Sportspro Podcast

Series five of Drive to Survive was watched for 90.2m hours in the first half of last year - one of Netflix's biggest hits. Box to Box, the creator of the show, is now applying the popular format across a number of different sports. Warren Smith, the production company's head of sport and factual, joins the podcast to give us the inside track on Box To Box's approach to making a hit sports documentary. Talking points: Smith's background and working at Box to Box (2:10) Why did Box to Box's style cut through so well? (9:05) Are the stars more open to the cameras now? (15:44) How the producers work on storylines and put the shows together (19:49) Waiting for the call to commission the next season and keeping the series fresh (29:47) Upcoming projects (33:51)

SportsPro has published its fifth annual class of sports technology startups worth investing your attention in. To mark the occasion, technology editor Steve McCaskill joins the pod to talk through the list before we hear from Gareth Lippiatt, co-founder and chief executive of one of the companies in this year's class, FanHub. Talking points: How the list comes together (1:08) The trends in this year's list (4:08) Steve picks his favourite startups on the list (9:58) Gareth Lippiatt interview (18:40)

Danny Townsend, the recently installed CEO of SRJ Sports Investments, has a fun job. Counting the PIF as its sole shareholder, SRJ (pronounced 'surge') has been set up to accelerate the growth of the sports sector in Saudi Arabia by targeting the acquisition of new events IP and commercial rights. Trying to unpick what that actually means is SportsPro's Tom Bassam, who sat down with Townsend to discuss how SRJ plans to spend the kingdom's money.

Since being founded in 2016, UK-based Castore has come from nowhere to establish itself as one of the most eye-catching brands in sportswear. Brothers Tom and Phil Beahon have overseen a rise that has seen the company go from handing out apparel outside gyms to having some of the biggest names in sports wearing Castore kit. Here, Tom Beahon makes a return to the SportsPro Podcast to tell George Breare and Tom Bassam about the next stage for Castore, as well as discuss some of the challenges of growing a £1bn company amid the intense pressure of the sportswear business. Talking points: An update on Castore's journey (0:40) Positioning the brand and the company culture (11:37) Working with Andy Murray (19:35) Bringing in new investment (24:45) Dealing with challenges and challenging the big brands (28:50) How Castore works with its partner teams (35:07) Moving into new markets and sports verticals (41:29) Running a family business (49:32)

As Everton (again) and Nottingham Forest become the latest Premier League clubs to fall foul of the Premier League's financial rules, George Breare, Tom Bassam and Josh Sim discuss that story, plus a potentially huge NFL-ESPN deal. Then Two Circles CEO Gareth Balch joins the show to talk about the Charterhouse move. Talking points: What's the story with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules? (1:04) Are the rules protecting clubs at the top? (7:28) The NFL-ESPN deal (18:03) Two Circles acquired by Charterhouse (29:49) Josh Sim interviews Two Circles CEO Gareth Balch (32:06)

Lenah Ueltzen-Gabell, Wasserman Group MD, and Women in Football board member Jo Tongue, who is also CEO of Tongue Tied Management - an agency that represents two of the biggest stars in the England team in Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh, as well as current Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes - join SportsPro's Tom Basam for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of play in women's football. Talking points: The media picture for women's football Is it the right time go behind a paywall? What's the right commercial structure for a game still growing? How to take advantage of the unique appeal of women's football Being set up for success at a governance level Looking ahead to 2024

With SportsPro presenting its annual list of ten influential figures whose work will shape the sporting agenda over the next 12 months, George Breare, Sam Carp and Tom Bassam discuss some of the potential power players for 2024.

Two teams, three rounds of trivia based on the year in the sports industry... what could possibly go wrong? George Breare hosts SportsPro's annual end-of-year quiz as Tom Bassam and Chris Stone team up to take on Steve McCaskilll and Ed Dixon.

The final NEW ERA podcast of 2023 is a look back at some of the professional and personal moments that defined the year for Kirsty Arundale, Tori Wells and Milly Miller-Adams. Plus, a look ahead to what 2024 might have in store for both women's sports and women in sports.

A European Super Bowl, the deal of the century, and whether or not it’s fair for fans to illegally stream live Premier League... worlds collide StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone face off with the stars of the SportsPro Podcast, Tom Bassam and George Breare, in a sports business debate that seeks settle the argument once and for all. - Is piracy of the Premier League fair and inevitable? - Was the IPL's latest rights deal the most significant of the century? - Will the NFL host a Super Bowl in Europe by the end of the decade?

Sky Sports, TNT Sports the BBC have agreed new rights deals to air the Premier League until 2029 worth a reported £6.7bn. George Breare, Tom Bassam and Sam Carp pick through the details. Then (29:43), we hear DAZN CEO Shay Segev talking to SportsPro editorial director Michael Long at the recent SportsPro Madrid event. Talking points:  Initial thoughts on the new Premier League rights deals (1:11) Is the league a winner here? (4:06) Why is the cost per game going down? (12:22) Streaming takes a step back and DAZN's position (16:21) Amazon's next move in live soccer (24:02) DAZN chief executive Shay Segev on the UK-based sports media company's plans to achieve profitability (29:43)

Ben Morel, the new CEO of LFP Media, is overseeing a CVC-backed commercial overhaul of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. He spoke to Tom Bassam at SportsPro Madrid and then we took the temperature of the delegates to get their thoughts on the new vision for French football.

How do take a 30 year old brand and relaunch it with a new name? David Jackson, EA Sports' vice president of brand, takes SportsPro technology editor Steve McCaskill on the gaming giant's journey through the launch of EA Sports FC and the plans for the soccer title going forward.

Inside the NBA star Kenny Smith and long-time Turner exec Craig Barry help Sam Carp lift the lid on why the network's flagship basketball show is such a hit, plus we learn how Warner Bros Discovery is planning to extend that success to the UK. Talking points: Sam Carp goes behind the scenes at Inside the NBA (0:45) Why the show works (6:00) Kenny Smith and the role of the pundit in sports broadcasting (9:33) Shaq's role (18:13) What Warner Bros Discovery hopes to bring to its NBA coverage in the UK (23:43) Warner Bros Discovery's opportunity to take a global approach to sports broadcasting (30:39) SportsPro is currently offering 25% off our annual Premium Memberships, you can subscribe here and use code SP25 to claim your discount. Offer expires 24th November.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix returns to Nevada for the first time since 1982, with Formula One now worlds away from the series that previously raced around the car park at Caesars Palace. BlackBook writer Cian Brittle joins the pod to explain how and why Liberty Media is gambling $500m on a completely new approach to putting on a race. Talking points: How we got to a new F1 grand prix in Vegas (1:00) Is this a shift in F1's strategy for hosting races? (7:19) Is the interest there for another F1 race in the US? (19:39) Has F1 already peaked in the US? (26:30) The health of Nascar and motorsport's next big rights deal (34:50)

South African rugby legend and Laureus academy member Bryan Habana joins the pod to give his take on how brands can be a force for positive social change, before TikTok's global head of sports, Harish Sarma, explains why making it into the Index is a result of a deliberate attempt to use its platform for good. Talking points: Bryan Habana on the Laureus perspective (1:13) The brand view with Harish Sarma (19:27) The 30 brands in this year's Laureus Sport for Good Index have now been revealed. Check out the Sport for Good Index hub here.

Few know more about how the NFL's overseas games are bringing in new fans than the companies that sell the tickets to the matches. As a secondary market specialist, Viagogo has a unique perspective on the industry and here, general manager, Cris Miller, explains how effective the league's overseas operations have been in creating new fans. Plus we delve into the business of resale ticketing and its role in sports.

The dawn of a new NBA season brings with it some intriguing narratives on and off the court. George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by SportsPro analyst (and resident basketball nut), Gabriel German Higinio Hoyos, to break it all down. Talking points: What the data tells us about the NBA's media landscape (3:10) How the NBA is trying to boost its media value (9:55) The NBA's audience and why that provides an edge (17:43) Setting the scene ahead of the next rights deal (22:56) Why the NBA is so successful overseas (31:50) Check out the 2023/24 NBA Commercial Guide as discussed on the podcast!

SportsPro's annual 50 Most Marketable Athlete list is out now to provide a definitive guide to the power players of global sports. In this episode, host Tom Bassam chats to SportsPro's Michael Long and Sam Carp about how we put the list together alongside our 50MM partner, Northstar Solutions Group. Talking points: How the 2023 50MM list came together (1:23) Why is Lionel Messi number one? (7:19) Why authenticity matters (11:38) NIL and the rise of athlete influencers (16:36) QUIZ: How well do we know 50MM? (21:53) This podcast is part of SportsPro's 2023 Athlete Week, which will also see the launch of our latest 50 Most Marketable Athletes list, in partnership with Northstar Solutions Group. Check out all our #SP50MM content on the dedicated 50mm.sportspromedia.com digital hub.

Michelle Wie West has never been afraid of being a trailblazer. At points in her career she has been the youngest ever qualifier for an LPGA Tour event, a record since taken by Ariya Jutanugarn, and the youngest female to ever play in a PGA Tour tournament. In an exclusive interview with SportsPro's Josh Sim, Wie West discusses her plans post-retirement, the health of women's golf and how she thinks about making investments. Talking points: • Looking back at Michelle's career and how women's golf has progressed (4:47) • Michelle's career influences and what's shaped her mindset (7:33) • The TGL and why being an athlete creates a unique approach to investing (14:19) • Why female athletes need to think like investors (20:52) • Why values are important when Michelle invests in a company (25:52) • Michelle's key lessons for athletes looking to become investors (20:46) This interview is part of SportsPro's 2023 Athlete Week, which will also see the launch of our latest 50 Most Marke