Since launching as the first multi-channel YouTube network dedicated to sports content, The Whistle has quickly scaled up its operation. Six months after its initial debut, The Whistle has reached six million total network subs and has added Ballislife as its latest partner.
Basketball fans know Ballislife as the #1 home of highlight mixtapes, which show off the talents of current stars and future prospects. These mixtapes are the best tool for fans who wish to scout new players on their favorite teams. For example, one of the most popular videos on Ballislife features Cleveland Cavaliers star and one-time top prospect Kyrie Irving (who non-basketball fans may know as Uncle Drew) in his high-school days.
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Ballislife runs a network of eight YouTube channels that, when taken together, count 687,000 subscribers and 175 million views. This following makes the mixtape factory one of The Whistle’s strongest partners, alongside creators like Dude Perfect, Alli Sports, and Brodie Smith. In total, the network has 120 partner channels, which combine to achieve the aforementioned six million subscriber figure.
“Getting to six million subscribers in the first six months demonstrates the excitement Whistle Sports is generating among the sports community on YouTube, and it shows the potential for combining pro leagues and emerging YouTube talent in creative new ways,” said Claude Ruibal, Global Head of Sports Partnerships at YouTube.
While The Whistle hasn’t crossed over into other categories, its spin on the sports genre has proved attractive to YouTube’s top ballers and raised some venture capital to boot. At just six months old, it’s safe to say that The Whistle’s first half-year has been a slam dunk.
