MarketCast Buys Sports Specialist Turnkey

Los Angeles-based consumer insights firm MarketCast Group has acquired sports research and advisory firm Turnkey Intelligence, for an undisclosed sum, from Turnkey Sports & Entertainment.

Turnkey's services for sports sector clients include fan experience tracking, sponsorship valuation and efficacy, ticketing strategy, and creative / media optimization; and include a self-service platform, Audience Portal. The company was formed in 1996 and is headquartered just outside Philadelphia in Haddonfield, NJ. On completion Turnkey will continue to be led by its current executive leadership team consisting of GM Haynes Hendrickson and EVPs Donté Scott and Tony Ponturo.

MarketCast already includes New York-based Insight Strategy Group and social media analyst Fizziology - recently merged under a single brand.

Len Perna, President and CEO of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment will join a newly-established Turnkey Intelligence Advisory Board, and comments, 'I'm excited for the future of Turnkey Intelligence... Combining with MarketCast Group and their family of best-in-class companies will allow the team to offer even more to our 250+ clients'.

MarketCast Group CEO Henry Shapiro (pictured) says: 'We are media and entertainment research experts, working across film, TV, and videogames. Adding a leader in the world of sports gives us a 360-degree view into how people spend their free time and invest their passion'.

NYC-based investment bank JEGI represented MarketCast Group in the transaction. Web sites are at www.turnkeyintelligence.com and www.marketcastgroup.com . MarketCast Group is a portfolio company of New York private equity firm Kohlberg & Company.