Latest news with #DaltonThieneman
USA Today
11-08-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Racquets Rising: Cracked Media Ventures on the New Age of Tennis, Technology, and Storytelling
The world's eyes turn toward the bright lights of Flushing Meadows for the 2025 US Open Tennis Championships. As the event serves as a global stage for elite athletes, attention also shifts to the evolution of the sport. Tennis is surging into a new chapter, driven by fresh talent, record-breaking participation, and innovation in how the sport is presented and consumed. Amid this transformation, Cracked Media Ventures' flagship tennis brand, Cracked Racquets, has emerged as a central platform. In recent years, tennis has seen the retirement of several legendary figures, prompting questions about the next chapter of the sport. Yet, what many expected to be a period of decline has ushered in remarkable growth. Viewership remains strong, and tennis fandom is thriving. A new generation of players, dynamic and diverse, has stepped into the spotlight with force and flair. These rising stars are reenergizing the sport with their charisma, style, and global appeal, drawing younger, more digital-native audiences into the space. 'Tennis isn't fading. It's flourishing, and the new personalities are leading a rebrand that resonates across continents and age groups,' says Cracked Media Ventures co-founder and CEO Dalton Thieneman. This renewed momentum is evident beyond the stadium seats. In the United States, tennis participation has reached an all-time high. As of 2025, a staggering 25.7 million Americans play the sport, marking five straight years of growth. One in every 12 Americans now picks up a racquet, with a notable surge among those under 25. These younger players contributed nearly half of the total participation gains last year, highlighting tennis's cultural relevance and long-term staying power. Behind this growth is how the stories are told, and this is where Cracked Media Ventures is helping redefine the landscape. The company has tapped into the pulse of the modern fan by recognizing that today's audiences demand more than just match results. They crave narrative, depth, and connection. Cracked Media Ventures delivers just that. It focuses on athletes long before they grace center court at the majors. By spotlighting junior and collegiate players, the platform acts as a runway where talent is introduced, contextualized, and followed closely through the journey to the pros. This narrative expansion is powered by Cracked Media Ventures' CrossCourt Cast, the company's proprietary technology. This remote broadcast software was developed to democratize tennis coverage. Traditionally, covering smaller tournaments has required full production teams, trucks, and significant overhead. 'CrossCourt Cast upends that model with fixed and mobile streaming cameras, AI-integrated tools, live scoring, real-time commentary, and instant replays,' says Thieneman. 'Everything is delivered through an affordable, scalable solution. For clubs, schools, leagues, and federations, it's access, equity, and exposure all rolled into one.' Cracked Media Ventures multi-channel content strategy spans audio, video, and social platforms, allowing fans to engage with tennis wherever and however they prefer. Through daily podcasts, in-depth interviews, historical storytelling, and digital series, the platform provides context that complements live coverage. Whether through headphones, screens, or courtside activations, Cracked Media Ventures meets fans at every touchpoint. This multidimensional approach is especially impactful as tennis finds itself in the company of a rapidly growing family of racquet sports. Pickleball and padel, once niche activities, are now global phenomena. Padel, in particular, is considered one of the fastest-growing sports, with over 25 million active players in 110 countries. The explosion in recreational racquet sport participation echoes what's happening in tennis. 'People aren't just watching. They're playing. And once they pick up one kind of racquet, they're trying others,' Thieneman states. Cracked Media Ventures has identified this shift early and is already expanding coverage into these emerging arenas with Cracked Paddles. By capturing recreational championships, club competitions, and collegiate-level play in these adjacent sports, the company is positioning itself to lead the conversation as racquet sports continue their ascent. As tennis enters a new era, with the US Open as its annual exclamation point, the sport stands at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. The legacy players who once defined the game have passed the torch, but the fire burns brighter than ever. Cracked Media Ventures has embraced that momentum by adapting to change and even helping drive it.
Entrepreneur
07-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The Intersection of Centre Court and Business Grit: Where Dalton Thieneman Channels Tennis Spirit into Media Innovation
Playing tennis and building a business seem like pursuits worlds apart. One is played out on manicured grass courts, the other in spreadsheets, strategy decks, and late-night calls. However, both share a reliance on grit, adaptability, and nerve. Much like stepping up to serve on match point at Wimbledon, launching and scaling a venture demands preparation and belief. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Playing tennis and building a business seem like pursuits worlds apart. One is played out on manicured grass courts, the other in spreadsheets, strategy decks, and late-night calls. However, both share a reliance on grit, adaptability, and nerve. Much like stepping up to serve on match point at Wimbledon, launching and scaling a venture demands preparation and belief. Dalton Thieneman understands this deeply. As a lifelong sports enthusiast and the CEO of Cracked Media Ventures, he knows why instinct must be trusted when there's no time for guarantees. Now, as Wimbledon captures the world's attention once again, Thieneman isn't just watching the tournament. He's living its essence through every decision he makes in business. Thieneman's roots in sports run deep. He and his co-founder, Daniel Westhoff, were part of a high school team that clinched multiple state team championships. Similarly, co-founder Alex Gruskin won a Tennis On Campus National Championship. These feats required fierce competitiveness and a refusal to fold under pressure. Interestingly, Thieneman didn't grow up as a prodigy on the court. He picked up tennis later than most, coming from a multi-sport background. He was known for staying on court for hours if that's what it took to win a single point. Looking back, it was an early sign of the tenacity that he exemplifies today. Before stepping into the media and tech space, Thieneman was an attorney and lobbyist. With a legal degree and years of experience representing clients across industries, from education and tech, tourism and public safety, he's been familiar with high-stakes environments. Unexpectedly, his passion project in sports media, a podcast and blog for college and junior tennis fans, turned into a full-fledged broadcasting company. It now provides coverage across an expanding roster of emerging sports, including pickleball, paddle, and volleyball. Thieneman's multidimensional perspective has helped him realise that the essence of entrepreneurship closely mirrors the competitive soul of tennis. "In both arenas, success depends on more than just talent," Thieneman says. "It demands the kind of grit that makes you play four hours to win a single match, or stay up all night building a product no one's certain will work." At Cracked Media Ventures, Thieneman and his team didn't have broadcasting degrees or polished media training. However, they had fire. When the pandemic shut down every traditional revenue stream, they didn't wait. They drove 22 hours to Miami to cover an event, betting everything on keeping the lights on. That risk set the stage for what would become a calendar of several junior events annually. "We didn't land where we are right now gracefully, but whatever we did was effective," Thieneman states. Indeed, Thieneman doesn't shy away from complexities. He admits that he plays to win. In both sports and business, the reality is often murkier than the textbooks suggest. Winning sometimes demands navigating the grey, adapting mid-match, sticking to the game plan, or throwing it out entirely when conditions shift. Doubles players know this well. "Success depends on trusting your partner, adjusting in real-time, and never letting ego get in the way," Thieneman says. The same principles apply in a business, where collaboration and trust are everything. For Cracked Media Ventures, that trust has been pivotal as Thieneman, Westhoff, and Gruskin navigated pivots and setbacks. Adaptability has always been the bedrock of Cracked Media Ventures' growth. The company began under the name Cracked Racquets , an effort to fill a gap in tennis coverage. It has then evolved into a broader sports tech company under the Cracked Media Ventures umbrella, which now delivers live-streaming broadcasts across multiple sports markets. Thieneman emphasises that malleability is not optional in media. It's survival. As platforms and technologies evolve, so too must content creators. "Even now that we're garnering so many followers, I always tell the team to keep improving. Celebrate the milestone tonight, then wake up tomorrow thinking about the next match," he remarks. That forward-thinking mindset is what's driving Thieneman's view of the future. He argues that sports media is no longer something one passively watches. It's becoming something one experiences. "We're entering an era defined by AI-enhanced storytelling, multi-screen interactivity, and immersive engagement. For example, fans don't just tune into Wimbledon on one screen. They're pulling up stats on another, scrolling commentary on a third, maybe rewatching a crucial point in slow motion somewhere else entirely," Thieneman states. This fragmented but rich ecosystem is where the future lies, and Cracked Media Ventures is positioning itself at the centre of that shift. The company's recent collaboration with ATP Tour signifies alignment with the forces reshaping how sports are consumed and monetised. It's a glimpse of what's possible when media and technology meet strategy and hustle. Ultimately, Thieneman believes the convergence of sport, media, business, and law will only intensify. From regulatory decisions around AI to new models for athlete revenue, the future will be shaped by those who can navigate across these disciplines. It requires building ecosystems that respect both the craft and the context. And that, Thieneman suggests, is where Cracked Media Ventures will thrive.
Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Cracked Media Ventures Announces Strategic Expansion into Emerging Sports Markets
06/05/2025, Carmel, Indiana // PRODIGY: Feature Story // Cracked Media Ventures Cracked Media Ventures, a premier remote sports broadcasting and digital media innovation company, has announced its expansion into new sports verticals beyond its tennis roots. Formerly known for its flagship brand, Cracked Racquets, it's now leveraging its proven media infrastructure, robust streaming technology, and highly engaged digital audience to serve growing demand in sports such as pickleball, paddle, and volleyball. 'Our mission has always been to bridge the gap between elite-level sports and the audiences who crave more coverage, insight, and access,' says Dalton Thieneman, Co-Founder and CEO of Cracked Media Ventures. 'We've built a model that has proven successful in tennis, and we see the same untapped potential in other sports. We're excited to bring our content-driven, tech-forward approach to these fast-growing communities.' This expansion is Cracked Media Ventures' response to the growing interest in non-mainstream and Olympic-adjacent sports. It was realized that coverage remains fragmented and nonexistent. Hence, it aims to deploy Cracked Racquets' services into each of these sports using the same scalable infrastructure and storytelling strategy that has solidified its name in the tennis space. Cracked Racquets Cracked Racquets has been widely regarded for improving how tennis content is created, consumed, and distributed. Built on four pillars, it has become a go-to platform for comprehensive college and junior tennis coverage. Its broadcast division has delivered live streaming across NCAA Division I, II, and III championships. Moreover, Cracked Racquets regularly collaborates with leading networks, athletic conferences, and national governing bodies. These include ESPN+, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Big 12 Conference (Big 12), and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). With its programming distributed either through premier sports streaming platforms or on YouTube, the brand has earned a reputation for providing professional-grade production. The company's proprietary broadcast tool, known as CrossCourt Cast, is capable of covering multiple matches simultaneously. The software enables facilities and leagues to self-produce matches using AI-integrated, app-connected cameras. Schools, conferences, and event operators benefit from a turnkey broadcast solution that includes real-time commentary, multi-angle switching, and instant replay. All of these are designed to deliver top-notch viewer experiences while staying budget-conscious. In addition to its broadcasting innovations, Cracked Racquets boasts a robust audio media network. It has our critically recognized podcasts: The Mini-Break, Cracked Interviews, Great Shot Podcast, and Inside-Out. They collectively deliver depth in tennis storytelling and analysis. Each series combines expert insights and narrative-driven content, cultivating a dynamic and informed tennis community. These shows have earned multiple industry accolades and serve a loyal, growing listener base that spans fans, athletes, coaches, and insiders. Fans voted The Mini-Break as a finalist for the 2025 Best Tennis and Racket Podcast by The Sports Podcast Group. In addition, Cracked Interviews was named one of the Best 80 Tennis Podcasts and Best 100 NCAA Podcasts by Million Podcasts. Besides digital content, the company supports grassroots engagement through live event activations and branded merchandise. From emceeing professional events to energizing collegiate competitions with music and crowd interaction, the Cracked team offers end-to-end event production services that bring flair and energy to courtside experiences. Its apparel line, known for sleek, performance-ready designs featuring the 'Cracked' insignia, allows fans and athletes to wear the brand across all levels of play. With this expansion, Cracked Media Ventures seeks to replicate this successful multi-platform model in sports that, like tennis, possess passionate player bases but lack sustained media visibility. Its future-facing approach revolving around accessibility, community, and tech-driven production positions the company at the forefront of modern sports coverage. Media Contact Name: Dalton Thieneman Email: [email protected] Source published by Submit Press Release >> Cracked Media Ventures Announces Strategic Expansion into Emerging Sports Markets
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cracked Media Ventures Announces Strategic Expansion into Emerging Sports Markets
Cracked Media Ventures announces its expansion beyond tennis, bringing its acclaimed broadcast and media model to emerging racquet and net sports. Carmel, Indiana, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cracked Media Ventures Cracked Media Ventures, a premier remote sports broadcasting and digital media innovation company, has announced its expansion into new sports verticals beyond its tennis roots. Formerly known for its flagship brand, Cracked Racquets, it's now leveraging its proven media infrastructure, robust streaming technology, and highly engaged digital audience to serve growing demand in sports such as pickleball, paddle, and volleyball. 'Our mission has always been to bridge the gap between elite-level sports and the audiences who crave more coverage, insight, and access,' says Dalton Thieneman, Co-Founder and CEO of Cracked Media Ventures. 'We've built a model that has proven successful in tennis, and we see the same untapped potential in other sports. We're excited to bring our content-driven, tech-forward approach to these fast-growing communities.' This expansion is Cracked Media Ventures' response to the growing interest in non-mainstream and Olympic-adjacent sports. It was realized that coverage remains fragmented and nonexistent. Hence, it aims to deploy Cracked Racquets' services into each of these sports using the same scalable infrastructure and storytelling strategy that has solidified its name in the tennis space. Cracked Racquets Cracked Racquets has been widely regarded for improving how tennis content is created, consumed, and distributed. Built on four pillars, it has become a go-to platform for comprehensive college and junior tennis coverage. Its broadcast division has delivered live streaming across NCAA Division I, II, and III championships. Moreover, Cracked Racquets regularly collaborates with leading networks, athletic conferences, and national governing bodies. These include ESPN+, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Big 12 Conference (Big 12), and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). With its programming distributed either through premier sports streaming platforms or on YouTube, the brand has earned a reputation for providing professional-grade production. The company's proprietary broadcast tool, known as CrossCourt Cast, is capable of covering multiple matches simultaneously. The software enables facilities and leagues to self-produce matches using AI-integrated, app-connected cameras. Schools, conferences, and event operators benefit from a turnkey broadcast solution that includes real-time commentary, multi-angle switching, and instant replay. All of these are designed to deliver top-notch viewer experiences while staying budget-conscious. In addition to its broadcasting innovations, Cracked Racquets boasts a robust audio media network. It has our critically recognized podcasts: The Mini-Break, Cracked Interviews, Great Shot Podcast, and Inside-Out. They collectively deliver depth in tennis storytelling and analysis. Each series combines expert insights and narrative-driven content, cultivating a dynamic and informed tennis community. These shows have earned multiple industry accolades and serve a loyal, growing listener base that spans fans, athletes, coaches, and insiders. Fans voted The Mini-Break as a finalist for the 2025 Best Tennis and Racket Podcast by The Sports Podcast Group. In addition, Cracked Interviews was named one of the Best 80 Tennis Podcasts and Best 100 NCAA Podcasts by Million Podcasts. Besides digital content, the company supports grassroots engagement through live event activations and branded merchandise. From emceeing professional events to energizing collegiate competitions with music and crowd interaction, the Cracked team offers end-to-end event production services that bring flair and energy to courtside experiences. Its apparel line, known for sleek, performance-ready designs featuring the 'Cracked' insignia, allows fans and athletes to wear the brand across all levels of play. With this expansion, Cracked Media Ventures seeks to replicate this successful multi-platform model in sports that, like tennis, possess passionate player bases but lack sustained media visibility. Its future-facing approach revolving around accessibility, community, and tech-driven production positions the company at the forefront of modern sports coverage. Media Contact Name: Dalton Thieneman Email: dalton@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
