Team Whistle Launches Short-Form Content Strategy With Emerging Creators

Team Whistle is debuting its first-ever lineup of short-form content, including a “social-first” reimagining of some of its popular content series like No Days Off, My Hustle, Days Off, I Could Do That, Home Team, and Players Breakdown.

Aiming to target more of its content towards Gen Z audiences on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, the leading sports publisher is building this strategy by working with up-and-coming content creators with the goal of building “native in-house faces” for Team Whistle.

Team Whistle is debuting its first-ever lineup of short-form content series, aimed at TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

“As we witness the growing trend of Gen Z and Millennial audiences flocking to platforms like TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts for both entertainment and education, our commitment to short-form content has never been stronger,” Leo Fernandez, Sr. Director of Development and Short-Form Production at Team Whistle said in an official release. “We’re dedicated to meeting their evolving needs by maximizing the production of positive, relatable content that resonates with our viewers.”

“As a social-first publisher and provider of tailored strategies, Team Whistle is determined to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. We’re thrilled to collaborate with the best-emerging talent in the industry, ensuring that we continue delivering cutting-edge short-form content for our channels and partners while remaining a vital source of entertainment and education for our valued Gen Z and Millennial audiences.”

The emerging creators will be working with a lineup of producers brought on by Team Whistle, including Leo Fernandez (former Head of Creative Development & Production for Thrillist), Ryan Gordon (from Overtime), Casey Rieger (from Big Spaceship), Muhamed Coker (from House of Highlights), and Taylor Brown (from Thrillist).

This all comes on the heels of Team Whistle recently launching its “Whistle Creator Program,” which gives the next-generation of creators access to the world’s largest sporting events, to tackle today’s short-form social landscape by offering modern sports fans never-before-seen access to a social-first look at tentpole events. As part of the launch of the Whistle Creator Program, Team Whistle continues to leave a rolling application form open. Creators can apply here.

The company referenced a recent internal survey that it conducted that offered insights and analytics informing this move. According to Team Whistle, “87 percent of participants are constantly consuming short form content, with 92 percent prioritizing digestible, humorous, relatable short form content. Short form has been proven to be the ideal format for continuous engagement with a younger generation. All titles and concepts align back to Whistle’s mission of telling evergreen and accessible stories to an engaged audience through social-first formats that foster a genuine connection with viewers.”

Team Whistle also offered the following breakdown of the new series brands that are launching:

• ‘Meet the Parents’ – Available across Tiktok, IG Reels, YT Shorts

  • In Meet the Parents, we turn the spotlight on the unsung heroes behind the young prodigy athletes that we feature in No Days Off, their loving and dedicated moms, dads, or any parental figure that acts as their guiding light. We hear their inspiring stories as they navigate the challenges of raising a superstar while keeping their family grounded, and discover the sacrifices they make to ensure their child’s success.

• ‘Team Players’- Available across Tiktok, IG Reels, YT Shorts

  • In Team Whistle’s new TikTok show, Team Players, we spotlight how some of our favorite athletes play super hero to others’ lives. From donating entire salaries to charity to pulling an injured driver out of a burning fire, we’ll cover all these heartwarming stories from the sports world.

• ‘Cold Calls’ – Available across Tiktok, IG Reels, YT Shorts

  • Our Whistle staffers are getting together on a FaceTime call to dish out only the juiciest hot takes on all the trending topics in the game. From who should be crowned MVP this year to that insane game-winning call by the ref last night – no topic is off-limits. It’s going to be a wild ride as our staffers put their opinions on the line and bring the heat like never before.

• ‘Alternate Game Plan’ – Available across Tiktok, IG Reels, YT Shorts

  • “Alternate Game plan” is a wild, edgy TikTok show that turns fame on its head. We dive into hilarious, fast-paced adventures exploring the “what-ifs” of legendary athletes’ lives sans fame. Picture LeBron James as a small-town gym teacher or Usain Bolt as a speedy mailman. Get ready to laugh, gasp, and question everything you thought you knew about sports stardom!

• “Easy Layup” – Available across Tiktok, IG Reels, YT Shorts

  • Basketball has become a year-round sport! ‘Easy Layup’ is a hilariously real Tik Tok mini-pod where our host, Ryan Gordon, highlights everything hoops. From hot takes like who the best shooter in the game is to heartwarming stories of how players looked out for each other on and off the court , Ryan lays it up nice every time