Esports.net, a long-running publication covering competitive gaming and related markets, has ceased content operations following its sale by Catena Media. The move was confirmed in a message sent to the site’s editorial staff on 05 June, to which The Esports Radar had access, informing them that the esports assets — including Esports.net and EsportsBets.com — have been acquired by an undisclosed buyer.
The communication stated: “As of today, the Esports assets [esports.net and esportsbets.com] have officially been sold by Catena Media to an undisclosed buyer. Effective immediately, these assets are no longer owned or operated by Catena Media. The company has instructed to stop all ongoing work related to these products. Any work completed up to and including June 6th will be invoiced and paid accordingly.”
No further information has been released regarding the identity of the new owner or the future plans for the platforms. Full-time staff were also informed that their contracts will be terminated as of 6 June. The halt in editorial operations appears to be immediate, with no transition period or ongoing content strategy announced.
Gianfranco Capozzi, then General Manager for Esports & APAC at Catena Media, shared a public statement on LinkedIn on 6 June, marking his final day at Catena Media. He reflected on over seven years with the company and his role in launching and scaling Esports.net:
“Today marks my last day at Catena Media as GM for Esports & APAC, following the sale of the esports assets to new owners. It’s been just over 7 years — a wild, challenging, and rewarding ride. I am really proud of what we built from the ground up.”
“Alongside a few of the original Esports.net founding team and some truly talented individuals, we turned ideas into something real, launching from scratch, building value, and delivering meaningful results.”
“While I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned, it is also sad to see this chapter coming to an end. But change brings new energy, and for now, I’m taking a short break to decompress, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.”
In contact with The Esports Radar, Capozzi confirmed he had not been informed about the identity of the buyer. He described the moment as “emotional”, adding that several members of the founding team were being made redundant.
“We’ve been asked to suspend all ongoing work, including that of contractors and freelancers, with our last day being tomorrow,” he said. “We had a very talented team; it’s a sad moment.”
Capozzi originally launched Esports.net in November 2017 while the business was still part of BayBets Ltd, prior to its acquisition by Catena Media. According to the founder, the site became one of the company’s top-performing and fastest-growing assets. EsportsBets.com, meanwhile, was brought into the portfolio through a larger acquisition in December 2016.
Catena Media, a Malta-based company known for its portfolio of affiliate marketing sites in the iGaming sector, has not made a public statement beyond the internal staff communication at the time of writing. The Esports Radar is currently trying contact with the company’s management to comment on the sale and on the identity of the buyer, but had no answer by the time of this publishing.
