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An executive production company that plays to win
We're passionate about play.
With skin in the game we give everything we do 100%.
With skin in the game we give everything we do 100%.
Who We Are
We make the impossible happen
From staging the impossible fight that broke viewership records to securing esports status as a sport, VADR has achieved significant milestones in the industry.
We are broadcast-first
From pay-per-view to developing esports for linear we understand the business models it takes to achieve success for stakeholders.
We set the pieces on the board
We're the team in black suits and t-shirts who move the pieces in place to ensure our brands and talent can play. We acquire, hire, licence and build the pillars for success.
Deal team
Our philosophy is pretty simple — squad up with talented people and collaborate
John McRae
Managing Director
Disrupting media and sport for 20+ years
Brenda Saveluc
General Consul
Commercial and Corporate M&A
Ken O’Shea
Governance
Keeper of the numbers
Our mates at Livewire group and Fenway Sports Management represent our brand integration opportunities.
Indy Khabra
Director
Livewire
Brad Manuel
Director
Livewire
Back story
VADR is an Australia and UAE-based executive production firm that specializes in producing and promoting new media, sports, and entertainment. With a history that dates back to 2004, VADR has been at the forefront of developing content for various platforms including free-to-air, cable, pay-per-view, OTT, and online.
The company is owned by managing director John McRae, who is a respected industry veteran with 25 years of experience in the events and broadcasting industry. His contributions to media and sport have been acknowledged by New Zealand Marketing Magazine, which awarded him the titles of 'Media Visionary of the Year' in 2018 and 'TV Event of the Decade' in 2009. In 2015, McRae established the Oceania Esports Council whilst living in Australia and the New Zealand Esports Federation to promote and develop esports as an official sport. This effort was recognized in 2020 when the New Zealand government designated the NZESF as the official National Sporting Organization for esports.
In 2022, John McRae received the status of a life member from the New Zealand Esports Federation for his significant contributions to esports in Australia and New Zealand. In honor of his achievements, the inaugural esports test match and Commonwealth Games qualifiers between Australia and New Zealand were named "The McRae Cup".
VADR's involvement in gaming and esports began in 2015 when it launched Let's Play Live (LPL), which it grew into Australia and New Zealand's largest independent esports broadcaster and tournament platform.
Before venturing into esports, VADR founded pay-per-view companies Duco Events and SKY Arena. Over the years, the company has built broadcast studios, online platforms and mobile apps, and developed new broadcast formats for major sell-out concerts, fundraisers and sports events featuring both local and international icons.
Executive production
As an Executive Producer we oversees the production of an event, broadcast, game, or other major media product, either in a behind-the-scenes or hands-on capacity. An Executive Producer raises the finance, ensures that a project stays on schedule and within budget and manages team members brought on to complete that project, and the final word of approval on the finished product. Executive Producers act as the liaison between the project’s financiers and the team who ultimately run the day-to-day.
Executive Production Stages
- Pre-production
- Production
- In-Market
- Growth
- Maturity
This approach facilitates agility, speed to market and facilitates the placement of key executives when the venture or project team is more established or an exit is triggered. VADR retains exclusive executive production rights to deliver services to projects it initiates.
We work with broadcasters, leagues, media owners and publishers.
We are an executive production team with four core competencies:
- Venture and product development
- Producing linear and online broadcasts
- Delivering large scale events and programmes
- League and event management
Key advantages of partnering with VADR :
- Experienced executive team
- Access to our advisory network
- Experienced broadcasting, events and promotion team
- Commercial solution focused approach
- Close links with sport and esports clubs
- International network of studios and crew roster
- International esports governance experience
- Proprietary esports integrity technology
