TORONTO, ON, January 24, 2023 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., a global, multi-platform media company, announced today a multi-year broadcast agreement with Major League Pickleball—bringing complete coverage of the fast-growing league’s 2023 and 2024 seasons to viewers throughout Canada exclusively on Game+.
MLP is the premier team-based professional pickleball league, putting the spotlight on the absolute best pickleball competitors from around the world. The League recently expanded to 24 teams, several of which are led by an impressive list of A-list celebrity owners and successful business icons. Following this expansion, MLP is offering up to $5 million in prize money and payouts to its players in 2023.
The 2023 Major League Pickleball calendar is divided into two “seasons” of three events each, spanning across Arizona, California, Florida, and Georgia; as well as seven minor league tournaments. Canadian fans will be able to enjoy every MLP event exclusively on Game+, starting on January 28 with an exciting matchup broadcast live from Mesa, Arizona. Additionally, Game+’s lineup will feature a full day of MLP action each week, beginning Sundays in March.
“This broadcast partnership presents an incredible opportunity for Game+,” said Chad Midgley, VP of Content for Anthem. “Fueled by its world-class team ownership and unique one-of-a-kind format highlighting the best players from across the globe, pickleball has quickly established itself as the fastest-growing sport in North America. Anthem is proud to be at the forefront of this worldwide phenomenon as the official home of professional pickleball coverage in Canada, and we look forward to sharing MLP’s unprecedented action and talented athletes with our viewers later this month.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Major League Pickleball into the homes of pickleball enthusiasts in Canada. The upcoming season represents a unique opportunity for the fastest growing sport in North America to activate pickleball fans, and fans in waiting, and our partnership with Anthem/Game+ will facilitate this fandom by providing a live event and coverage broadcast home across the country,” said Brian Levine, Interim CEO, MLP.
For more information, visit the official Major League Pickleball website and Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
About Major League Pickleball
Major League Pickleball (MLP) is the premier team league and the standard-bearer for the fastest-growing sport in the United States. MLP is committed to perpetuating the sport's larger role in society and permeating every facet of pickleball’s business, marketing, and community relations. With iconic team owners, a co-ed team format, an innovative draft, easy to understand scoring, groundbreaking broadcast quality, and the highest prize money events in pro pickleball, MLP’s goal is to elevate and grow the sport in everything it does.
In December 2022, MLP named its first-ever title sponsor, Margaritaville, branding the league MLP by Margaritaville. A global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville, has served more than 20 million travelers and consumers every year to change their latitude and attitude with Margaritaville. For more information, visit www.margaritaville.com.
For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit MajorLeaguePickleball.net and follow Major League Pickleball on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
About Game+
Game+ is the home for live sports wagering content, esports coverage, fantasy sports gaming news and information, high stakes poker, live action sports, wrestling and other fast-paced, action-adventure driven shows and lifestyle programming. The channel is available on IPTV, cable, satellite systems and subscription streaming services across North America. Game+ is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc., a leading global sports media company. For more information, visit www.gameplusnetwork.com and @GamePlusNetwork on Twitter.
About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Cleveland and Kansas City. Anthem's portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures;Fight Network, the world's premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world's leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in sports wagering, esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.