Sportspro Podcast

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly presents a series of interviews recorded during SportsPro Live 2019 at The O2. Sean Bratches, the managing director of commercial operations at Formula One, talks about the series' calendar, the OTT service F1TV, and a partnership with movie star Will Smith's Westbrook Studios. (5.18)  Neil Hopkins, global head of strategy at M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment, discusses changes in the media landscape and the future of sports sponsorship. (10.41) Michael Prindiville, chief executive of Philadelphia 76ers-owned esports team Dignitas, gives his thoughts on the franchise's plans, the convergence of traditional sports and professional gaming, and the impact of Google Stadia. (21.10) And we hear from Premier League-winning Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs, founder of Fifa esports team No Fuchs Given, about how he got into the space and whether he expects other professional athletes to follow him. (28.24)

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam wrap up two days of insights and new ideas at SportsPro Live 2019, discussing lessons learned where technology meets the sports business with Digital Sport editor Chris McMullin. SportsPro Live host and Sky Sports presenter Adam Leventhal (15:10) shares his thoughts; Sports Innovation Lab co-founders Angela Ruggiero and Josh Walker (20:00) explain how fandom has changed forever and what Avengers Endgame can teach the sports industry; and Seven League chief executive Richard Ayers (27:32) works through the nuts and bolts of digital transformation.  Finally, there's talk from the stage as Simon Wear (37:18), whose Play Sports Group was recently acquired by Discovery, reveals how digital communities are built, why publishers got into OTT, and plans for a unique global cycling network.

With the SportsPro team in full event mode delivering the biggest ever edition of SportsPro Live at The O2, editor at large Eoin Connolly presents two recent interviews from opposite sides of the globe.  First up, tennis: Wimbledon commercial and media director Mick Desmond discusses the grass-court Grand Slam's first Asian sponsorship deal with smartphone brand Oppo, its plans in China and India, improvements to SW19 including a roof and hospitality suites at No1 Court, the future of its sponsorship strategy and more.  Then, speaking to the team at SportsPro OTT Asia, Optus head of television and content Corin Dimopoulos talks about the lessons the Australian telco learned from a glitchy Fifa World Cup last year, the opportunities arising from the women's tournament this summer, distribution plans for the Premier League and Uefa Champions League, and the 5G future of OTT.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long return to talk through the latest developments in the sports industry, including the signature partnership between NBC Universal and the organisers of the LA 2028 Olympics to sell commercial partnerships in the US around the next four Games. Meanwhile, senior writer Sam Carp is joined at the SportsPro offices by the organisers of two global events taking place in England. Netball World Cup event director Lindsay Impett and Jon Dutton, chief executive of the Rugby League World Cup in 2021, reveal the details of a unique collaboration between their two tournaments to help grow reach and share best practice.

SportsPro print editor Michael Long returns to reveal all to editor at large Eoin Connolly about his recent trip to Japan, taking the pulse of the sports industry there ahead of the Rugby World Cup this year and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. There's the latest on what the local organising committees for both of those events are thinking, and a sense from MMA's ONE Championship of what it takes to make a mark in the country.  Meanwhile, in an interview from SportsPro OTT Asia in Singapore, Rakuten's Laura Li talks about the Japanese ecommerce giant's partnerships with the likes of the NBA and how OTT video and data are being filtered through its ecosystem.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly talks to Simon Dent, the former lawyer and soccer agent turned founder of BT Sport Industry Award-nominated creative agency Dark Horses.  Speaking at the company's London offices, Dent discusses the gap he saw for more creatively minded work in sports sponsorship and marketing campaigns, and how he partnered up with Lucky Generals to fill it. He also reveals why he values being surrounded by smarter people, and how Dark Horses plans to maintain its underdog streak, and talks about the growth to be had for brands in women's sport and the search for new audiences.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam shake off the jet-lag and reflect on the inaugural SportsPro OTT Summit Asia, discussing everything from Manchester City's All or Nothing series on Amazon, to DDMC Fortis' strategy for soccer across the continent, Kayo Sports' unique entry into the Australian market, and how Rakuten is using sport to bring people into its ecommerce ecosystem.  Then there is time to listen in on one of the sessions from the Pan Pacific in Singapore, as Picture Board founder Unmish Parthasarathi asks Joyee Biswas, Facebook's head of sports partnerships for the APAC region, about the social media giant's experiments with the Premier League, La Liga and the IPL, different visions for video on Facebook Watch and Instagram, and its expectations for VR with Oculus.

SportsPro senior writer Sam Carp and digital editor Tom Bassam join editor at large Eoin Connolly to discuss the latest machinations in rugby union, as Infront, CVC and IMG bid to buy stakes in a new World Rugby competition and the Six Nations respectively, and the return of Formula One - which marks a controversial comeback for tobacco sponsors.  There are reflections on a week of big decisions in international soccer - with plans advancing for a two-country Copa America in 2020, expanded Club World Cup in 2021, a 48-team World Cup in 2022, and nine expressions of interest in the 2023 Women's World Cup. In cycling, meanwhile, Ineos founder Jim Ratcliffe's takeover of Team Sky is also on the agenda.  Finally, Vitality Programme managing director Nick Read lays out the company's sports sponsorship strategy, working with the likes of England Netball, Arsenal and Parkrun, and explains how it serves its goals in the health and life insurance sector.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is back at headquarters to catch up with senior writer Sam Carp, freshly returned from a stint at Sportel Asia in Macau.  On the agenda: the efforts of brands like Nike, Visa and Adidas to capitalise on the momentum of women's soccer; Fifa's push to expand its 2022 World Cup to 48 teams across the Gulf; and the players' council intrigue to oust well-regarded ATP president Chris Kermode. There's also time to discuss Sky Sports' Comcast-era crossovers with NBC, and the diverse broadcast markets of Asia, while DDMC Fortis chief executive Patrick Murphy lays out plans for the agency's eight-year rights partnership with the Asian Football Confederation.

As International Women's Day approaches, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly gets the thoughts of two female leaders about how the sports industry can properly embrace diversity across the board.  First, with the Netball World Cup set to hit Liverpool in July, England Netball chief executive Joanna Adams discusses how the sport has built momentum through participation, elite performance and commercial development, professionalising at the top end while improving access at the same time. She also gives her views on how to create more and better opportunities for young women in the business of sport.  Then Rebecca Smith, the former Fifa World Player of the Year nominee, reveals what she hopes to achieve in her new role as global executive director of the women’s game at soccer fan platform Copa90. With the Fifa Women's World Cup coming up in France, she argues that it is time for the industry to look beyond the tentpole events to the wealth of stories and personalities throughout the game.

SportsPro print editor Michael Long rejoins editor at large Eoin Connolly to discuss another sports industry week, from media moves by Twitch and La Liga to an altogether different set of moves at the Olympics, as the organisers of Paris 2024 confirm plans to give breakdancing a Games debut.  Then, as the England and Wales Cricket Board confirms the playing conditions for The Hundred, there's a conversation about the challenges rights holders will face in creating bespoke new formats. And with less than 100 days to go until the Cricket World Cup, Hublot chief executive Ricardo Guadalupe runs over the Swiss watchmaker's plans for its sponsorship of the event.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly grabs a barista coffee in the team's smart new offices in London's Victoria and catches up on the week's events with SportsPro senior writer Sam Carp, back on the pod to discuss Don Garber's contract extension in MLS, Shaun Harvey's departure from the EFL, fast fashion and the jerseys of the future.  The two also look at the NBA's African venture with Fiba, the implications of Tyson Fury's TV deal with ESPN for heavyweight boxing and heavyweight media, and what exactly it is that Intel is working on with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.  Meanwhile, Olympic champion cyclist Callum Skinner explains the inspiration for advocacy group Global Athlete, launched in London in February, and lays out his hopes for bringing athletes' interests to the heart of sports decision-making.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long discuss another full week in the sports industry action, covering everything from the IOC moving house and a united Korean Olympic bid to a mega-merger in the world of venue management.  They also take in the news that BeIN has created another challenge for Formula One by backing out of bidding for TV rights in the Middle East, and speculate on what might be involved in a DAZN spending spree.  Meanwhile, with Uefa president Alexander Ceferin re-elected for a second term and his unopposed Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino now certain to follow suit in the summer, Associated Press global football writer Rob Harris is on the line to lay out what's to come at the top of the world game.

In a special extended edition of the SportsPro Podcast, SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly meets in Lausanne with Travis Tygart, the chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency. The discussion begins with the latest chapter in the Russian state doping saga, and the path forward now that Rusada's compliance has been confirmed - under review - for the time being. In part two, Tygart reflects on the wider challenges facing WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, with a presidential race due when the tenure of Sir Craig Reedie ends later this year. Finally, the conversation turns to the US, the challenges of wrangling combat sports into stricter practices, differing standards among the major leagues and the lessons of the Lance Armstrong case. He also explains why, fundamentally, he remains optimistic about the anti-doping cause.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long shake off their Super Bowl-induced slumber to wrap up events from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, reflecting on audience figures and a pesky four-score of unsold luxury passes. They also look back on soccer's Asian Cup, won by 2022 Fifa World Cup hosts Qatar, whose attentions will now turn to the challenge of staging the biggest sporting event of them all.  There's also time to discuss the US launch of Golf Pass from NBC Sport and the PGA Tour, while BT Sport chief operating officer Jamie Hindhaugh lays out the UK pay-TV platforms innovation strategy as it launches new apps for Samsung, Xbox, Apple TV.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long reflect on another eventful week in the sports industry: from the world of anti-doping, where Norway's Linda Helleland has announced a WADA presidential after the latest instalment of the Russia saga; to investment, where City Football Group has become a founder of investment fund Sapphire Sports; to soccer, where the Asian Cup has been overshadowed by the plight of Hakeem al-Araibi. There's also time to look ahead to two big oval-ball events: Super Bowl LIII and the return of rugby union's Six Nations. And Ben Spoont, co-founder and chief executive of Miami Heat-backed esports team Misfits Gaming, explains how he aims to create more physical touchpoints for a mostly digital fanbase.

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.