The growing role of creators in shaping sports media — Interview with Betarena

Betarena founder João Neves discusses the rise of Web3 sports content, the opportunities for creators to earn fairly and Betarena’s efforts to connect creators with global audiences
Betarena founder João Neves discusses the rise of Web3 sports content, the opportunities for creators to earn fairly and Betarena’s efforts to connect creators with global audiences

Presented by Betarena

Web2 platforms pave the way for users to be content creators. However, content is managed by platforms, and users usually have very limited monetization options. Web3 is here to change that.

Betarena is a blockchain-based platform that serves as the “world of sports.” Users can create and share all kinds of sports content, ranging from stats and predictions to articles and news, and monetize them on Betarena.

In this interview, João Neves, founder and CEO of Betarena, discusses the rise of Web3 sports content, the shift toward creator ownership and Betarena’s game plan on sports content.

Cointelegraph: How do you see sports content evolving in the next few years?

João Neves: I believe we’ll see profound changes in how sports content is distributed. We’re moving toward what I call “sports citizen journalism,” where the focus shifts from the platforms to the content creators themselves.

Creators will hold on to most of the profits instead of leaving them with traditional platforms. We’ll also see a major shift in content ownership. Until now, traditional sports media owned the content they published, but that’s about to change. From now on, creators will own their work and can move it wherever they see fit.

NFTs will also play a growing role, ensuring proof of authorship, immutability and protection against censorship.

This trend mirrors what’s happening in other content areas. Traditional media are losing ground to ordinary individuals who can share knowledge and information without editorial filters, maintain ownership of their work and secure the majority of the earnings.

CT: What is Betarena’s game plan to foster more direct creator-audience engagement?

JN: We’re rolling out several strategies to boost engagement. First, we have a cashback system that rewards both users and creators — the more they interact, the greater their earnings and bonuses, all facilitated by Betarena’s BTA token.

Users can subscribe to creators, follow their favorite authors and receive alerts on new posts. Content is also featured on team pages, tournament listings and other relevant sections to increase visibility and interaction.

NBA predictions on Betarena. Source: Betarena

NBA predictions on Betarena. Source: Betarena

We’ll soon bring in high-profile figures from the sports world to attract larger audiences and further enhance engagement.

CT: What markets are you targeting for global growth, and how will you tailor your approach to different sports cultures?

JN: In 2023, Betarena surpassed 3 million visits worldwide, with a strong presence in Brazil, Italy, Peru, Mexico and the United States. We’ll tailor our algorithms and content based on users’ locations — for example, highlighting popular sports in the US for American audiences.

To grow in specific markets, we’ll collaborate with prominent local sports figures, ensuring we connect with each region’s unique culture. We will also be adding more sports information and data on local sports.

CT: Could you introduce us to the BTA token? How does it integrate into the platform’s economy?

JN: BTA is the cornerstone of the platform, serving as the exclusive token for all payments and transfers. Content creators receive their earnings in BTA, and subscriptions on the platform are also paid in BTA. Additionally, it’s used for advertising fees within the ecosystem and by partners who use our content management tools. BTA is central to NFT creation and powers the marketplace where developers can build and integrate widgets into the platform.

Beyond our internal economy, BTA will be integrated across our 28 partners, enabling purchases like event tickets and merchandise. All these use cases will drive BTA’s value. Since the token is part of an already profitable platform and distributed among a limited number of holders, the risk of massive sell-offs is greatly minimized.

CT: Sports media is a crowded landscape. What unique advantages does Betarena offer to attract users, investors and partners?

JN: We call our platform the “World of Sports” because users can find everything they need in one place — scores, stats, articles, predictions and news.

It’s the only platform dedicated exclusively to sports content creators, allowing them to keep the majority of their earnings. They can even set their own subscription prices, with all transactions handled through the BTA token, ensuring minimal fees and no barriers.

This means top contributors get properly rewarded. Unlike other platforms that share only a tiny fraction of the revenue or pay low fees to selected few freelancers, Betarena offers a fairer and more transparent environment for everyone involved.

As BTA’s utility grows and demand skyrockets, investors can benefit from its increased value in a global sports market worth over $354 billion.

CT: You have recently launched a platform named The Terminal. Could you explain what it does and how it works?

JN: We have millions of sports data points that we’re using to generate content through multiple large language models (LLMs). The Terminal is a platform we’re developing to produce this content daily for Betarena.

Source: Betarena

Source: Betarena

Afterward, we’ll give access to partners who subscribe to the service, allowing them to generate content for their own platforms. It can produce event-specific content, including analysis, predictions and news for sports events worldwide and across different disciplines.

Learn more about Betarena

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