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Stats Perform Hires Steve and Peter Hirdt, the Pioneers of Sports Broadcast Research and Content

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Stats Perform Hires Steve and Peter Hirdt, the Pioneers of Sports Broadcast Research and ContentReading Time: 4 minutes

 

Stats Perform, the revolutionary leader in sports AI and data, announced the hire of Steve and Peter Hirdt, the two biggest innovators in U.S. sports broadcast research and content over the past four decades. The Hirdt brothers join Stats Perform from Elias Sports Bureau with Steve taking over as senior director of operations and research and Peter as senior director of content and broadcast service.

“Having worked in network television for 45 years, there is no single person I have relied upon or trusted more than Steve Hirdt,” said legendary NBC sports broadcaster Al Michaels. “Together we’ve worked close to a thousand events (baseball, football, basketball), and he’s made every telecast better. His perspective is unmatched. Working with Steve has been an honor, and the countless times I’ve been praised for coming up with fascinating information, let the truth be told: It almost always came from Steve. This is a major, major coup for Stats Perform.”

The Hirdts are synonymous with sports data in the United States, having pioneered the widespread use of statistics in sports media. The standards that the Hirdts established and the language and techniques they developed are fundamental to the statistical content produced by leagues, teams, and the media.

“If you talk to anyone across the sports broadcast industry, Steve and Peter’s names come up as two of the most influential minds for modern sports statistics and media coverage,” Stats Perform Chief Executive Officer Carl Mergele said. “Over the past four decades, they instilled standards and practices that led the sports broadcast industry to embrace the use of data to enhance storytelling. Now they join Stats Perform at a pivotal moment as we use industry-leading AI and our unmatched historical database to unlock a new set of sports insights. Having Steve and Peter on board takes our illustrious research media team to an even higher level.”

Steve Hirdt is the country’s foremost expert on sports statistics. From his research on the first edition of The Baseball Encyclopedia, to his groundbreaking work on ABC Monday Night Baseball, and 35 years as an Emmy Award-winning director of information on Monday Night Football on both ABC and ESPN, Steve has been an influential advocate for sports data that is accurate, innovative and interesting. During his career at the Elias Sports Bureau, including more than 20 years as executive vice president, Steve’s deep sports knowledge and insight made him a trusted advisor to the country’s leading sports executives, writers and broadcasters. He is also a frequent committee member for the Baseball Hall of Fame and a recognized voice on documentaries and talk shows.

“I am thrilled to join the team at Stats Perform, which already has deep roots in sports broadcasts worldwide,” Steve said. “With recent advancements in AI, Stats Perform is at the forefront of ushering in new capabilities for data and statistics in sports. We look forward to joining the team to create the new wave of sports broadcast.”

Before Stats Perform, Peter spent more than four decades at the Elias Sports Bureau, where he mastered the presentation of statistical content during 16 years consulting on ABC Monday Night Baseball and Monday Night Football and CBS Sports’ MLB coverage. Peter was also the lead writer of the Elias Baseball Analyst (nine annual editions) and Elias Says, a daily column on ESPN.com for 13 years. He conceived, designed and managed the Graphics Library, a service now used on virtually all MLB, NBA, and NHL telecasts. He served as liaison to Elias’ broadcast and media clients, led the company’s expansion into soccer, and developed and implemented its social media strategy. As a vice president since the mid-1990s, Peter negotiated contracts with many of Elias’ largest clients.

“We are excited for the opportunity to bring our decades of experience in statistics and sports media to a company with the infrastructure and technology to fully support our initiatives,” Peter said. “Stats Perform is at the forefront of using AI and machine learning to get deeper and faster meaning out of sports moments. I am thrilled to join and take advantage of the new AI capabilities at our disposal.”

Stats Perform powers broadcasters and digital destinations with data-driven insights, industry-leading global research support, editorial content and photos that keep audiences informed and engaged with the action. With historical databases reaching back to the 1870s, Stats Perform covers hundreds of leagues including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA Football, men’s and women’s college basketball, EPL, EFL Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A, PSL, QSL, NRL and Top 14.

“Steve and Peter’s illustrious careers have had a direct impact on the way we watch and conceptualize sports today,” Stats Perform Chief Operations Officer Mike Perez said. “Stats Perform has one of the best media research teams in the business and having the Hirdts at the helm opens us up for so many exciting opportunities.”

This week, the Hirdts are attending the 2019 Baseball Winter Meetings™ in San Diego, California.

Mike Breen of ESPN and ABC said: “The Hirdt family has had an extraordinary impact on how we view and enjoy our sports. Their integrity and accuracy are only exceeded by their love and passion for the sports they cover.”

Bob Costas of MLB Network said: “For decades, the Hirdts have provided keenly insightful and always 100 percent reliable information enhancing the depth of sports coverage and the quality of its presentation. The key has been not just the wealth of raw data, but an editorial sense that produces genuine insights and interesting story lines supported by that data.”

 

About Stats Perform:

Stats Perform collects the richest sports data in the world and transforms it through revolutionary AI to unlock the most in-depth insights for media and technology, betting and team performance. With company roots dating back almost 40 years, Stats Perform embraces and solves the dynamic nature of sport – be that for digital and broadcast media with differentiated storytelling, tech companies with reliable and fast data to power their innovations, sportsbooks with in-play betting and integrity services, or teams with first-of-its-kind AI analysis software. As the leading sports data and AI company, Stats Perform works with the top global sports media, tech companies, sportsbooks, teams and leagues.

 

SOURCE: Stats Perform


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This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Stats Perform Hires Steve and Peter Hirdt, the Pioneers of Sports Broadcast Research and Content

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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N1 Partners Takes Action at Affiliate World Asia 2025 with a New Award and Key Event Collaborations

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N1 Partners wrapped up a dynamic week at Affiliate World Asia 2025 in Bangkok, strengthening relationships with industry leaders, taking part in key networking events, engaging with iGaming media, and celebrating a major milestone — winning “The Best Gambling/Betting Affiliate Program” at the Affiliate Space Awards 2025 by Conversion Club.

Across the conference, side events, and business  meetings, the team aligned strategies for 2026, discussed performance trends, explored new collaboration formats, and presented upcoming product updates. These conversations shaped a more focused partnership roadmap for the year ahead.

A defining moment of AWA week was N1 Partners’ success  at the Affiliate Space Awards 2025 by Conversion Club. N1 Parthers was named “Best Gambling/Betting Affiliate Program”. Determined by peer voting and expert evaluation, the award reflects the affiliate program’s proven results, reliability, and consistently strong performance recognized across the industry.

“We’re incredibly grateful for this recognition,” says Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners. “What truly makes this program the best is the product depth across our brands, a hands-on affiliate managers team that is always present, and partner conditions designed with care – all that meets affiliates where they are. Winning this award isn’t just about N1 Partners, but every affiliate who grows with us. This is our common win.”

The team also joined the Affiliate Drinks Meetup Bangkok 2025, where the relaxed  setting encouraged direct, meaningful discussions on performance, GEO strategies, and long-term cooperation.

Throughout the week, N1 Partners was present at Fridman Palace, a curated business space where industry leaders gathered for strategic meetings. As the sponsor of the smoking lounge, the company hosted partners in a comfortable, premium environment designed for meaningful conversations and high-level deal-making.

With the Bangkok chapter concluded, the focus now shifts to Barcelona 2026, where N1 Partners will host the grand finale of the N1 Puzzle Promo during iGB/ICE Europe week. The celebration will feature exclusive prizes, a high-energy entertainment program, and the reveal of the Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter winner — setting the stage for one of the most anticipated events of the upcoming iGaming year.

N1 Partners extends its thanks to everyone who connected with the team in Bangkok, shared insights, and contributed to the energy of this week.

Next stop: Barcelona.

Be number one with N1!

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Realize Music: Sing Launches on Meta Quest With Broad Catalog From Universal, Warner, Sony and Beggars, Delivered by Tuned Global’s Music Technology

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Groundbreaking singing game for wellness and creativity expands beyond VR with a PC Gaming release planned for 2026, with the support of Tuned Global’s backend music platform enabling scalable catalogue delivery and lyric integration.

 Realize Music, in collaboration with leading music and media technology platform Tuned Global, announces the launch of Realize Music: Sing, now available on the Meta Quest Store. Co-founded by veteran publisher Mike Wilson, best known as the co-founder of Devolver Digital and Gathering of Developers, the company is positioning Sing as Wilson’s final major venture in the gaming industry; a project that bridges music, wellness, and play across both VR and traditional platforms. Known for championing creativity and emotional depth in gaming, Wilson’s work has consistently challenged the boundaries of what interactive experiences can express.

To support this vision, Realize Music recently selected Tuned Global to power the music backend that enables Sing’s extensive licensed catalogue across platforms.

Launching first on Meta Quest, with plans to expand to additional platforms later in 2026, Sing marks one of the largest music collaborations ever seen in gaming. At release, the app features over one million of the most iconic popular songs officially licensed from Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Beggars Group, covering an unparalleled range of genres and decades, with new songs to be added regularly. It transforms singing into a hands-on, interactive experience where players can explore, express, and unwind through sound.

Announcing the launch on Meta Quest, Realize Music: Sing also marks the start of its next phase. A Steam PC gaming version and additional platforms are planned for 2026, expanding Sing beyond virtual reality and into new spaces for interactive music and wellness.

“We’ve always believed that games can help people feel better, not just entertained,” said Meta Quest, Realize Music: Sing Co-Founder, Mike Wilson. “Sing is about rediscovering joy without judgment or pressure, through the simple act of raising your own voice and watching the world respond. It’s the kind of project I’ve always hoped to finish my career on, and I hope it inspires other creators to focus their energies on beneficial media.”

“Realize Music: Sing is a breakthrough moment for music-driven wellbeing,” said Con Raso, CEO of Tuned Global. “We’re proud to support the Realize Music team with innovative music technology that empowers their vision and brings it to life in such an exciting way. From licensed catalogue delivery to lyrics and reporting, Sing shows what becomes possible when creativity, wellness, and responsible music innovation come together.”

Players can preview songs for free, purchase individual tracks or albums à la carte, or subscribe for unlimited access. Subscriptions launch at an introductory price of $9.99 per month for the first two months, before moving to $14.99 per month or $119.99 per year.

Realize Music: Sing is available now on the Meta Quest Store.

The post Realize Music: Sing Launches on Meta Quest With Broad Catalog From Universal, Warner, Sony and Beggars, Delivered by Tuned Global’s Music Technology appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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Hub88 strikes Playzia deal to deliver branded content and proprietary mechanics

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Popular TV-based IPs such as Love Island: Love in a Spin and the other iconic themes made available via aggregator’s platform

Hub88 has boosted its award-winning aggregation platform by entering a strategic agreement with online casino content provider Playzia.

Playzia’s popular games, including Love Island: Love in a Spin – released under licence from ITV Studios – as well as Tale of the Red Dragon, Crazy Chilli Party, The Great Fishing Adventure, Billionaire Wolf and Sweet Candy Fortune, are now available to Hub88’s licensed global operator network.

The agreement brings Playzia’s titles to Hub88’s platform, spanning slots, instant win content and crash and table games, with a focus on regulated market compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Additionally, Playzia’s proprietary Cubicways mechanic offers players dynamic rotating reel configurations that reveal new progression paths and gameplay environments, a trademarked feature in titles such as Knights 2: The Dragon Cubicways.

The deal further reinforces Hub88’s commitment to offering diverse gaming content from studios that successfully blend entertainment and iGaming, while sharing their regulated-first approach.

Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “Playzia has built an impressive portfolio that balances innovation with broad player appeal. Their Cubicways mechanic brings something different to the market, while their branded titles create compelling experiences that attract new player segments.

“As operators look to differentiate their content offering and engage new demographics, partnerships like this become increasingly important.”

Joe Caetano, Commercial Director at Playzia, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Hub88, a platform that shares our commitment to seamless integration and delivering engaging gaming experiences.

“This collaboration enables us to reach new regulated markets and connect with operators looking for vibrant, high-quality content that resonates with diverse player audiences.”

The post Hub88 strikes Playzia deal to deliver branded content and proprietary mechanics appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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