference yesterday announced a multiyear deal for increased coverage through the '20-21 academic year. ESPN and the SoCon will work jointly to develop in-house production capabilities at each school by '17 that can provide coverage for events on ESPN3/WatchESPN (ESPN).
