Sponsors can pair Esport Pod placements with the Fanz network, a community of 200k+ across Twitch, YouTube and social, to reach both students on campus and a wider online audience. The Esport Pod by Sports Media, Inc. provides the physical, in-school presence, and Fanz provides distribution beyond the building.
Key takeaways
- Pods put a sponsor in front of students and families at school, library and base locations.
- The Fanz network (fanz.news) adds a 200k+ community across Twitch, YouTube and social.
- Rights on offer include digital, NIL access, IP, pod usage and broadcast or OTT.
- Reach is a community figure, not a promise of results for any one campaign.
What is the Fanz network?
Fanz is a community of 200k+ across Twitch, YouTube and social channels, with news and content at fanz.news. It's part of the ecosystem around the Esport Pod, giving sponsors a way to extend a campus presence into online content.
A community number tells you the size of the room, not how many people will act on a message. We'd encourage sponsors to treat it as a starting point and ask what content formats and placements are available before deciding what to buy.
How do sponsors reach audiences through the pods?
The pods are physical stations in schools, colleges, libraries and military MWR centers, which places a sponsor's name in front of students and the adults around them. Programs run clubs, classes and events around the pods, so the presence is repeated rather than one-off.
Buyers include high schools, Native American land schools, community colleges, universities, DoDEA schools, military MWR centers, JROTC and ROTC programs and libraries. A sponsor can choose settings that match its audience, whether that's youth, college-age students or military families.
What sponsorship rights are available?
Sports Media, Inc. offers a set of media and sponsorship rights that sponsors can discuss as part of a deployment.
- Digital rights: content and presence across online channels.
- NIL access for student athletes: subject to applicable rules and the athletes' own agreements.
- Intellectual property: access to program-related IP.
- Pod usage rights: association with pods in use.
- Broadcast and OTT rights: coverage of events and competitions.
Details vary by deployment, so the right way to find out what applies is to ask. The sponsorship page gives an overview.
How do the pods and Fanz work together?
Think of it as two layers. The pods generate local activity, such as practice sessions, student events and LAN tournaments. Fanz carries content from those activities to a larger online audience across Twitch, YouTube and social.
Each pod includes a Razer Kiyo streaming camera, so content creation is built into the station. A school event can become a stream, a highlight or a story without extra gear. One thing to keep honest: online matches over distance always add ping, so in-person LAN events are the cleanest setting for competitive broadcasts.
What should a sponsor ask before committing?
Ask for specifics, and write down the answers.
- Which locations and deployment size would my sponsorship cover?
- Which rights are included, and which are optional?
- What content formats run through the Fanz network, and how often?
- What reporting will I get, and in what form?
- How are student privacy and NIL handled?
A good partner will answer those plainly. If they can't, that's useful information too.
For brands thinking about measurement, agree on the yardsticks before the campaign starts. Impressions, content views, event attendance and community engagement all measure different things, and not every one will be available for every placement. Put the reporting you expect in writing, and revisit it after the first quarter so both sides can adjust.
Finally, remember who is on the other end. Students and families are the audience, and schools care about how their students are represented. Sponsors who respect that tend to build better, longer relationships than those who treat a school like a billboard.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fanz network?
Fanz is a community of 200k+ across Twitch, YouTube and social. That describes community size, not guaranteed views or conversions for a given campaign. Ask what content and placement options apply to your goals, and request reporting that matches how you measure success.
What rights can a sponsor get with the pods?
Sports Media, Inc. offers digital rights, NIL access for student athletes, intellectual property, pod usage rights and broadcast or OTT rights. Which are included depends on the deployment and agreement. Request a written scope so both sides know exactly what's covered.
Do sponsors need to buy pods themselves?
Not necessarily. Schools and other organizations purchase deployments of 10, 20 or 30 pods, and sponsorship support is included. Sponsors can discuss how to participate, whether alongside an existing buyer or in connection with a planned deployment. We'd walk through the options with you.
Can sponsors choose the type of institution?
Often, yes, within what's available. Pods serve high schools, community colleges, universities, DoDEA schools, military MWR centers, JROTC and ROTC programs, libraries and Native American land schools. Tell us your audience and we'll discuss which settings fit.
If you represent a brand and want to talk specifics, visit our sponsorship page or contact us. You can also book a demo to see the pod, or look at the global esports program for context.
