Bleacher Report is debuting a digital animated spoof about the world of global soccer called The Champions. The new 13-part series is set in a fancy chateau and houses all 800-plus Champions League players and managers. The Champions counts Game of Zones co-creators Adam and Craig Malamut as its executive producers, with Andy Haynes as the program’s series creator.
Turner Sports acquired the broadcast rights to UEFA Champions League action in the U.S. beginning this season and is airing 47 matches on linear channel TNT and all 340 matches on its streaming service, B/R Live.
The Champions will poke fun at the “over-the-top wealth, drama, egos and vanity” of elite soccer, according to a show announcement. The episodes will appear every Monday on B/R social channels and other platforms and are being created in the spirit of docusoaps such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Vanderpump Rules, The Real Housewives franchise, and The Bachelor.
SportTechie Takeaway
Bleacher Report continues to be a market leader in original content for its social channels. Game of Zones episodes regularly receive millions of views. House of Highlights has more than 10 million followers. And The Champions stands to follow in that success—while touting the new UEFA broadcast rights, of course. After all, the Game of Zones creators originally envisioned an NFL show until Turner executives steered them toward the NBA, whose rights it holds.