Ubecha sports social network in global ads deal

20 Sep 2010

The Dublin-headquartered social network for sports fans Ubecha.com has amassed 25,000 users in just four months and has appointed global digital advertising agency AD2ONE as a strategic partner to sell ads globally.

The appointment will see AD2ONE sell advertising opportunities across Ubecha.com’s millions of page impressions delivered monthly.

AD2ONE represent a core portfolio of premium publishers, including ESPN, eBay and LinkedIn.  Ubecha.com has more than 25,000 registered users in territories spanning the UK, Ireland and Asia. A leader in online social sports gaming, Ubecha.com is amassing one of the world’s fastest-growing sports networks.

This partnership opens the doors for advertisers to target Ubecha.com’s niche network of sports fans.

“Players of fantasy sports and prediction games are among the most engaged online consumers you can find on the net,” Brian Kearney, COO of Ubecha.com, explained.

“Players on Ubecha.com spend an average of 11.5 minutes on site per visit and average three hours per week managing their teams – these visitors are dedicated.”

Unique social networking elements

Part of the Ubecha.com strategy has been to play up the social aspects of the platform. The site has integrated unique social networking elements, including banter walls, photo and video sharing and instant chat.

“Often, people join these leagues to stay connected with college friends and work colleagues, some of who may have moved away to work or to travel. Friendly competition appeals to these players and the banter that develops during a league,” Kearney said.

According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Assn., there are 30 million fantasy players in the US and Canada —a n astonishing 54pc increase from just two years ago.

In the UK, there are 2.3 million fantasy players, an increase of 20pc year on year since inception.

“We are bringing to market in Ireland, and globally, a way for advertisers to reach a young, professional audience, with high disposable income,” said Roddy Walshe, sales director of AD2ONE.

“The Ubecha.com brand will be an exciting addition to, and further strengthens, our portfolio of premium sites.”

Paul Cooling, CEO of Ubecha.com, said: “We choose AD2ONE because of the strong heritage they have of selling ad inventory for big players in the international online space. Our focus, as we scale internationally, will be on a range of markets, including Europe, Asia and America, and AD2ONE can provide us with a global reach coupled with local expertise.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com