Mike

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Elite

James

Web3-powered SaaS platform built for major media companies, Roundtable CEO James Heckman today announced the partnership and debut of legendary Dallas Cowboys media icon<a href="https://roundtable.io/sports/nfl/cowboys/author/mike-fisher" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Mike Fisher </a>and his Texas-based sports staff; moving their media operations to Roundtable’s Web3 media platform (<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CowboysRoundtable</a>), marking a significant milestone in the mainstream adoption of Roundtable’s innovative Web3 digital media platform.&nbsp;
The company is anticipated to merge with NASDAQ-listed digital payment platform, Ryvyl, inc (NASDAQ: RVYL) Q3.
Fisher, previously Sports Illustrated’s (SI) most commercially successful digital media asset, originally partnered with Heckman to help lead SI's historic digital turnaround - publishing on his media tech platform. Fisher’s move from SI to Roundtable, marks a crown-jewel moment in what has become one of the most extraordinary value reversals in modern media history.
<blockquote>
 “Mike Fisher is the bold leader leading again, after proving our digital media model works for traditional publications. His respected name, integrated into our innovative Web3 platform, brings confidence for experienced journalists join our new digital ecosystem,” said Heckman. “We’re thrilled to partner again with this NFL legend for our next great venture."
</blockquote>
Initially <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/innovation/rtb-digital-secures-30-million-to-expand-web3-media-platform-and-launch-new-global-sports-network-roundtablesports" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">reported</a> as 100 departures in September, that number has now grown to <a href="https://roundtable.io/sports/tab/top-members" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">more than 150</a> former Sports Illustrated, in-stadium, credentialed journalists, including Fisher, who all rejoined Heckman on his new Web3-Media venture, Roundtable - who are all now adopting and integrating into the most advanced media platform in the marketplace, including blockchain-based data, smart wallet reporting/payment system, and real-time access to Roundtable 8-figure media liquidity pool for publishers.
View the complete publisher list with their team <a href="https://roundtable.io/bbs/picker" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.
This collective migration represents a recapture of the journalist network that transformed SI from digital obscurity into one of the world’s most-visited sports destinations. Ironically, both inflection points were driven by the same architect - now to Roundtable’s Web3 ecosystem.
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 (Photo: Mike Fisher pictured in 1995 with former Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry.)
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Mike Fisher’s return marks the final key leader of the Roundtable’s new sports network. The legendary media icon has covered the Cowboys (“America’s Team”) for more than three decades and Fisher’s Cowboys channel served as the cornerstone of SI’s network.
<blockquote>
 “I couldn’t be more excited to move my brand and team to Roundtable. We helped build the network from nothing at SI, and this time we have a huge head start, recruiting the best of the best, and now integrated with the most advanced, and visionary media technical platforms in the industry. Our goal is to reach the same scale in half the time, or less, and I’m thrilled to do my part, while Cowboy fans can expect an experience not possible anywhere else.”
</blockquote>
The rarity and magnitude of this event extends far beyond the Fisher announcement.
In 2024, Minute Media, as per sources, guaranteed $150 million to Sports Illustrated’s brand owner, Authentic Brands Group (ABG), under a ten-year licensing agreement, for an asset SI publicly represented to reach 86 million monthly users.&nbsp;
That scale and growth were driven by SI’s elite journalist network, on a platform architected in 2019 by James Heckman, then SI’s most senior executive. The network grew SI from around 10 million to 86 million monthly users, from obscurity to the No. 4-ranked sports site by 2024.
Following SI’s transfer off Heckman’s platform, “SI network journalists” exited en masse to join Roundtable, resulting in one of the most catastrophic audience losses in modern media history,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.similarweb.com/website/si.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">according</a> to Similarweb, dropping from 86 million to 22 million, and it seems, all to the benefit of Heckman’s new blockchain technology venture.
A close “return to founder” parallel is a recent transaction involving Dave Portnoy’s Barstool Sports and Penn Entertainment, where the acquirer <a href="https://pennnationalgaming.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/penn-entertainment-completes-acquisition-barstool-sports" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">purchased</a> Barstool for over $500 million, then <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/08/espn-gambling-penn-gaming-barstool-portnoy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">reportedly</a> returned it to its founder for $1, after failing to capitalize on the value only a founder could sustain. In both cases, nine figures were committed for a media asset that rapidly reverted to its founder for essentially nothing more than reputation, trust, and belief in their next vision.
<h2 id="web3-platform-advantage">Web3 Platform Advantage</h2>
<a href="https://roundtable.io/sports" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">RoundtableSports</a> is already seeing early traction, with millions of users arriving as journalists and professional media brands progressively launch their destinations on the platform.&nbsp;
Unlike prior iterations of Heckman’s model, Roundtable’s foundational platform was architected by the inventor of “DeFi” Web3 technology (Eyal Hertzog) - giving publishers real-time access to data, audience, and revenue - while consumers experience a revolutionary integration of community and professional content and major networks like Yahoo have already integrated with the groundbreaking Web3 SaaS platform, created specifically for major media and professional journalists.
<blockquote>
 “There really is nothing else like it in the marketplace,” said Heckman. “We believe our platform’s transparency, control, mainstream syndication, secure data and reporting platform as well as our community experience offers hope for professional journalist sustainability - and can thrive in a world otherwise controlled by Silicon Valley giants and AI.”
</blockquote>
Mike Fisher is one of the most recognized and respected figures in NFL media. He has covered the Dallas Cowboys for over 30 years and built one of the most successful digital team-based sports media brands in history. Fisher is widely credited with pioneering modern, credentialed team-site reporting at scale and has been a trusted voice for fans, players, and front offices alike.
Disclosure: This article was provided by Roundtable, the subject of the story. Roundtable and its affiliates have a direct financial interest in the securities of the company discussed. This communication should not be construed as investment advice.

Web3 Platform Roundtable Signs Cowboys Media Icon Mike Fisher, After 150 Elite Journalists Exit Sports Illustrated to Reunite with Founder J...

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