SportsPro Podcast

The New York Times’ global sports reporter Tariq Panja joins deputy editor Sam Carp to assess the commercial impact of Lionel Messi’s arrival at Paris Saint-Germain. Following Lionel Messi’s shock departure from FC Barcelona, The New York Times’ global sports reporter Tariq Panja joins SportsPro deputy editor Sam Carp to discuss whether it really should have come as a surprise at all. They discuss what led to one of the greatest soccer players of all time having to leave the Nou Camp after more than 20 years, 672 goals and 35 trophies, the inevitability of his subsequent arrival at Paris Saint-Germain, and the potential commercial implications for Ligue 1 and La Liga. There is also time for the pair to consider what this all says about Uefa’s existing financial fair play (FFP) rules, how Qatar will look to capitalise on Messi’s presence in Paris in the build-up to the 2022 Fifa World Cup, and some of soccer’s regulatory issues that have been laid bare by the whole saga. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro managing director Nick Meacham speaks with the FuboTV co-founder and chief executive, David Gandler, on the platform's recent success as well as its plan for the future. It has been a successful period for FuboTV after announcing a record set of results for the last financial year and a bumper Q2 in 2021 - with that in mind, and with regular host Eoin Connolly away, we dip into the vault to bring you one of the most compelling conversations from a recent SportsPro event. FuboTV is one of the most exciting streaming platforms on the planet and SportsPro was fortunate enough to have Gandler appear a keynote speaker at the OTT Summit USA back in February. In this conversation, Gandler offers an insight into FuboTV’s key numbers and what they tell us about the platform’s strategy. He also identifies where the streaming platform's opportunities lie in betting, ecommerce, as well as live and on demand content.  Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Digital editor Tom Bassam and deputy editor Sam Carp look ahead to the start of the 2021/22 top-flight English soccer season. With the 2021/22 Premier League season set to get underway with Arsenal’s trip to newly promoted Brentford on Friday, SportsPro digital editor Tom Bassam is joined on the podcast by deputy editor Sam Carp for a commercial preview of the upcoming campaign. They consider the return of fans to grounds, the measures being implemented to keep them safe, and whether attendances will immediately bounce back to pre-pandemic levels on the back of 16 months when habits and priorities might have changed. There’s also time for the pair to discuss some of the hefty fees Premier League clubs have been spending on player transfers, and what that says about the strength of England’s top flight compared to Europe’s other major leagues as clubs continue to manage the financial fallout from the pandemic. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan speaks with Jonathan Perelman, President of ICM Stellar Sports to explore the art of the modern acquisition and the rapidly-changing face of athlete representation.  They reflect on Tokyo 2020, the new world of athlete activism and how representation must adapt if it is to survive. This conversation is also about the often mystified world of acquisitions, what must go right at the negotiation table and how to assemble a reliable team to get you through it.  The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond.

As the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games draws to a close, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by Angela Ruggiero, a former Olympic ice hockey champion and IOC member who is now the co-founder and chief executive of Sports Innovation Lab, and T Burns Sports founder Terrence Burns, an experienced advisor to brands, bids and federations. They share some of their reflections on how the event has unfolded and what might have been learned about the future of the Olympic movement. That discussion includes the changing role and influence of athletes, how brand partners can carry the Olympic story and where they could draw new lines on social or political issues, and what the Games can offer future hosts. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly speaks to Etienne Thobois, chief executive of the local organising committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.   They discuss what the Paris 2024 team have been learning in Japan, how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected those activities and the progress of their own preparations, and how the pressure will change after the closing ceremony at Tokyo 2020.   They also talk about the Paris 2024 commercial programme and about how far the Games concept can reconnect the Olympics with the host city and its people, rethink how to encourage physical exercise, and showcase urban spaces in a more creative way. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by digital editor Tom Bassam to take on the opening days of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  They discuss the broadcast picture in Europe, where viewers of free-to-air services like the BBC are adjusting to more limited output as Discovery’s 50-territory rights deal kicks in for a summer event for the first time. They also ask what Discovery’s strategic intent is for Olympic content across Eurosport, Discovery+ and its range of European channels, as well as in its expanding global activities, and dive into the on-screen product.  Then, AP global sports correspondent Rob Harris is on the line from the media centre to give an insight into life inside the Covid-protective bubble in Japan, reflecting on how movement restrictions and mostly empty venues have changed the story of the Games. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan speaks to Craig Dews, chief executive of Limelight Sports, a marketing agency that unlocks the power of participation sport. They discuss the truth about building and launching a new strategy, at a point where so much of the sports industry – not least the mass participation space – has had to rethink how and why it does things. The conversation covers how best to assess an organisation’s needs in an uncertain future, the realities of change management in the face of day-today priorities, bringing staff on board for the journey and judging progress along the way.  The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and deputy editor Sam Carp are joined by Ricardo Fort, founder of the Sport By Fort consultancy and former global head of sponsorship at Coca-Cola, to look ahead to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  They discuss the reported apprehension around the host city as athletes and media arrive before the opening ceremony, whether the story of the event can escape the shadow of Covid-19, and how activities for partners will have been adapted. They also consider what value the Olympics holds for brands, reflect on Toyota’s decision not to promote its Games sponsorship within Japan, and ask how the movement’s message can be taken forward – and whether it is fans and Olympians who are best placed to do that.  There’s also time for a brief dip into the pages of issue 114 of SportsPro magazine, which is available this week. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

As Tokyo 2020 looms, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Max Siegel, chief executive of USA Track & Field. They discuss preparing a team for the Olympics in pandemic conditions, how Covid-19 has affected the USATF, Sha’Carri Richardson’s THC ban, broader questions around anti-doping and competitive fairness, and how digital media and connected participation could shape the future of athletics. Max also talks about diversity in leadership, how to bring new perspectives and experiences into an organisation, and the importance of giving athletes a voice on social issues as well as the growth of their sport. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/