Vavel

Vavel
	Screenshot Logo since January 2017
Type of site	Sports news
Available in	English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Created by	Javier Robles
URL	vavel.com
Commercial	Yes
Launched	June 28, 2009; 15 years ago
Current status	Active

Vavel (stylized VAVEL) is a Spain-based sports news website. It has 8 editions; Spain, United States, United Kingdom, France, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Mexico, and Colombia. VAVEL is able to readers in 4 different languages.

In August 2016, VAVEL launched a daily digital broadcast^[1] available through Facebook and YouTube live channels.

History

The site was created by Javier Robles, a sports journalist, while studying at the University of Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid (2008–2009).

The website was launched in April 2009 as a social media platform revolving around sports where users could configure their profiles with team logos and preferences. There was also multimedia tools in which users could personalize their own blog, upload images and videos, and interact with other users through direct messaging within their profile.

At the same time that this social media platform was launched in vavel.com, in the domain vavel.es, a sports newspaper was released. The first article was published on June 28, 2009^[2] and the writing staff consisted of college students entirely. Later the newspaper changed to vavel.com domain.

VAVEL was selected by the Foreign Trade Institute of the Spanish Government ^[3] in its Spain Tech Center immersion program in Silicon Valley at the end of 2017 as startup with the possibility to settle in the American market.

VAVEL is recognized as an accredited media outlet by prominent sports organizations worldwide, including the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, UEFA, FIFA, Olympic Games, Premier League, and UFC, among other major competitions.^[4]

Content

On Vavel, users can find a learning and professional development environment for journalists and writers. The platform provides training and mentorship in various journalistic genres. Recognized as a prominent independent media in Europe and America, Vavel is a space where journalists and writers of various topics can develop and showcase their skills.

All content on Vavel is reviewed by a team of professional editors before publication. This ensures high standards of quality and accuracy in the information presented, further enhancing the platform's reputation as a reliable source for journalists and writers.

Monetization

Since 2018, Vavel has chosen not to include advertising in its articles, cover pages, search pages, author profiles, tags, or categories, in order to improve readability and avoid confusion. Advertising is maintained only in a specific genre, with contributors in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia receiving monthly compensation.

In 2023, Vavel launched a subscription platform ^[5] and pay-per-content for journalists. This technology allows creators and businesses to manage and monetize their content in videos, podcasts, and articles. It operates under a subscription model or pay-per-view, encouraging the creation of quality content. The platform offers a referral program and a 75/25 revenue-sharing model between the contributor and the platform, plus an additional 5% for referred accounts. Available as a web version and in mobile apps for Android and iOS, it is designed to support the development of sustainable businesses for creators, promoting a community of 'followers' and providing features such as subscriber lists and newsletters.