Global Acquires Majority Stake in Gary Neville’s The Overlap
The UK’s Global Media Group has acquired The Overlap, a sports media network founded by former England and Manchester United soccer player Gary Neville. This strategic move consolidates Global’s position as a significant player in the sports media landscape.
Global, recognized as Europe’s largest radio group and the force behind the popular podcast News Agents, has secured a majority stake in The Overlap. Neville will co-chair the new venture alongside Global Group CEO Simon Pitts, with Scott Melvin serving as the lead Executive Director. Financial details of the acquisition, including the percentage stake, have not been disclosed. The Overlap was previously financed by Miroma Group, which has exited following a strategic investment process led by the network itself.
The vision moving forward is for The Overlap to evolve into a comprehensive media network that spans various sports brands and channels while leveraging Global’s data insights and advertising capabilities. This ambitious plan could parallel Goalhanger, the production company co-founded by Gary Lineker, known for its Rest Is… podcast series.
Launched in 2021, The Overlap boasts over 38 million monthly views on YouTube and recently announced it achieved 2.2 billion views across all platforms in 2025. The network’s content encompasses sports such as football, rugby, and cricket, including fan debates, exclusive interviews, and the Stick to Football series. Neville, together with fellow pundits like Roy Keane, Micah Richards, and Jamie Carragher, plays an integral role in its content. The Overlap has previously collaborated with Sky to produce The Overlap on Tour, which featured these prominent figures traveling throughout the UK and Ireland.
Gary Neville expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “The Overlap started as an idea that we thought people might like and we went for it. What has happened since then has been a great journey. We see huge growth potential for The Overlap… and are delighted to have found the perfect partner in Global to power us forward and create ‘The Overlap Network.’”
Simon Pitts characterized The Overlap as “one of the UK’s most successful and dynamic sports entertainment brands, with a hugely exciting growth plan.” He added, “Gary and Scott have done an extraordinary job building The Overlap, and we’re thrilled to welcome them and their fantastic team to Global.”
This acquisition follows the launch of Global Studios, aimed at producing video-first podcast content, and comes on the heels of Global’s acquisition of The Fellas Studios late last year. Global Studios hosts a variety of podcasts, including The News Agents and My Therapist Ghosted Me, alongside others like The Fellas, Saving Grace, Pitchside, and Bach & Arthur. The daily News Agents, hosted by ex-BBC journalists Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, ranks among the most popular current affairs podcasts in the UK.
