Global and Gary Neville’s award-winning sports brand The Overlap have today announced a major strategic partnership aimed at building a multi-format sports media network.
The deal brings together Global with The Overlap, which has grown into one of the world’s most watched football and sports destinations since launching in 2021.
Together, they plan to expand The Overlap into a network across multiple brands and channels, led initially by football but with ambitions to cover wider sports coverage.
Under the new structure, the business will be co-chaired by Gary Neville and Global Group CEO Simon Pitts, with Scott Melvin appointed as lead Executive Director.
The Overlap now reaches more than 38 million viewers each month on YouTube and recently confirmed it achieved 2.2 billion views across all platforms last year.
Its content includes football, rugby and cricket, combining fan debate formats, long-form interviews and flagship series including Stick to Football, which has attracted some of the biggest names in sport and beyond.
Global will support the next phase of growth through its platforms, relationships and marketing reach, including hosting, distribution, data-driven insight and advertising via Global’s digital ad exchange, DAX. The ambition is to build a connected media network operating across video, audio and social platforms.
The announcement follows the launch of Global Studios, Global’s new content division aimed at creators working in the video-first podcast space.
Global Studios offers production facilities, multi-platform distribution and access to Global’s radio, digital and outdoor advertising network, positioning itself as a one-stop shop for audio-visual storytelling.
Gary Neville says The Overlap began as a simple idea rather than a business plan. He says the team focused on creating content audiences wanted to return to every week, and the response has exceeded expectations.
Neville adds that the partnership with Global marks the start of building The Overlap Network, with the aim of becoming a world-leading football and sports media platform.
As part of the investment process, Miroma Group has exited from The Overlap. Neville thanked Miroma for its support in the early stages and says the focus now turns to working with Simon Pitts, Ashley Tabor and the wider Global team to bring the long-term vision to life.
Simon Pitts, Global’s Group CEO, said: “The Overlap is one of the UK’s most successful and dynamic sports entertainment brands, with a hugely exciting growth plan.
“Gary and Scott have done an extraordinary job building The Overlap and we’re thrilled to welcome them and their fantastic team to Global as we embark on this next phase of growth together.
“We want Global Studios to be the home of the best audio and video brands on the planet and The Overlap’s ambition, creativity and unrivalled connection with fans is a perfect fit.
“The acquisition of a majority stake in The Overlap accelerates our growth strategy across video, podcasts and branded entertainment, and strengthens Global’s position at the heart of the sports conversation following the recent launch of Sport by Global.”
Scott Melvin, Executive Director at The Overlap, added: “The growth of The Overlap has always come from listening to our audience and understanding what brought them here in the first place. Because people loved Stick To Football, we’ve expanded into formats like Stick To Rugby and Stick To Cricket.
“This partnership allows us to continue doing that by developing new formats, continuing to work with leading talent, and delivering world-class sports content for our community.”
Founded in 2021, The Overlap has won multiple industry awards, including Broadcast Sport’s YouTube Channel of the Year and Sports Journalism Awards’ YouTube Show of the Year. It has also secured broadcasting rights for the German Bundesliga and attracted high-profile guests including David Beckham, Rory McIlroy and Tyson Fury.
Its talent-led formats include Stick to Football with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Ian Wright and Roy Keane, Fan Debate with Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, and Stick to Cricket, launched in May 2025.
