In a significant move highlighting the shifting landscape of sports media, European broadcasting powerhouse Global has acquired a majority stake in The Overlap, the popular YouTube channel co-founded by former Manchester United defender and pundit Gary Neville.
A New Chapter for Football Media
The deal represents a major bet on the future of digital sports content. Global, the company behind radio stations like LBC and successful podcasts such as The News Agents, aims to replicate the phenomenal success of Goalhanger, the podcast network founded by fellow former footballer Gary Lineker. The ambition is to transform The Overlap from a popular YouTube channel into a "multi-format sports media network" with global reach.
Gary Neville, who will remain as co-chair of the company, launched The Overlap in 2021 alongside Scott Melvin. Despite its relatively recent inception, the channel has rapidly become a dominant force in UK football content. The company reports staggering figures, including more than 38 million monthly views on YouTube and a colossal 2.2 billion views across all platforms in 2025.
From Pitch to Podcast Powerhouse
The Overlap's flagship show, Stick to Football, features a star-studded lineup of pundits including Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright, often joined by high-profile guests. The channel has made headlines for its unfiltered content, from Roy Keane's famously astringent analysis to candid interviews with figures like Dele Alli and Wayne Rooney.
This acquisition underscores a broader trend of former sports professionals leveraging new media platforms to build influential brands, often challenging traditional broadcasters like Sky Sports where many of them first gained fame. The deal confirms Neville's status as a leading figure in this digital sports media revolution.
Expanding the Game Beyond Football
While football remains at its core, The Overlap network already includes channels dedicated to cricket, rugby, and US sports. The strategic vision, backed by Global's resources, is to widen this into a comprehensive media network spanning multiple sports verticals. This expansion has already begun, with the channel recently securing live broadcasting rights to the German Bundesliga, sharing them with the BBC and another YouTube channel, That's Football.
Simon Pitts, Global’s group chief executive, praised the acquisition, stating: "Gary and Scott have done an extraordinary job building The Overlap and we’re thrilled to welcome them and their fantastic team to Global... The Overlap’s ambition, creativity and unrivalled connection with fans is a perfect fit."
Neville expressed his pride in the channel's journey, remarking that it started as a simple idea to create content fans loved. He highlighted the "huge growth potential" and described Global as the "perfect partner" to power The Overlap Network forward, with the aim of becoming a world-leading sports media platform.
