How eCLUTCH and Sam Media Are Scaling Digital Entertainment
Premium esports content, mobile-first monetization and operator distribution are coming together to create a new model for digital entertainment. eCLUTCH CEO Arnaud Verlhac and Sam Media CEO Alexis Bartelds explain how.
eCLUTCH, the esports media platform and subsidiary of global broadcast technology company iKO Media Group , is bringing premium, brand-safe esports entertainment directly to mobile users through operators across Switzerland, Sweden and beyond.
Its partnership with Sam Media adds another key element to that strategy: combining premium content with seamless mobile payments and an international operator network to create a model designed to scale.
We spoke with Arnaud Verlhac, CEO of eCLUTCH, and Alexis Bartelds, CEO of Sam Media, about the opportunity.
Here’s what they had to say:
What makes eCLUTCH different from traditional esports platforms?
Arnaud Verlhac: We want to make professional esports more accessible and bring it to audiences beyond traditional gaming communities.
eCLUTCH combines live esports, dedicated channels and on-demand content in one premium environment. The focus is on quality and curation, creating an experience that is engaging for fans but also safe and brand-friendly for operators and commercial partners.
And importantly, we’re taking that experience to where audiences already are—on mobile, through operators, as well as FAST channels and connected TV.
Alexis, why is eCLUTCH a strong fit for Sam Media?
Alexis Bartelds: eCLUTCH stood out because of the quality of the product and its long-term vision.
Esports has become a major entertainment category, particularly for younger audiences. Our role is to help take that premium content further by combining it with Sam Media’s operator relationships, international distribution capabilities and monetization expertise.
It’s a strong combination: premium content on one side, and the infrastructure to distribute and monetize it at scale on the other.
Why are mobile operators so important to this model?
Alexis Bartelds: Operators already have established relationships with millions of mobile customers. That creates a powerful distribution channel for premium digital entertainment.
Carrier billing also makes the experience simple. Users can discover, subscribe and pay for content through their existing mobile relationship, reducing friction in the payment journey.
For operators, compelling entertainment can drive engagement while creating recurring digital revenues beyond traditional telecom services.
Arnaud Verlhac: For eCLUTCH, operator partnerships allow us to reach new audiences quickly without compromising the quality of the experience.
It also gives us a more sustainable model. We’re not relying solely on advertising—we can combine subscriptions with premium live content, sponsorships, branded content and other opportunities across mobile, FAST and connected TV.
What does success look like from here?
Arnaud Verlhac: Success means bringing premium esports to millions of new viewers and making it a much more mainstream part of digital entertainment.
Alexis Bartelds: And doing that at scale expanding across our operator network, opening new markets and creating sustainable revenue opportunities for operators and content partners.
The opportunity is to bring together content, distribution and monetization in a model that works for everyone involved.
For eCLUTCH and Sam Media, the vision is clear: premium, brand-safe gaming content that is easy for audiences to access, simple to pay for and built to scale through mobile operators globally.
As gaming, streaming and telecom continue to converge, the partnership is creating new ways to bring esports to broader audiences while unlocking new value for operators and content partners.
Continue the conversation at MIPCOM
eCLUTCH will be attending MIPCOM 2026 in Cannes, where the team will also host an exclusive networking event, bringing together partners and industry leaders to connect and explore the next opportunities in esports, media and distribution.
Want to hear more from Arnaud Verlhac and Alexis Bartelds? Watch the full interview video
