Bronx Buds
The 7th Annual Awards
- Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics
- Best Branded Content
- Most Creative Partnership
ABOUT THIS ENTRY
Bronx Buds is a pioneering animated series that blends sports, storytelling, and community to engage the next generation of baseball fans. Airing on the YES Network and The Gotham Sports App (the successor to the YES App), it revives the tradition of Saturday morning cartoons while authentically representing Bronx culture with real New York kid actors. As one of the first animated series tied to a regional sports network, it showcases how teams can use original IP to cultivate lifelong fans.
The series integrates brands like Hexclad organically, demonstrating animation’s power in creating deep sponsorships beyond static ads. Social media activations featuring behind-the-scenes content and character-driven posts drive high engagement, setting a new standard for interactive sports content. By combining animation, sports, and strategic partnerships, Bronx Buds redefines sports entertainment, inspiring the industry to connect with future generations in innovative ways.
How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?
Bronx Buds sets a new benchmark in fan engagement by proving that animated storytelling can be a powerful tool for growing young sports audiences. As one of the first animated series tied to a regional sports network, it demonstrates how teams and leagues can use original IP to cultivate lifelong fans. Bronx Buds elevates fan engagement by aligning with The Gotham Sports App's strategy of making sports content a daily digital destination.
As YES pioneered live game overlays, free-to-play gaming, and watch-together experiences, Bronx Buds introduced a new layer of interactive storytelling, demonstrating how animation can drive engagement among younger audiences. By integrating Bronx Buds into the YES App and YES Network, the series expands YES’s roadmap for digital engagement, ensuring the next generation of fans connects with baseball in a fresh, accessible way.
Beyond traditional viewing, Bronx Buds leverages social media activations, character-driven content, and behind-the-scenes features to build an engaged community, mirroring YES’s success in driving fan participation during live games.
Additionally, Bronx Buds presents unique sponsorship opportunities, seamlessly integrating brands like Hexclad while setting a new benchmark for how animated sports content can generate revenue and inspire the next evolution of fan engagement.
Objective
Bronx Buds was created to engage the next generation of sports fans through animated storytelling, reviving the magic of Saturday morning cartoons while celebrating baseball and Bronx culture. The show features real New York kid actors, making it authentic and relatable. By integrating Hexclad organically into cooking scenes, Bronx Buds demonstrates the power of brand partnerships in animation.
Distributed on The Gotham Sports App and YES Network, the series pioneers a new content strategy for regional sports networks, building lifelong fan connections through original IP. Bronx Buds reaches digital-first audiences where they consume content, aligning with YES’s mission to create a daily digital destination for New York sports fans.
By integrating Bronx Buds into YES’ independent streaming strategy, the series helps regional sports networks maximize fan engagement while laying the foundation for future revenue generation.
Strategy & Execution
Bronx Buds was strategically integrated into The Gotham Sports App's mission to meet modern fans where they are, leveraging wide distribution across iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and the Web. This ensured that young audiences and families could easily access the series alongside YES’ premier sports content.
By aligning with YES’ goal of delivering top-tier streaming experiences, Bronx Buds benefited from the app’s superior video quality, making it one of the first animated series to be featured within a regional sports network’s digital ecosystem.
To maximize engagement, Bronx Buds complemented YES’ interactive features by driving digital-first storytelling that resonated with younger audiences.
Social media activations, behind-the-scenes content, and character-driven posts extended fan engagement beyond streaming, creating a multi-platform experience. By seamlessly blending animation with sports content, Bronx Buds helped YES expand its reach, setting a new standard for how regional sports networks connect with future generations.
Organizations
- Tzero Studios
- Hexclad
- YES Network
Links
Credits
Justin Shenkarow
Creator and Executive Producer
Tzero Studios
Thomas Borowski
Creator and Executive Producer
Tzero Studios
Jason Feneque
Executive Producer, Senior Director of Distribution and Special Projects
YES Network
Daniel Winer
CEO and Founder
Hexclad
Jon Litner
CEO
YES Network
Celebrate in NYC
Join us for the 7th Annual Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 24, 2025 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.
