Sportspro Podcast

As the puck drops on the new NHL season, Tom Bassam, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim discuss some of the major business storylines, they then try to untangle the web of mystery that is Fifa's World Cup hosting process, plus some chat on what influencer brands bring to sports. Talking points: Health check on the NHL (00:59) The RSN issue (3:30) Consumer trends among NHL fans (8:49) The World Cup heads to... basically everywhere (13:25) Mr Beast's Feastables and unpacking the influencer brand sports deal trend (22:04)

With the Cricket World Cup getting underway in India, George Breare, Tom Bassam and Josh Sim consider whether the ODI tournament is on its last legs.  Talking points:  Why the stakes for the Cricket World Cup are high (1:43) The India problem (5:36) What does the tournament’s future hold? (9:29) How the ICC is trying to innovate (12:49)  Disney’s battle to retain its status in India(15:05) Tournament predictions (18:47) Why the Ryder Cup was so good and why the Solheim Cup should feel let down (22:27) LIV Golf-PGA Tour latest (28:00) The Ligue 1 rights pickle (31:13)

Take a listen as George Breare takes you through this years SportsPro Madrid agenda. To view the full agenda and book your pass with a special podcast discount of 30%, head to www.sportspromadrid.com and use code POD30. Discount ends Friday 6th October.

George Breare and Tom Bassam head to Sky’s west London campus for an in-depth chat with Sky Sports’ head of women’s sport Jo Osborne. Talking points: The new WSL season and Sky’s plans (0:47) The next rights deal (18:57) The rise of women’s sports and how to make the most of it as a broadcaster (21:49) Backing up the talk on (48:31)

The latest NEW ERA special edition of the podcast sees Milly Miller-Adams, Katie Preston and Tori Wells explore what they've learned from sports. Before Elena Kouyoufa talks to Abi Ijasanmi, COO of the African Football Confederation (CAF), about her journey in the sports industry and what she's learned along the way. Talking points: Welcome Tori (0:20) Our personal learnings from sports (1:04) How major events bring people together (8:46) We have a new partner for NEW ERA (16:59) CAF chief operating officer, Abi Ijasanmi, and her journey in sports (17:24)

Regular hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by SportsPro features editor Sam Carp to discuss the upcoming Solheim Cup, before Stephen Minning, founder and CEO of PAM Wayfinding, joins the pod to talk about venue technology.  Talking points:  What is the state of play in women’s golf? (1:11) Have the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup missed a trick with B2B events? (4:51) Does the Solheim Cup need to spread its wings? (8:43) Sam also tells us about his recent night of experiential sports theatre at the Rematch, a re-telling of Muhammad Ali’s famous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ with George Foreman (15:56) What the concept’s potential is for the industry (22:32) Part two: Stephen Minning tells us how PAM Wayfinding's tech makes SoFi Stadium one of the most advanced sporting venues in the world and what the future of smart destinations might look like (27:01)

Regular hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by senior staff writer Ed Dixon to discuss the latest sports industry news, including a review of YouTube’s first week as an NFL broadcaster. Then Dixon talks us through his latest long read on a decade of of Thomas Bach as IOC president.

Digital transformation will impact sports organisations of all sizes, transforming existing processes or unlocking entirely new possibilities in almost every area – on and off the pitch. Recruitment, performance, and fan engagement are but three areas that are being revolutionised by digital innovations.  Navigating an increasingly complex technological ecosystem that comprises big tech, startups and sports-specific vendors can be tricky. Mitch Heath, co-founder of Teamworks, and Katia Zavershinskaya, a technology lead who has experience working with Premier League soccer clubs, discuss what to look for when picking a technology partner, the importance of collaboration, and what the possibilities are for technology within sport.

Co-founders Xavier Green and Victorien Tixier explain the journey of establishing ScorePlay, their AI-fused content management management designed especially for the sports industry. The conversation with SportsPro’s George Breare covers all the steps of the startup’s journey, from setting up the business, to gaining high-profile athlete investors and case studies from ScorePlay’s clients, through to its future growth plans.

The NFL’s head of Europe and the UK, Brett Gosper, explains to SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham how the biggest money maker in American sports plans to grow that pie overseas. Talking points: What has been on Gosper's agenda since he joined the National Football League (NFL) from World Rugby? (0:57) How the NFL's approach to Europe has changed over time (6:00) The role of teams in marketing the NFL overseas (13:26) The international broadcast approach and working with DAZN (15:58) Creating a player pathway for overseas athletes (21:09) Quickfire questions (25:01)

Recorded at SportsPro Live 2023 to celebrate ten years of our flagship event, we put together a panel to predict what we have in store over the next decade in the sports industry. For this job we asked SportsPro chief executive Nick Meacham, SportsPro editorial director Michael Long and Laura Williamson, deputy editor at The Athletic, to get out their crystal balls. The voice you'll hear first is then SportsPro commercial director Paul Guest. 

Spain have won, the Lionesses fell just short and Australia fell in love with the Matildas, but what does it all mean? Tom Bassam, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim unpack the 2023 Women's World Cup. Talking points: Tournament takeaways (1:10) The big winners (2:42) Who were the losers? (9:03) The important numbers (15:33) Spain and the RFEF, uncomfortable winners? (23:44) How should the FA and the Lionesses view the tournament? (29:23) Women's World Cup breakout stars (36:03) The sports industry stories that matter this week (39:11)

Gary Lineker, the former England striker turned Match of the Day host and founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, sits down with Tom Bassam for a wide-ranging conversation.  Talking points: Becoming a podcast mogul with Goalhanger (1:21) The Walkers relationship (10:50) Lineker's media career (14:35) How Match of the Day is made (17:50) The role of the BBC in modern sports media (24:35)

Tom Bassam hosts a look ahead to the new season of the Premier League with SportsPro colleagues Sam Carp and Ed Dixon. The panel tackle a few key storylines dominating the headlines going into the new campaign by asking: what’s more likely? Then, Josh Sim comes on to talk about his latest feature that dives into some of the more interesting metrics that we should be on the look out for with the Premier League this season. Talking points: What's more likely? The Glazers cancel the sale of Manchester United or Manchester City learn of their punishment over alleged financial rule breaches before Christmas (1:12) What's more likely? Amazon takes over as the main UK broadcaster for the Premier League or DAZN finally picks up a domestic package of matches (11:54) What's more likely? The 'New Deal for Football' sees the English Football League (EFL) Cup scrapped or Chelsea agree a shirt sponsorship deal with a betting brand (20:31) Predictions for the season (31:45) The key data points for the 2023/24 Premier Leag

With 11.4 million users around the world, Fantasy Premier League is a success story in fan engagement. Alexandra Willis, director of digital media and audience development at the Premier League, explains how the English soccer competition’s official fantasy game provides value for the organisation’s commercial partners and underlines its role in promoting the league globally.

George Breare and Ed Dixon bring you the insights and sounds from SportsPro APAC 2023 from on the floor at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands. Talking points: Setting the scene (0:52) The importance of mobile (4:32) ONE Championship and the metrics that matter (7:43) FanCode and cracking the Indian market (15:34) How Hong Kong Sevens has positioned itself as an entertainment event (23:07) Liverpool's approach to APAC with CEO Billy Hogan (27:07) The health of esports in 2023 (34:09) Inside SportsPro APAC networking drinks (40:57)

BlackBook Motorsport writer Cian Brittle sits down for an in-depth conversation with Dorna Sports' new chief commercial officer, Dan Rossomondo, about improving the fortunes of MotoGP. 

The UK media market continues to turnover, but while some things change others remain the same. Viaplay leaves as quickly as it entered, Apple indicates now is not the time for the Premier League and BT Sport becomes TNT. So where does it leave us? George Breare, Tom Bassam and Sam Carp discuss all of that and what the future holds for the Commonwealth Games.

SportsPro features editor Sam Carp makes an appearance alongside regular hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam to cast an eye Down Under as Fifa prepares for its biggest Women's World Cup yet. Talking points: Changing perceptions of women's soccer since the France 2019 (2:50) Has the unbundling of the Women's World Cup rights been a success (4:57) Will Fifa meet it two billion target for tournament viewership? (22:56) Hitting targets on the ground in the host nations (27:50) The equal pay issue (29:28) Predictions (40:20)

Something different from the SportsPro Podcast, as BlackBook writer Cian Brittle talks us through his experience of Formula One's British Grand Prix. Talking points: Reflections on race day and a health check on Formula One at Silverstone (0:41) What's the fan experience like at the British Grand Prix? (5:06) Is there room for improvement? (7:39) Can F1 Academy be a game changer for bringing in female fans? (9:41) Report from Silverstone: Taking in the Fusion Lounge (11:17) Report from Silverstone: Pre-race predictions (14:11) Report from Silverstone: Post-race reaction (18:48) Report from Silverstone: James Byrom on Match Hospitality's secrets to success at Silverstone (22:03)