Universal Sports names Edward Derse as Senior VP of Digital Media and Strategic Partnerships, release, note by Larry Eder

Edward Derse, courtesy of Universal Sports

Edward Derse understood digital media years before many others. In 1996, Edward worked with the late Doug Speck and myself on the coverage of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, our first online coverage of an Olympic Games. It was crazy, it was fun, and it was new. Edward, at the time worked for the LA84 Foundation, a legacy of the 1984 Olympics. I remember, over the past two decades, a few occasions, when we met, having conversations on where sports could go with the the exciting changes in digital coverage.

Edward went on to develop many projects that opened track and field to a new generation of coaches, and helped promote the viewing of sports in new ways. It is exciting to see him at Universal Sports, one of the few ways that we in North America are able to view our global sport of track & field.

How will Edward Derse affect the coverage of our sport and give more sports fans a chance to see sports in this digital age? Only time will tell, but, I believe, our sport and Universal Sports, will be the better.

Universal Sports Names Edward Derse as Senior Vice President of Digital Media and Strategic Partnerships

Woodland Hills, CA (August 5, 2013) – Universal Sports Network has named Edward Derse as its Senior Vice President of Digital Media and Strategic Partnerships. In the newly created position, Derse will oversee digital media platforms and business development for Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com, the premier multi-platform media destination for year-round Olympic and endurance sports programming.

“Ed is a great addition to our team, and we are happy to welcome him to Universal Sports,” said Scott Brown, president of Universal Sports. “His experience in both developing and monetizing digital properties will be a valuable asset as we continue to expand the distribution of our robust slate of world-class sports content across multiple platforms.”

A sports and entertainment veteran within the digital and sports media industries, Derse comes to Universal Sports from GameFly, Inc. where he was the General Manager of the media and mobile group for the videogame service’s diverse product line. Prior to GameFly, Ed was the Vice President of Interactive at Fox Sports International where he was responsible for managing the digital operations for Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Deportes. He also has an extensive background in Olympic sports at both Fox Sports and the LA84 Foundation having covered several Olympic Games.

Derse earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL. A polished speaker, Ed often appears at digital media industry events. He is based at the network’s corporate headquarters in Woodland Hills, CA.

ABOUT UNIVERSAL SPORTS

Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, LP, is the premier multi-platform media destination for Olympic-related sports programming in the United States. Offering more than 1,200 hours of original programming each year, Universal Sports has exclusive rights to world and national championship events in a wide array of sports, including swimming, track and field, gymnastics, cycling, skiing, figure skating and rugby. Whether on television, online, or on the go with mobile and tablet applications, Universal Sports offers a four-screen experience to fans of global sports every day of the year. For more information, please visit UniversalSports.com.

The Brooks Run Guide, A Brooks Coaching Newsletter, Back Issues (#1-#10), Fall/Winter 2025

This Day in Track & Field-December 2, Frank Shorter wins Fukuoka Marathon for third time (1973), Born this Day: Mike Larrabee, two-time 1964 Olympic gold medalist (400m, 4x400m), written by Walt Murphy

The Brooks Run Guide Interviews, Julian Florez, Assistant Coach, Brooks Beasts Track Club, Episode 9

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

View all posts