Content Acquisition Manager

Midcontinent; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Midco Sports is seeking a Content Acquisition Manager to drive growth by securing strategic content partnerships for linear and streaming platforms. You will build relationships with colleges, conferences, and sports organizations to expand live and on-demand content, shaping the platform’s identity and boosting revenue.

The role requires confidence, industry knowledge, and a proven track record in media rights and licensing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Five years of experience in content acquisition, media rights, business development or collegiate athletics.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing contracts or licensing agreements.
• Deep understanding of the collegiate sports landscape and the sports media ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and secure new content partnerships for distribution on Midco Sports Plus and Midco Sports.
• Build and manage relationships with colleges, athletic departments, conferences, and independent rights holders.
• Develop underwriting formulas and models to value potential new content partners and existing partners approaching renewal of current agreements.
• Collaborate with Operations, Digital Streaming Operations, Marketing, Sales, Customer Care, Legal, and Finance to evaluate and integrate new content.
• Lead negotiations for media rights, licensing agreements, and multi‑year deals.
• Interact with Business Development Partners to determine prospective content partners and referrals for contractually obligated revenues where applicable.
• Develop a proactive content acquisition strategy aligned with audience demand and company goals.
• Lead vendor integration and lifecycle management for dynamic ad insertion technologies.
• Track industry trends, competitor offerings, and emerging opportunities in collegiate sports and streaming.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of prospects and provide regular updates to leadership.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Contract management

Content acquisition

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, media or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Summary

The Content Acquisition Manager drives Midco Sports’ growth by securing strategic content partnerships for linear and streaming platforms. This role builds relationships with colleges, conferences, professional sports organizations, and major athletic events to expand live and on‑demand content. Success requires confidence, knowledge of the sports industry, and proven experience in media rights and licensing to develop a strong, diverse content portfolio that attracts audiences and boosts revenue.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and secure new content partnerships for distribution on Midco Sports Plus and Midco Sports to shape the platform’s identity and strengthen its competitive position within the collegiate sports media landscape.
• Build and manage relationships with colleges, athletic departments, conferences, and independent rights holders to elevate the visibility of student‑athletes and participating institutions.
• Develop underwriting formulas and models to properly value potential new content partners and existing partners approaching renewal of current agreements.
• Collaborate with Midco Sports Operations, Digital Streaming Operations, Marketing, Sales, Customer Care Operations, Legal, and Finance to evaluate and integrate new content.
• Lead negotiations for media rights, licensing agreements, and multi‑year deals.
• Interact directly with Business Development Partners to determine prospective content partners and provide referrals for contractually obligated revenues where applicable.
• Develop a proactive content acquisition strategy aligned with audience demand and company goals.
• Lead vendor integration and lifecycle management for dynamic ad insertion (DAI) technologies.
• Track industry trends, competitor offerings, and emerging opportunities in collegiate sports and streaming.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of prospects and provide regular updates to leadership.
• Follow and serve as a role model in displaying Midco’s Core Values and Leadership Success Drivers.
• Adhere to Midco’s privacy guidelines to ensure each customer’s privacy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Note: Management reserves the right to assign or reassign functions and responsibilities to this job description at any time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, media or equivalent experience.
• Five years experience in content acquisition, media rights, business development or collegiate athletics.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing contracts or licensing agreements.
• Deep understanding of the collegiate sports landscape and the sports media (streaming and broadcast) ecosystem.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, marketing, communications, media or equivalent experience preferred.
• Experience and understanding of the sports industry, digital media, and/or digital video supply chain.

The hiring range for this position is $80,000-$105,000. The actual base salary offered will be determined based on multiple factors including internal equity, location, and the individual’s job‑related knowledge, skills and experience.

In addition to the base salary, this position is eligible for an annual bonus based on company and/or individual performance.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
• May be required to work in excess of 40 hours per week and other than normal business hours, such as holidays, evenings and weekends as business demands.

Physical Demands

• Ability to travel to campuses, conferences and industry events as needed.
• May occasionally be required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Prolonged keyboard usage and sitting at work station.

Mental Demands

• Strategic evaluation to assess potential partnerships and determine alignment with our products.
• Ability to navigate complex media rights and negotiate effectively for Midco Sports.
• Ability to design a proactive acquisition strategy that aligns with business goals and evolving audience demand.