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Yardbarker
Type of businessSubsidiary
Type of site
Social networking, Blogging, Sports news
Available inEnglish
FoundedEmeryville, California, United States
(March, 2006)
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, United States
Key peoplePete Vlastelica, CEO
ParentFoxsports.com
URLyardbarker.com
AdvertisingBanner ads
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedAugust 2006[1]
Current statusActive

Yardbarker is a San Francisco, California based subsidiary of FOX Sports Interactive that primarily runs a network of sports websites known as the Yardbarker Network, and additionally owns and operates a website, Yardbarker.com.

History

Yardbarker was founded in March 2006 by Jack and Jeff Kloster, Pete Vlastelica and Mark Johns. The original site enabled sports fans to write and discuss sports with other fans and bloggers, as well as professional athletes. Yardbarker.com used a system similar to Digg, however was more sports oriented than Digg.[1] Additionally Yardbarker provides access to more traditional sports information similar to ESPN or Yahoo such as real time sports scores, standings, and news.

The company was funded by several venture capitalists from in and around the San Francisco Bay Area including former NFL player for both the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders, Ronnie Lott.[3]

The company provides a platform for bloggers and sports fans to gain additional exposure for their sites by joining the Yardbarker Network which provides targeted advertising and increased promotion. Yardbarker has existed on the web since August 2006 and has over 70 professional athletes blogging on the site daily. The company and their site have been cited as primary source of material on players in many sports related stories in their history by sources such as ESPN.[4]

The company also has internet exclusivity agreements with many athletes and is used by those athletes to engage in public discourse on a number of issues via blogs run by Yardbarker. One of the more controversial such listings occurred on April 15, 2008. NBA star Carmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with DUI on Interstate 25.[5] The next day Anthony issued his first apology for the arrest through his Yardbarker blog expressing remorse to both his teammates and his fans for his behavior.[6]

Another notable example would be in January 2008, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb used his blog on Yardbarker to lay out his vision for the coming season after the Eagles poor showing in the 2007 NFL season.[7]

Atlanta Falcons FB Ovie Mughelli leveraged the Yardbarker community for his nickname via a contest.[8]

Products

Yardbarker's primary product is the Yardbarker Network. As of April 2011 over 900 blogs were part of the YBN, making it one of the largest sports blog networks on the web.[9] Currently Yardbarker is the exclusive blogging website of many high profile athletes including but not limited to, NBA stars Greg Oden and Baron Davis, MLB player Phil Hughes, Former UFC star Frank Shamrock and NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.[10] John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News praised Yardbarker in November 2007 for its collection of blogs after reading one such posting by Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch, as being one of the most extensive on the internet.[11]

In October 2008, Yardbarker announced a partnership with Widgetbox.[12] to offer Yardbarker Network members widgets displaying dynamic content from around the Yardbarker Network. To date over 600 installs of these widgets have occurred.[13]

In October 2010, Yardbarker was acquired by FOX Sports Interactive.

References

  1. ^ a b Yardbarker: "Welcome to Sports 2.0!" | Compiler from Wired.com
  2. ^ "Yardbarker.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  3. ^ Yardbarker Launches Site Revamp; Gets Funding
  4. ^ ESPN - Rondo skips practice after rolling ankle in Game 3 - NBA
  5. ^ ESPN - Anthony arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence - NBA
  6. ^ Statement from Carmelo
  7. ^ ESPN - McNabb says team should restock and 'secure some playmakers' - NFL
  8. ^ Ovie Mughelli wants a new nickname contest
  9. ^ Yardbarker Network
  10. ^ SI.com - Writers - Chris Ballard: Blogs empowering NBA players - Wednesday November 7, 2007 12:01PM
  11. ^ Marshawn Lynch says hello to his professors at Cal | Morning Buzz
  12. ^ Mashable Press Release http://mashable.com/2008/10/07/widgetbox-yardbarker/
  13. ^ Widgetbox YBN Page http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/yardbarker-network-widget
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