StreamTime Sports

SportsPro

A weekly podcast profiling the people, businesses and technologies driving the sports media revolution. The go-to place for sports industry professionals seeking ideas, insights and inspiration in these times of rapid transformation across streaming, OTT and digital.

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29 episodes
weekly
Avg 41 min
English

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Wednesday · 1 hr 1 min
The Sports Media Middle Class Problem
Not every sports property can be the NFL, Premier League or NBA. But not every sport is a niche passion play either. So what happens to the vast number of organisations caught in the middle? This episode explores the growing challenges facing sports media's "middle class" - established properties with meaningful audiences, passionate fans and commercial ambitions, but without the scale of the world's biggest leagues. Nick and Chris examine how streaming has changed the economics of sports broadcasting, why premium sports and niche sports often have clearer business models, and what middle-tier properties must do to remain competitive. Using examples including Dyn Media, FloSports, Formula E, the EuroLeague and rugby, the discussion explores whether strategy, aggregation and audience growth can provide a sustainable path forward in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Key Topics: Was traditional TV historically propping up sports media's middle class all along? How has streaming changed the economics and opportunities available to middle-tier sports properties? Why do niche sports often have an easier path to monetisation than larger, more established middle-tier sports? Can platforms like Dyn Media and FloSports prove that aggregation is the future for middle-tier sports? Is it possible for a sport to move from the middle tier into the top tier of the global sports ecosystem?
September 25 · 54 min
How Ligue 1 built its own streaming platform from scratch
What happens when a football league needs to broadcast its own live games? On this episode of StreamTime Sports we bring you the latest episode of our New Economics of Fandom miniseries in partnership with Genius Sports. Co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone are joined by Cyprien Castanedo, head of media and platform innovation at LFP Media, to explore the launch and growth of Ligue1+, the league's direct to consumer streaming platform. After the LFP lost its domestic broadcast partnership, Castanedo explains how Ligue1+ was built in a matter of months, reached one million subscribers within three weeks and drove revenue through both subscriptions and major distribution partners.
September 24 · 34 min
From AI to Personalisation: Lessons From IBC 2026
Sports media leaders may compete in different corners of the industry, but many are increasingly focused on the same challenges: personalisation, production efficiency, cloud infrastructure and audience engagement. Fresh from StreamTime Sports Live and IBC in Amsterdam, Chris and Nick unpack the biggest themes emerging from the worlds of sports media, broadcasting and technology. Drawing on conversations with speakers from organisations including the BBC, SVT, Bundesliga, Dyn Media and Dolby, they explore how the industry is approaching AI, cloud production, personalisation and fan engagement. Key Topics: Why are broadcasters, rights holders and technology companies becoming increasingly aligned around personalisation and audience engagement? How are organisations using cloud production, automation and AI to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality? What lessons can sports media learn from the approaches being taken by the BBC, Bundesliga, SVT and Dyn Media? Is sports media entering a more mature phase, and what does that mean for future innovation and growth?
September 16 · 49 min
UEFA: Why better experiences create better data - The New Economics of Fandom Ep. 2
Sports organisations have spent years talking about data as the key to growth. But what if most are approaching it the wrong way? In the latest episode of our New Economics of Fandom miniseries, Chris Stone and Nick Meacham are joined by UEFA Chief Marketing & Chief Digital Officer Roman Putsch to explore how one of the world's leading sports properties approaches fan engagement, first-party data and commercial growth. Putsch explains why UEFA views data as "crude oil, not gold", how the organisation measures audience quality rather than simply audience size, and why creating value for fans must come before collecting information from them. The conversation also explores sponsorship activation, media rights, and the capabilities sports organisations need to build for the future. The New Economics of Fandom is produced in partnership with Genius Sports and explores how sport's commercial future is being reshaped by technology, data and changing fan behaviour. Key Points: How are sports organisations are thinking about data the wrong way. How fan value creates data value, not the other way around. The best metrics for evaluating audience quality. Why "owning the fan" may be the wrong objective for sports organisations. How to build the capabilities needed for sport's next commercial era.
September 9 · 1 hr 18 min
The DAZN Story: 10 Years Later
Few companies have generated as many headlines, sparked as much debate, or attracted as much attention in sports media as DAZN. Once positioned as the 'Netflix of Sports', the company has spent the last decade transforming from an ambitious streaming start-up into one of the most influential and controversial players in global sports broadcasting. This episode traces the complete DAZN story, from its roots in Perform Group and early expansion across Europe and Japan, through its billion-dollar betting on sports rights, the challenges of COVID, and its shift towards profitability. Chris and Nick explore the key decisions, acquisitions and personalities that shaped the company, including Len Blavatnik, Simon Denyer, John Skipper and Shay Segev, before examining what DAZN has become today and what its future could look like. Key Topics: How did DAZN evolve from a niche streaming start-up into one of the biggest sports media companies in the world? Which strategic decisions helped shape DAZN's journey, and which proved to be costly mistakes? How did COVID, changing streaming economics and the drive for profitability fundamentally transform the business? What is DAZN today, and is the company ultimately heading towards an IPO, an acquisition or something entirely different?
September 2 · 46 min
Disney, DAZN and the Race for Sports Audiences
Sports organisations are increasingly prioritising reach over exclusivity, and the latest moves from Disney+, DAZN and Serie A show just how important audience growth has become in a fragmented media landscape. This episode explores Formula E's new global partnership with Disney+, why DAZN continues to expand through acquisitions and new distribution deals, and how leagues such as Serie A are balancing free-to-air exposure with subscription revenue. Along the way, Chris and Nick examine what these strategies reveal about the future of sports media, international distribution and audience growth. Key Topics: What does Formula E's Disney+ partnership reveal about the growing importance of audience reach over media rights revenue? Why is Disney expanding its sports offering globally, and what role could ESPN play in that strategy? What is DAZN actually building through its growing portfolio of acquisitions, partnerships and rights deals? Can leagues like Serie A grow international audiences by combining free-to-air visibility with premium streaming partnerships?
August 27 · 19 min
FOX's Pete Distad on building FOX One, the Venu Sports setback and lessons from a decade at Apple
Pete Distad has spent much of his career at the centre of streaming’s evolution. He worked at the pioneering Hulu, spent a decade at Apple, and attempted to consolidate the world of sport DTC with Venu Sports. Now he’s leading Fox’s own digital ambitions with Fox One. Distad sat down with Nick Meacham at SportsPro New York to unpack the thinking behind FOX One, what he has learned from launching and scaling multiple streaming products, and how those experiences are shaping Fox’s next chapter. They discuss: The strategy behind FOX One and where it fits in thechanging US sports media landscape What a decade at Apple taught Distad about building and scaling streaming products Why Venu Sports remains the one project he still looks back on and wonders what might have been Building products consumers actually want and knowing when you’re onto something The mistakes, lessons and decisions that have shaped his career across Hulu, Apple, Venu and Fox Why the 2026 Fifa World Cup was a major test for FOX One and its streaming ambitions StreamTime Sports is thrilled to make the top 5 Sports Business podcasts. See the full list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_business_podcasts/
August 21 · 41 min
Men in Blazers' Roger Bennett on the growth of US fandom, EPL vs the MLS, and their move into streaming live football matches
With Premier League kickoff just a day away, Men in Blazers pulled off something it had never done before — live-streaming a Tottenham preseason match direct to North America and pulling in over 3x the concurrent viewership it had forecast. On this episode, Nick sits down with Roger Bennett, Co-Founder and CEO of the Men in Blazers Media Network, to unpack how MiB became one of the biggest independent football media businesses in North America — and what football's rapid rise in the US means for the sport's next 50 years. How Men in Blazers built its business on two first-mover bets: spotting football's rise in the US back in the early 2010s, and timing its launch around the emergence of podcasting Inside the World Cup output that pushed MiB's streams up over 500% — 200+ podcasts plus TV shows, newsletters, alternate broadcasts and live eventsWhy NBC's 2013 Premier League deal — and its off-primetime kickoff slots — became an accidental masterstroke in growing US fandomMLS's move behind the Apple paywall, and why friction is the enemy of a fanbase that "finds football easily" America's multi-team fandom habit, and why Wrexham draws roughly seven times the average Premier League club's US following Debrief: streaming Tottenham vs Hoffenheim live to North America ~10,000 concurrent viewers against an internal forecast of 2,800–3,200 — and what it signals for the next wave of club-direct broadcasts StreamTime Sports is thrilled to make the top 5 Sports Business podcasts. See the full list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_business_podcasts/
August 19 · 48 min
The Future Economics of Fandom - Exclusive with Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke
Don't adjust your dials. This episode of StreamTime Sports features an interview by host Nick Meacham with Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke featured on t he SportsPro Pod. For decades, the sports industry has relied on broadcasters to fund growth, distribute content and monetise audiences. But what happens when that model starts to change?Locke discusses Genius Sports' evolution from its betting roots into a global technology business, the company's acquisition of Legend, the growing role of AI and data ownership, and why he believes the next generation of sports growth will come from direct relationships with fans. The conversation also examines the changing economics of media rights, the NFL partnership, gaming as a future distribution channel and what sports organisations need to do to thrive in a more personalised digital world. This is the first episode in SportsPro's New Economics of Fandom series, exploring how sport's commercial future is being rewritten. StreamTime Sports is thrilled to make the top 5 Sports Business podcasts. See the full list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_business_podcasts/
August 12 · 34 min
YouTube, Peacock, and the rebundling of sports
Streaming was supposed to unbundle television. Instead, the sports industry may be building a new bundle altogether. This episode explores YouTube's new partnership with NBCUniversal, which brings Peacock into the YouTube ecosystem, and DAZN's move to become the streaming home of YES Network and MSG Networks content in the United States. The discussion examines whether aggregators are becoming the new gatekeepers of sports media, how live sports continue to drive platform strategy, and why the streaming industry increasingly resembles the cable bundle it once set out to replace. The pair also discuss the Commonwealth Games' move from BBC to TNT Sports and the trade-off between audience reach and premium coverage. Key Topics: What does the YouTube-Peacock partnership reveal about YouTube's long-term ambitions in sports and streaming? Has the streaming industry come full circle and begun rebuilding the traditional television bundle? Can regional sports networks thrive by partnering with platforms like DAZN rather than operating their own streaming services? How much audience reach should rights holders sacrifice in exchange for deeper streaming coverage and higher commercial returns?
August 10 · 49 min
Inside Roku's Sports Strategy — And What the Fox Deal Could Mean Next
Roku just agreed to be acquired by Fox in a deal valuing the streaming giant at $22 billion — but long before the headlines, Roku had quietly built one of the most ambitious sports strategies in streaming. On this episode, Nick sits down with Joe Franzetta, Head of Sports for Roku Media, to unpack how a platform reaching 100 million households is working to make sports content frictionless to find, aggregate, and monetize in an increasingly fragmented rights landscape. How Roku's "Sports Zone" aggregates live games, clips, highlights and stats across leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NWSL and WNBA — and how that model scaled to seven territories for the World Cup The difference between Roku as a platform (distribution partner integrations) versus the Roku Channel as a first-party service (FAST channels, originals, live rights deals with MLB, Formula E, X Games and the Savannah Bananas) Why rights fragmentation isn't reversing — and how personalization, metadata and interactivity are becoming the tools to reaggregate the viewing experience without a cable-style bundle How Roku funds its sports push through advertising and sponsorship rather than subscription or affiliate fees, and what "shared upside" partnerships look like in practice A first take on what the pending Fox acquisition could mean for Roku's sports ambitions, and why it's "business as usual" until the deal closes Like and subcribe to receive weekly episodes from StreamTime Sports. Streamtime Sports is part of SportsPro Media Group Subscribe to StreamTime Sports on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsProNick Follow Nick Meacham on Linkedin or instagram as @sportspronick
August 5 · 41 min
Record World Cup Audiences. So Why Did FIFA Need More Money?
FIFA's proposed $20 billion enterprise plan lasted less than 48 hours before facing widespread opposition, reigniting debate around private equity's role in sport and whether football's governing bodies should be selling stakes in their commercial future. The episode explores why the proposal generated such a strong reaction, how it compares to similar investments across the sports industry, and what it reveals about FIFA's long-term commercial ambitions. Chris and Nick also break down the first major audience figures from the FIFA World Cup, examining record-breaking television audiences, streaming growth, and the eye-watering social media numbers generated across platforms including TikTok and YouTube. Key Points: Why did FIFA's proposed $20 billion enterprise plan unravel so quickly, and was the backlash justified? What do the World Cup's record television and streaming audiences tell us about the future of sports consumption? Have platforms like TikTok and YouTube become as important as broadcasters in the global sports ecosystem? How should rights holders measure success when social media engagement reaches into the trillions but audience behaviour continues to fragment?
July 30 · 20 min
Why NFL teams are suddenly worth $10 billion
Fresh from the SportsPro Investment Summit, Nick and Chris unpack the record-breaking $9.6 billion sale of the Seattle Seahawks and what it reveals about the state of sports investment. They examine the role media rights play in franchise valuations, the growing influence of private equity, and why US sports teams continue to command premium prices. The conversation also explores the differences between North American and European sports ownership models, and whether rising media rights fees can continue to fuel the next wave of sports investment. Key Points: Why are NFL franchises now commanding valuations approaching $10 billion? How much of modern sports team valuation is driven by media rights revenue and future broadcast growth? Will private equity become an increasingly important force in sports ownership as franchise values continue to rise? Does the structure of European sport limit franchise valuations compared to North America's closed-league model?
July 23 · 28 min
The EuroLeague's Expansion Play: Exclusive with CEO Chus Bueno
EuroLeague CEO, Chus Bueno, outlines his vision for transforming European basketball through a franchise model, league expansion and a direct-to-consumer strategy. He discusses the EuroLeague's valuation, why investors are lining up for new franchises, and how the organisation plans to unlock the value of its 65 million fans. Chus also shares his perspective on the NBA's ambitions in Europe, whether cooperation is still possible, and why he believes the EuroLeague remains the strongest platform for growing basketball across the continent. Key Points: Can the EuroLeague's new franchise model unlock significant value and accelerate the growth of basketball across Europe? Should the EuroLeague and NBA work together in Europe, or is competition between two rival leagues inevitable? Why are investors willing to pay significant expansion fees for EuroLeague franchises despite the NBA's plans for the market? How can a direct-to-consumer strategy help the EuroLeague better monetise its fan base and close the gap with other major sports properties?
July 15 · 22 min
Why Sky Bought ITV — And What It Means for Sports Broadcasting
Comcast's decision to separate its media and telecom businesses, combined with Sky's acquisition of ITV, could signal a major shift in how media companies think about content, distribution and audience reach. Chris and Nick explore whether the era of owning both the pipes and the content is coming to an end, why sports rights have become even more valuable in the streaming age, and how Sky could use ITV's free-to-air reach to unlock new opportunities for advertisers, rights holders and fans. They also discuss which competitors should be paying close attention to these developments and what it could mean for the future of sports broadcasting in the UK. Key Points: Does Comcast's restructuring signal the end of the traditional strategy of owning both content and distribution in the streaming era? Have live sports become the most valuable asset in modern media as entertainment content becomes increasingly commoditised? How could Sky use ITV's free-to-air reach to generate more value from premium sports rights like the Premier League, Formula One and the NFL? Should broadcasters, streaming platforms and rights holders be worried about Sky becoming an even stronger force in the UK sports media market?
July 10 · 28 min
How are fans really watching the World Cup
With the FIFA World Cup reaching the knockout stages, Nick and Chris compare notes on how they're actually watching the tournament across the UK, US and Sweden. From YouTube's preferred platform experiment and replay consumption to streaming audience growth and free-to-air reach, they explore whether this tournament represents a genuine turning point in how global sports are distributed and consumed. They also discuss record-breaking US audiences, spoiler-free viewing experiences, and what the World Cup reveals about the ongoing shift from traditional television to streaming. Key Points: Is this the first truly streaming-first World Cup, and what does growing streaming consumption mean for the future of sports distribution? How effective are FIFA's preferred platform experiments, and are they creating a better viewing experience for fans? Do record US audience figures represent a genuine breakthrough for soccer in the market? Does the World Cup once again prove the unrivalled reach and cultural impact of free-to-air television for major sporting events?
July 8 · 20 min
The HBO Max Playbook: Bringing sports, entertainment, and streaming together
The launch of HBO Max in the UK marks the latest chapter in Warner Bros. Discovery's journey to bring premium sport and entertainment content under a single streaming destination. In this conversation recorded live at SportsPro London, David Gibbs, SVP of Sports Product at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, explains the strategy behind the launch, the lessons learned from delivering major events such as the Olympic Games, and how technology is reshaping the fan experience. From AI-powered personalisation and multiview experiences to the enduring value of live sport, David shares a candid perspective on what it takes to operate a streaming platform at global scale—and where sports viewing is headed next. Key Points: Can a single streaming platform successfully unite live sport, blockbuster entertainment and documentary programming without overwhelming consumers? How did Warner Bros. Discovery use the Olympic Games to showcase a new generation of streaming experiences, from multiview to real-time highlights and personalised discovery? As viewing becomes more personalised, can streaming services preserve the shared live moments that make sport unique? What does it take to deliver more than 35,000 live sporting events a year across multiple markets, languages and devices?
July 1 · 40 min
Why Netflix Took a £14m Bet on Live Sports Podcasts
Goalhanger CFO Andy Hodgson joins StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham to discuss the company's rapid growth, the success of The Rest Is Football, its groundbreaking Netflix partnership during the FIFA Club World Cup, and the evolving economics of podcasting. The discussion covers subscriptions, advertising, YouTube, creator monetization, sports media innovation and why high-quality long-form content continues to attract global audiences. Key Points: How did Goalhanger build one of the UK's fastest-growing podcast businesses and scale beyond £37m in annual revenue? What does The Rest Is Football's Netflix partnership reveal about the future of sports media distribution? Why are subscriptions, memberships and fan communities becoming critical to modern media growth? Can long-form podcast content outperform traditional sports media in the battle for audience attention? What opportunities do YouTube, creator-led brands and new revenue models create for the future of sports media?
June 24 · 25 min
HYROX: Building a global phenomenon
Since being founded in 2017, HYROX has established itself as the fastest-growing fitness sport in the world, with a staggering 1.5M participants competing in 85 cities across 30 countries during the 2025/26 season alone. In the latest episode, brought to you from SportsPro London, StreamTime host, Nick Meacham, is joined by Chief Growth Officer, Douglas Gremmen to unpack HYROX’s journey, both globally and commercially.
June 17 · 48 min
How creators are reshaping sports media
Creators, athletes, and influencers are reshaping how fans engage with sport, but is the industry able to keep up? As initiatives like DAZN48 and athlete-led platforms gain momentum, the balance between media rights, reach, and relevance is being tested. Co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone question whether broadcasters are losing control of the conversation and why off-field content is starting to outperform the main event. If attention is shifting faster than revenue models can evolve, what does that mean for the future of sports media? Key Points: Are creators and athletes starting to control the sports conversation over broadcasters? Is attention now more valuable than traditional media rights? Why is off-field and creator-led content outperforming the live product? Can the sports industry actually monetise the massive attention it generates? If the model doesn’t evolve, who loses out—broadcasters, leagues, or everyone?

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