Sportspro Podcast

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly comes back from a trip to Berlin for the inaugural League of Legends European Championships to talk to magazine editor Michael Long about noises from the NBA about a game in Paris, the UFC's big boost to ESPN+, the NHL's rethink of its World Cup of Hockey plans, and more from a busy sports industry week. Elsewhere on the podcast, Ted Leonsis - founder of Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics ownership group Monumental Sports & Entertainment - shares his thoughts on changes in the sports media landscape, the impact of data, experiments in the live experience, and what the sports business actually is.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and magazine editor Michael Long return to discuss Discovery's plans for a global cycling network after its takeover of Play Sports Group, presaging a new digital strategy around fan communities. They also reflect on a busy week in OTT, with developments in Disney's offloading of Fox's regional sports networks and the ongoing saga of the pirates of Qatari BeIN Sports. Elsewhere in the pod, there is a discussion of the 2026 Winter Olympic race as Stockholm and Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo enter the candidate phase, and to consider the void left behind by the retiring Andy Murray as athlete power and nostalgia create a potent mix.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long return for a breezy run through the goings-on in the sports industry over the Christmas break, from Susanna Dinnage's shock U-turn over the Premier League's top job to CVC's bold plans for Premiership Rugby and the NFL's new casino deal. Then Bruin Sports Capital founder George Pyne lays out the philosophies that drive the private equity firm - which owns the likes of Deltatre, Courtside Ventures, Engine Shop and On Location Experiences - shares some of the lessons he has learned in a career taking in Nascar and IMG, and reveals some of his business role models.

In an easily digestible broadcast tech edition, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly presents two interviews from November's SportsPro OTT Summit in Madrid. First, Fox Sports senior vice president of product operation Dustin Myers discusses the US broadcaster's work with AI specialist IBM Aspere to create the Fifa World Cup Highlights Machine, and shares his thoughts on the role automation will play in the development of OTT production. Then Neil Hall, the head of product for sport at the BBC, reveals how the publicly funded broadcaster is attacking latency issues to cut the gap between streams and linear TV output, the importance of new OTT rights partnerships, and how viewer engagement is changing.

As the 2018/19 NBA campaign turns the corner, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly talks to Peter Feigin, president of Eastern Conference pacesetters Milwaukee Bucks, about a season of promise and transition. Feign discusses the opportunities that have come from setting up home at the world class new Fiserv Forum, the future of the venue experience for sports and entertainment fans, and the challenges of dealing with local government to get the facility into action and into service for the people of Wisconsin. He also talks about the Bucks' exploits on the court, including the prospect of a real tilt at the championship and working with emerging superstar and MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With the festive season in sight, SportsPro editor-at-large  Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long are joined by Seven League consultant Charlie Beall and Sport Industry Group head of content Catherine Inkster to reflect on the year in the business of sport, including the Fifa World Cup in Russia, the prevailing currents in the Olympic movement, media disruption, understanding Fortnite, Wilder v Fury and plenty more in between. In a bumper edition, there's also time to look ahead to the trends that could shape 2019, and suggest some better habits for the industry next year - from opening up to new ideas to being more Kaepernick.

With the final print edition of 2018 put to bed, SportsPro magazine editor Michael Long rejoins editor-at-large Eoin Connolly to discuss a busy fortnight in the sports industry. On the agenda: whether the Copa Libertadores heralds a globe-trotting future for club soccer; a new man with a big job at the IAAF; Seattle's NHL return and the XFL's comeback; and what the experiences of Raheem Sterling, American gymnasts and Jess Varnish tell us about the growing power of the athlete voice. Then the well-travelled World Surf League chief executive Sophie Goldschmidt, the cover star of issue 103, shares her thoughts on a fast-emerging sport, its environmental responsibility, and the potential of wave pool technology.

With over 600 delegates gathered for the second SportsPro OTT Summit at Madrid's Meliá Castilla, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly speaks to Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis about the UK pay-TV giant's digital strategy, how it has steadily adapted its model to the demands of a changing era, his expectations about life under new owner Comcast, and much more. Meanwhile Deltatre chief product and marketing officer Carlo de Marchis, an OTT evangelist and expert, gives his thoughts on the event and the industry's fastest-emerging sector.

Since Discovery signed its US$2 billion deal with the PGA Tour in June for the international media rights to North America’s premier golfing circuit, intrigue has surrounded the makeup of the product that will carry more than 2,000 hours of PGA Tour content each year. In a special edition of the SportsPro Podcast, staff writer Nick Friend talks to Discovery Golf president Alex Kaplan at length about an OTT product and a partnership with the PGA Tour that could change the course of sports broadcasting.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long pair up again to talk about the winner-takes-all showdown in Las Vegas between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, asking what, if anything, could be learned from The Match. They also discuss South America’s aborted soccer showpiece, as the world watched while bitter rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate didn’t play in the Copa Libertadores final, and the ITF’s controversial Kosovo’s-backed reforms to the Davis Cup.  Elsewhere, the FA’s Kelly Simmons discusses participation and the growth of women’s soccer in England, and with Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Curuana poised over the board in London, World Chess president Ilya Merenzon describes what AI, digital connections and a Tinder-style app mean for the future of the ancient game.

English soccer's elite club competition has its first new leader in two decades, with Susanna Dinnage now confirmed as the Premier League chief executive and successor to Richard Scudamore. SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long discuss the hulking in-tray facing the Animal Planet and former Discovery UK chief, from Brexit to breakaways, and fan concerns to a content revolution. As Formula One's 2018 season comes to a close, there's another chance to assess the progress made by owner Liberty Media, with comment from commercial partnerships exec Zarah Al-Kudcy. And with Mitel confirmed as the title sponsor of the MLB London Series, baseball icon Alex Rodriguez explains what the UK can expect from the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, and lays out his own vision for getting another generation of fans enamoured with America's pastime.

As the Nitto ATP Finals brings the best players in men's tennis back to The O2 in London for a tenth year, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly sits down with the ATP SVP for marketing and business development, George Ciz. The conversation covers a new brand launch for the organisation and its elite tour, the lessons from the radical Next Gen Finals event, working with Amazon, why the series is like Rafa Nadal, getting the Tube with Federer and Djokovic, and plenty more besides. Meanwhile, SportsPro print editor Michael Long is on hand to talk about a new deal for Uefa and Chinese payments giant Alipay and a new frontier for DAZN, which is heading into Spain on the back of a three-year deal with the Premier League.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by New York Times sports news correspondent Tariq Panja to discuss an industry week dominated again by murky soccer business, with Der Spiegel's Football Leaks reports to the fore.  Items on the agenda include the prospect of a European Super League, Gianni Infantino's role in efforts by Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City to circumvent Financial Fair Play laws, and just how shocked fans will actually be to find out how the sausages are made. There's also time to reflect on governance issues elsewhere, including a contentious presidential race in boxing's AIBA and ongoing debates around sport and Saudi Arabia, and a brief note of optimism. Meanwhile Press Association chief sports reporter and SportsPro columnist Matt Slater is on hand to explain the latest goings-on in the world of anti-doping, as the Russian saga drags on to draw USADA into conflict with global body WADA.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly talks to print editor Michael Long, freshly returned from the Sportel Monaco media convention, about a chaotic and traumatic week in the sports industry. There are reflections on the contribution of the tragically departed Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Fifa's latest machinations around its Club World Cup plans and the examinations of Saudi state money in international sport after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the small supporting role of soccer stars in the election of far-right candidate Jair Bolsanaro as president of Brazil. Elsewhere in a packed pod there's a review of the MLB World Series and a step-change at LA 2028, while NFL EVP of international Mark Waller discussed the league's experiences in London this year and its ambitions for Mexico, China and Germany.

As the SportsPro Podcast goes weekly for the first time, editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long consider the sports industry events of recent days and look ahead to a new season in the NBA, perhaps the world's most forward-thinking league.  On the agenda are potential franchise relocations and additions; the move of basketball's biggest star, LeBron James, to the Los Angeles Lakers and the commercial activities of the players and their union; the microtransaction revolution in watching the NBA; and an interview with NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum. There's also the sad duty of reflecting on the contributions of two recently departed major figures in the sport: Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen and Fiba  general secretary Patrick Baumann.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly is joined by print editor Michael Long, who talks through the wealth of sports broadcasting features in the upcoming issue 102 of the magazine. With the likes of Eleven Sports, DAZN, ESPN+ and Sky Sports' Barney Francis on the agenda there is plenty to discuss, including Eleven's provocative decision to air La Liga matches during the UK's traditional Saturday 3pm TV soccer blackout. Then Jeremy Waite, the chief strategy officer at IBM for Watson Customer Engagement in Europe, joins the pod to talk through the possibilities and challenges that artificial intelligence will create for sport and entertainment. What will we learn about fans? Will AI change how sports formats are created? And what impact will voice and visual search have?

Formula One is deep into its second full season under its new owners at Liberty Media and the picture is beginning to emerge of how the leading series in motor racing will look in the years ahead.  Speaking to broadcaster Nicki Shields at the Black Book Motorsport Forum in London, the ever-quotable F1 managing director of commercial operations Sean Bratches covers everything from a first-ever marketing campaign to the launch of F1TV, the retirement of Fernando Alonso, the need for greater competition and pioneering engineering, a revitalised sponsorship offering and plenty more.

It's the list that everyone - or some people, at least - has been talking about: SportsPro's annual rankings of the world's 50 most marketable athletes. SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by editor Michael Long and senior writer Sam Carp to discuss the list, the episode also features Roger Breum, from SportsPro's data partner Hookit, who explains the spontech side of this year's 50MM

A special mini-pod with Sportlogiq's Craig Buntin discussing the origins of the business and how he made the switch from athlete to chief executive.

In a snack-sized edition, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly revisits a conversation at SportAccord in Bangkok with magazine editor Michael Long and Patrick Nally, the founder and president of the International Federation of Match Poker. Nally, widely regarded as a sports marketing pioneer for his work with the likes of Fifa, the Rugby World Cup and world athletics' IAAF, reflects on his decision to begin again and build a new pastime from the ground up. He discusses the challenges of bringing a young organisation into the world of sports politics, his excitement at the potential of match poker, and how new sports will fare in a changing federation environment.