The Sports Media Podcast NBA gives more thoughtful Christmas presents; Will DAZN pull the trigger on Main Street?
5 snips
Jan 1, 2026 David Karnofsky, a media analyst at JPMorgan, and Naveen Sarma from S&P Global dive into the dynamic world of sports media. They assess the NBA's standout Christmas offerings compared to the NFL and the implications of a potential DAZN-FanDuel partnership. The analysts discuss YouTube's deal with Disney and impact on streaming platforms, while evaluating the challenges faced by traditional cable in light of cord-cutting trends. They also explore the significance of the NFL for broadcasters and ESPN's new app driving deeper fan engagement.
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Pay TV Subscriber Floor Is Falling
- Naveen Sarma and David Karnofsky discuss an uncertain floor for pay TV subs with current decline rates and potential stabilization points.
- They observe pay TV could slow its decline but predict it will fall below previous floor estimates over time.
Paramount Skydance Faces Execution Risks
- David Karnofsky says Paramount Skydance under David Ellison shows commitment to content and tech but faces execution and deleveraging risks.
- Naveen Sarma cautions they may need inorganic moves to reach investment-grade leverage targets.
UFC Deal Was Bigger Than Expected
- Guests saw Paramount's UFC acquisition as strategically strong for TKO but surprising in scale relative to expectations.
- They note the deal removed pay-per-view barriers and came at a higher AAV than analysts anticipated.