Sports Studio Inc., the company behind the free ad-supported streaming platform Free Live Sports, has formed an advisory board composed of five senior media and technology executives as it looks to accelerate growth and expand its position in the connected TV and sports streaming markets.
The newly announced advisory board includes Ben Grad, Marshall Cohen, Chris Karl, Matt Meyerson and Bob Gold, whose collective experience spans streaming strategy, digital advertising, sports media and brand marketing.
The group is expected to provide strategic guidance as Sports Studio scales its Free Live Sports platform, which aggregates more than 125 live sports channels and is distributed across connected devices, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
Grad, a former Senior Vice President at Fubo and now Principal at Riverloft Advisors, is credited with helping shape Fubo’s sports-first programming strategy and guiding its growth from a startup to a publicly traded company. His background also includes leadership roles in content strategy and acquisition at Verizon. In a statement, Grad pointed to the growing role of sports in driving live viewership and said free platforms are increasingly resonating with consumers navigating a fragmented media landscape.
Cohen, a founding member of MTV Networks who helped launch channels including ESPN 2, Comedy Central and TV Land, brings decades of experience in cable and media development. He later served as Senior Vice President at AOL Time Warner and has held various advisory and board roles across the industry. Cohen emphasized the convergence of connected TV, FAST distribution and live sports as a compelling model for audience engagement.
Karl, Managing Director at investment bank JEGI LEONIS, adds expertise in media sales, digital advertising and mergers and acquisitions. His prior roles include senior positions at Yahoo!, Mediamath and Sonobi, as well as advisory work with connected TV companies. Karl said sports content continues to deliver outsized engagement in ad-supported environments.
Meyerson, founder of athlete management firm RPRT Communications, brings experience in sports, creator-driven content and early-stage investing, while Gold, Principal of Bob Gold & Associates, contributes more than three decades of experience in cable, broadband and sports media marketing.
Cathy Rasenberger, the co-Founder and President of Sports Studio, said the advisory board’s combined expertise will support the company’s efforts to expand access to free live sports and strengthen its advertising and distribution strategies.
“Each of our advisors brings something distinct and invaluable to Sports Studio,” Rasenberger said. “Their collective experience across streaming, sports media, and advertising is a tremendous asset as we work to deliver on our mission of making live sports free and accessible to every fan.”
The move comes as free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms continue to gain traction, particularly in sports, where live programming remains one of the strongest drivers of audience engagement and advertising demand.
