We produce and promote new media, sports and entertainment.

merchants of play since 2004
Super 8 Fight night
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ICC
Shihad Live PPV concert
Aphrodite & Micky Finn

Merchants of Play

We are an independent company that acquires, invests, licenses, develops, and partners in entertainment and media brands and rights. We are passionate about the business of play, broadcasting, and events.

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From concept to execution

We're builders, creators, and promoters who produce and promote events, content, and talent for free-to-air, cable, pay-per-view, OTT, and online media. We've taken an integrated approach to play and content delivery that has seen us win awards, receive plaudits
and break viewership records.

letsplay.liveSKY ARENA broadcastLPL Studios Auckland SKY TowerOlymp Webflow Template Digital Marketing Team About Us Page ImageIESF World Champiionship
Robert F. Kennedy Jr and RT Hon Mike Moore International Champions Cup - AC Roma Shihad Live PPV concertShihad Live PPV concertFight of the Century - Tua vs Cameron
Israel AdesanyaMark HuntPaul GallenBob GeldolfPresident Clinton

Modus Operandi

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Experience matters

Our battle-hardened, high-performing team partners and collaborates with the best to deliver unparalleled and unique experiences.

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Frank and fearless

We value open and honest communication with our customers, partners, suppliers, and vendors. We take ownership and responsibility for our decisions, just as we expect others to do.

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Can do attitute



We're an agile, solution-based team that plans for success. We are not afraid to challenge the status quo and embrace opportunities where others see risk.

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Early adopters and Pioneers

We zig when others zag and have been pioneers in emerging media formats from PPV to linear esports, NDI, Hybrid, and REMI cloud production, web3 and XR.

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Industry leaders

We are strong believers in self-regulation and maintain a consistent track record of championing industry standards and fair play.

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Community minded

From raising millions for not-for-profits to managing and establishing industry boards, we utilise our skills for a good cause.

brands we have worked with
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The event was very positively received by our clients, family and friends. Dave and the team had a blast and your team was extremely professional and organised the whole way through. A pleasure to work with you all!

Karen Warman, Marketing Manager, Resene Paints

The VADR executive production team is highly regarded internationally within the industry
and is second to none

Darren Kwan,  President, Australian Esports Association

It's not every day you get to work with someone with the vision, technical depth, commercial astuteness, and last but not least energy levels as our new mate John McRae. The past months have been a journey into how XR, Streaming, AI, Web3 can enrich a 1500+ year old game, strengthen fair play and bring it to a new audience.

Pelle Larsen, Partnerships, Tencent

They pulled off New Zealand's largest-grossing pay-per-view boxing event and changed the face of sport promotion in New Zealand.

Steve Killgallon, Stuff.co.nz

Thank you for the amazing experience. Literally, you guys are the best organising staff I’ve ever been with.

Player, Middle East

Just want to see a huge thanks for all the effort that went in from your end. It was a huge success and people at Frucor really enjoyed it. Understand all the effort and planning that goes in so just want to say well done!! It was money well spent.

Becky Oliver, Assistant Brand Manager – V Engagement & Rockstar, Frucor

Working with John last year for the Australian Kangaroos Fortnite activation's was a great experience. John and his team are professional, extremely knowledgeable and committed in the esports space and understood our goals so that we could maximise the results. They provided the support, guidance and environment required to ensure that the players had a great time and the fans could connect with the activation. I would highly recommend working with VADR and we hope to work with John and the team on future initiatives.

David Evans, Commercial Manager, NRL

The team at VADR have significant experience across all core branches of the industry, including team management, tournament operations, broadcasting, events, competition integrity and more. I've worked directly with them for several years on a range of projects and have always been impressed with their bold concepts and consistent execution.

Michael Stewart, Owner, Chief Esports

John is a forward thinking problem solver.  He as deep media knowledge that he couples with a sleeves up operational approach that gets things done.

George MacFarlane, Director of Strategy,  SKY Television  

John has been a critical driving force for the New Zealand Esports Federation. His leadership, intelligence, perspective and pragmatic approach to producing outcomes is a large factor for the organisations recognition as a national sporting body today. I've met very few people in my professional career who are able to drive ideas and negotiate complex landscapes to achieve results.When John is passionate about something, the effort he pours into the securing the outcome is significant and impressive. He will always be welcomed in our organisation for his contributions and I look forward to working with him on any future endeavours.

Jonathan Jansen, CEO , New Zealand Esports Federation

John and his team were given a tight deadline to run a FIFA sanctioned esports tournament. Despite detail being slow to come out of FIFA, John and his team were able to mobilise quickly, efficiently and most importantly without fuss. LPL will now help New Zealand Football deliver a World Class event broadcast on multiple platforms which will showcase New Zealand and New Zealand Football to the world. I would happily endorse John’s skills to any prospective clients.

Carl Jackson, Commercial Director, New Zealand Football

I have had the extraordinary pleasure to have worked with John on high profile business events since 2008. On first meeting I was struck by John's work ethic, his entrepreneurial spirit and his connectedness to the global who's who. It is at once refreshing and intimidating.

John's ability to draw people into his vision - people who operate at the highest level - is simply breath-taking. He has the enviable and unmatched track-record of [working with] royalty, former US presidents, former and current Prime Ministers and leaders, star sports and business people, and the world's greatest change-makers. He does this with ease, finesse and startling timing and understanding of his audiences

Belinda Nash, Communications Manager, AUT

John is a well-known media entrepreneur and promoter who is considered to be a founding father of linear esports and pay-per-view.

Ben Lenihan - Legal Counsel at EverEdge Global

“We couldn’t believe the amount of coverage we got! We were everywhere… you guys are stars.

Rob Young, Director, Mahindra

I worked with John on the High School League and found his self-starter entrepreneurial spirit valuable in many conversations. This alongside his drive, ambition and passion for esports meant he was looking to find ways to grow the esports scene across New Zealand and Australia.

Ivan Davies - Publishing Manager, Riot Games

2018 Media Visionary of the Year

There is no shortage of talent carving out new digs in our media landscape. From talented humans such as Dr Mark Sagar from Soul Machines, to Sir Richard Taylor from Weta Workshop, forward thinkers are shifting the industry with new realities and shiny new platforms. While our list of finalists boasts a discerning bunch, a real cherry is John McRae.

New Zealand Marketing Magazine

Speaking outside of the concert, fans were stoked with the performance and gave rave reviews.

3News

The event was very positively received by our clients, family and friends. Dave and the team had a blast and your team was extremely professional and organised the whole way through. A pleasure to work with you all!

Karen Warman, Marketing Manager, Resene Paints

I am particularly delighted to welcome Mr John McRae, who will guide us through our journey into the digital world with integrity. As we navigate the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of technology and digital innovation, Mr McRae's expertise will be invaluable in helping us to leverage the power of technology while staying true to the values of sportsmanship and fair play that lie at the heart of our game.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahayan