StreamTime Sports

The second instalment of the StreamTime Podcast’s Gen Z series sees host Nick Meacham sit down with Jayne Peressini, vice president of growth at NBA Top Shot creator Dapper Labs.  First, Meacham and SportsPro senior content manager Chris Stone discuss what the Netflix subscriber decline could mean for sport, as well as Endeavor Streaming’s new one-stop shop for content creators and Warner Bros Discovery’s decision to shut down the CNN+ service. Then, Peressini gives Meacham the rundown on the various pillars of Dapper Labs’ business and explains how the blockchain technologies firm is working with sports properties to develop non-fungible token (NFT) offerings that provide real value to fans.  In a wide-ranging conversation covering how sports can better engage with Gen Z consumers, Peressini also highlights some of the user consumption trends around NFTs and live action.  

This week's StreamTime Podcast features a session from our recent Ignition event, when SportsPro chief executive Nick Meacham was joined by Monica Robbins, the director of sports partnerships at Microsoft. The US technology giant has been actively growing its presence in sport and provides its services to some of the world's top leagues and organisations, including the likes of the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), Spanish soccer's LaLiga, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Now approaching ten years at Microsoft, Robbins outlines the role sport is playing for the company and how it works with its partners to showcase its technology - both at the elite level and all the way down to the grassroots.

SportsPro chief executive Nick Meacham sits down with Motasem El Bawab, head of digital at Volleyball World, the new commercial entity set up by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) off the back of its groundbreaking, nine-figure investment from private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. A seasoned marketing, product development and data expert, El Bawab delves into the digital moves Volleyball World has been making since the CVC deal, where the investment is being targeted, and the content strategy underpinning a venture that is poised to transform the sport of volleyball from the ground up. The pair also look at how the FIVB is working to connect, engage and monetise the global volleyball fanbase - whether that be through the federation’s own channels or through third parties.

The latest episode of the StreamTime Podcast sees SportsPro’s managing director Nick Meacham joined by senior content manager Chris Stone to break down the three direct-to-consumer strategies that define the sports ecosystem. After a brief catchup on the latest news in the space, including the joint venture move by Discovery and BT Sport, the conversation gets into an in-depth analysis of streaming models. Starting from the big boys at the tier one properties, Meacham and Stone navigate their way down to the very smallest rights holders spelling out what should be in their respective digital offerings, what the goals should be, how to execute the strategy, as well as perhaps most importantly why it is important to match your DTC approach to your fan’s need. And more good news! The SportsPro Podcast has been nominated for a Sports Podcast Award. If you like what you hear, please vote for us in the Best Sports Business Podcast category here. Please note that you will have to register first.

The latest StreamTime Podcast takes a slight different angle on the sports broadcast industry by looking through the lens of those fighting the technologically and logistically challenging battle against piracy. SportsPro managing director Nick Meacham is joined by Riché T. McKnight, who serves as both the general counsel of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), as well as senior vice president, deputy general counsel and co-global head of litigation at the mixed martial arts promotion’s Endeavor parent company to talk all things IP protection. In this episode McKnight offers his take on the responsibility of the big technology companies to tackle the problem of content theft, as well as lifting the lid on how much piracy costs the UFC and everyone else in the sports ecosystem. Finally the former partner at Winston & Strawn LLP reveals how Endeavor is trying to lobby the US government to make the necessary legislation changes required to protect content in the digital age. And more good news! The SportsPro Podcast has been nominated for a Sports Podcast Award. If you like what you hear, please vote for us in the Best Sports Business Podcast category here. Please note that you will have to register first.

SportsPro's managing director Nick Meacham is joined by Beverley McGarvey, executive vice president and chief content officer at ViacomCBS to talk about the state of the streaming market down under. In this episode Beverley gives insight into the the competition for sports rights in Australia, ViacomCBS's recent $200m dollar partnership with the A-League and what it is like to be owned by one of the biggest media businesses in the world.  In the first part Nick is also joined by his partner in crime Chris Stone to chat about the chaotic YouTube TV shutdown, The New York Times's recent acquisition of The Athletic and the potential of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. And more good news! The SportsPro Podcast has been nominated for a Sports Podcast Award. If you like what you hear, please vote for us in the Best Sports Business Podcast category here. Please note that you will have to register first.

Rick Anderson, chief media officer at the PGA Tour joins SportsPro's managing director Nick Meacham to speak about what it's like to navigate one of the most complex media ecosystems in the sports rights holder landscape.   In this episode of the StreamTime Podcast Rick Anderson shares his experiences from a 25-year career, from managing over 200 people at PGA to helping build a billon dollar rights business.  Rick also discusses how the PGA are tackling the age problem in golf, what the betting revolution means for the sport and how they aim to ride the wave of rocketing golf participation numbers.  

Andrew Georgiou, Discovery Sports president, joins SportsPro managing director Nick Meacham to talk about the Eurosport owner's wider strategy. The latest episode of the StreamTime Podcast sees Georgiou discuss monetisation models, the role of advertising in subscriptions and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, plus the sports ecosystem Discovery is building with GCN and Golf TV. The conversation also moves on to free-to-air and its place in the wider landscape, as well as much more.  Then, in part two, SportsPro's media and technology editor Steve McCaskill makes his StreamTime debut, talking all things piracy and rights management with Synamedia's Yael Fainaro. 

Blake Stuchin vice president and head of digital media business development at the NFL joins SportsPro managing director Nick Meacham. In this episode of the StreamTime Podcast Blake discusses his winding career path from investment banking to the NFL, the NFL’s blossoming relationship with Twitch and how betting is set to transform the space giving viewers yet ‘another reason to tune in.’