When Darren Rovell departed the Action Network last year, there was considerable speculation and ambiguity surrounding his future. The veteran sports business reporter acknowledged rapid transition in the sports media industry and how he missed “the dollars and cents reporting” that captivated him to work in the business. Rovell will now be starting a new venture with the launch of CLLCT, a website targeted towards covering sports collectibles.
The venture has raised $4 million from a group that includes several firms, including Bolt Venture, Eberg Capital, Phoenix Capital Ventures, Amity Supply and Tailwoods Capital. Moreover, it also includes personal investments from Ted Leonsis, Zach Leonsis, Jason Stein and Andy Lansing.
“We think there are going to be a tremendous amount of revenue opportunities,” Rovell recently told Sportico. “We aren’t saying exactly what will be our biggest revenue source, but we’re going to be No. 1 from Day 1, and we think companies will flock to us because we will be the best option to promote and advertise… And we will uphold our journalism. If we don’t have integrity journalism-wise, then we’re dead.”
Former ESPN senior director of revenue partnerships Ted Bishop will serve as the company’s chief product officer. Kevin Jackson, who is a former executive with ESPN and FOX Sports, was named the chief content officer of the company. CLLCT will also introduce a television network, cllctv, which will be run by Matt Liberman. Will Stern is also joining the team as a reporter to cover the industry for the website. Various reporters from ESPN, FOX Sports and CNBC are also joining the new venture to contribute to coverage, which Rovell explained in his introductory article will span beyond sports.
“When COVID-19 hit and the collectible market exploded, memorabilia was suddenly being called a ‘true alt asset,’ as opposed to something that just fills a man cave,” Rovell wrote. “And as a journalist, I looked around and felt like I didn’t have an updated home. There were a few sites that catered to hard-core regulars, but nothing to reach the masses or offer in-depth storytelling and quality journalism. I believe collectors need a home to visit every day, with articles and video focused on this now-developed market.”
Rovell formerly covered the collectibles market during his time at ESPN while also reporting on other aspects of sports business. From there, he moved to CNBC where he had the chance to interview several athletes and executives while appearing across network programming., Prior to launching CLLCT, he most recently served as a senior executive producer at the Action Network.
