Fremantle buys into social football biz

FremantleMedia has acquired a near-35% stake in London-based football media business Squawka, which offers news, rumours and social media content to fans.

Squawka will sit alongside FremantleMedia’s multichannel network The Football Republic and work with the MCN’s parent, FremantleMedia UK’s digital studio, Shotglass Media.

Launched in 2012 by Sanjit Atwal and Leo Harrison, Squawka produces around 180 pieces of content a day. The company has raised a total of £5 million (US$7.3 million).

FremantleMedia’s digital investments include European MCN Divimove and animal-focused joint venture The Pet Collective.