Inside the bitter fight for ownership of a popular sports website
Founded in 2006 as a rugby focused blog. Roar has become a mainstay of the Australian sports scene, covering major sports and racking up two million page views a month. It consists of just four staff, led by editor Tony Harper, a former sports editor. Sun-Herald. The site draws on readers’ submissions and serves users similar to a sports forum, with intense discussions in the comment sections of their articles. Harper declined to comment when contacted.
Since its establishment, Roar passed through several owners. It was purchased from its founders and minority owner Network 10 by the Australian Radio Network in 2016 for $11.5 million, and was sold again to AthletesVoice three years later. In 2021 PlayUp acquired both Roar and AthletesVoice.
Hall claimed in his statement that Mikrut’s Fan Media could no longer operate Roar, to confirm this Sports News He is in an ongoing legal dispute with the company while trying to finalize a deal with Corsello.
“We recognize Dan Corsello as the rightful owner of the intellectual property; we recently discovered that Fan Media no longer has a license to operate Roar.”
Mikrut declined to confirm details or respond to questions. He said he was considering issuing a media release next week. While the issue continues, sources close to Fan Media claim that a new investor has been identified.
When asked for further details, Hall said he was confused as to why any investors would inject money into Fan Media “since they don’t actually own anything anymore.”
Corsello could not be reached for comment, but when reached for comment, Simic’s attorneys responded with a series of legal threats.
Sporting News claims The Roar stepped in to take over advertising sales to prevent them from going bankrupt.
In early 2024, Corsello met PlayUp and Roar On behalf of AdRabbit who is considering investing in the business. Following Simic’s renovation plans Roar, It decided to part ways with the loss-making publication after it failed to promote its ‘Roar+’ experience platform and integrate PlayUp products, sources familiar with the matter say. Corsello was later brought into control Roar’on behalf of finance Sports News.
Simic allegedly sold intellectual property rights Roar Corsello is scheduled to enter a joint venture and Corsello is offered for $1. Sports News. The dispute over the ownership of the site escalated into a violent dispute, with Mikrut appointed as the sole director of the operating company.
Mikrut has almost no online presence and those associated with it Roar, Sports News and PlayUp knows very little about him, both now and before. He is reportedly involved in a syndicate that owns former Caulfield Cup-winning thoroughbred Mummify, has a property listing platform BuyMyPlace and sponsored the Melbourne Knights football club in 2013 through Croatian drinks company Cedevita. There are no photos of Mikrut on the internet.
Hall owned several businesses in Hong Kong and was a close friend of Shane Warne. The cricketer was with Warne when he passed away in Thailand in 2022. Sports News From British sports broadcaster DAZN in 2020.
Meanwhile, Sports News He claims he stepped in to take over ad sales to prevent Roar from bankruptcy.
Loading
PlayUp has been plagued by its own financial disputes, failed mergers and acquisitions, and legal action since 2021. Simic was questioned by a Federal Court judge about the company’s finances this year as part of a long-running lawsuit against its former American CEO Laila Mintas.
PlayUp sued Mintas, claiming that it was the reason for the $600 million takeover of Crypto firm FTX in 2021. FTX owner Sam Bankman-Fried is in jail on fraud charges. The allegations against Mintaş were rejected.
PlayUp was fined $600,000 after an investigation in NSW found the website contained 33 illegal gambling advertisements.
The Market Summary newsletter is a summary of the day’s transactions. Take it every weekday afternoon.
