With streaming heavyweights Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, and Apple making big moves into sports what does it mean for a fragmented European market? As part of last week's SportsPro Live StreamTime host Nick Meacham is joined by SportsPro technology editor Steve McCaskill and Lydia Fairfax founder of Triple Crown Consulting to discuss on stage for a live podcast recording. Talking points: - Is WWE the start of Netflix’s ambition for live sports?- Why is Amazon shifting its acquisition strategy?- Will YouTube prioritise growth in Europe?- Should we expect Apple to acquire any European rights?
On this episode of StreamTime host Nick Meacham is joined by A Guy with a Scarf, Carlo de Marchis, as he breaks down all of the action from this year's NAB. The two also discuss the impact of ongoing media deals and how the power of individuals and content creators is impacting investments. Talking Points: Key takeaways from NAB - the role of technology and trends impacting the sports ecosystem - (5:28) Why is Disney taking a more strategic approach to its sports offering globally - (30:04) Can Caitlin Clark's star power drive women's sports right valuations? - (36:04) How valuable are content creators like Dude Perfect in the current media culture - (46:25)
The Masters has cornered its market when it comes to the high-status sports fan but it doesn't really cater to Gen Z. StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham offers his thoughts on a 'tradition unlike any other' before introducing a panel from SportsPro New York which sought to answer how sports can attract younger generations of fans.
Seth Bacon, MLS executive vice president of media, discusses the league’s ongoing relationship with Apple, while Joe Markowski, DAZN’s former North American chief executive, provides his perspective on the challenge of piracy. Hosts Nick Meacham and Tom Bassam also share their biggest takeaway from SportsPro New York and offer insight into where the sports media market is heading. Talking points: Is the American sports market moving from subscription to advertising-based models? - (4:04) What does piracy tell us about fans and how can broadcasters mitigate associated losses? - (8:25) Will others look to replicate MLS and Apple’s single media partner approach? - (16:57) Seth Bacon on year one and beyond with Apple - (31:17)
In a world with countless subscription services the power of free-to-air broadcast is vital to the success of sports. In this episode of StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham is joined by Glen Killane, executive director for the European Broadcasting Union. Talking points: Who is the European Broadcast Union and who do they work with? – (6:06) Why did the EBU decide to launch its own Eurovision Sport OTT service ? – (19:10) How will Eurovision Sport be monetised? – (33:23) What is the future role of free-to-air in sports? – (36:59)
The uncertain future of US sports media has led to an unprecedented planned streaming service combining Fox, ESPN, and Warner Bros Discovery's live sports offerings. This has provoked a legal reaction from sports aggregator Fubo TV, with CEO David Gandler describing the JV as a 'cartel'. Here, Gandler discusses the JV partners' ‘bad behaviour’ with StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham, as well as explaining how Fubo is continuing to grow in such a competitive market. How has Fubo continued to grow in the face of industry doubts? - (3:34) Why does the joint venture hurt both the sports ecosystem and the fans? - (8:24) What’s right the balance between subscription and ad monetisation models? - (18:19) Will the value of American sports rights reflect the downturn seen in Europe? - (19:48) What role do regional sports networks play on Fubo? - (21:35)
Social media and sports go hand in hand, but the sports industry has yet to realise the reach and value of fan generated content. On this episode of StreamTime host Nick Meacham is joined by Videocites chief executive and founder Eyal Arad. The two discuss how the likes of the NBA are using new technology to track and monetise UGC. Talking points: How much exposure does UGC create for leagues, teams, and athletes? How can rights holders monetise UGC? Do highlights help or hurt live sports value? What challenges do social media platforms and UGC present for piracy? Why UGC is perfect for brand partnerships in sports?
Fan data and shifts in media consumption suggest that the major football clubs and leagues should be bypassing traditional broadcasters and seeking to directly monetise their supporters via digital channels. On this episode of StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham is joined by Neil Joyce, chief executive at CLV Group, to discuss the opportunities of going direct to consumer. Talking Points: How to measure the lifetime value of fans? – (3:40) How can clubs overcome the challenge with the lack of live rights? – (12:00) What are the barriers holding the industry back from direct to consumer? – (21:38) What role does sponsorship play within direct to consumer? – (25:04) Which is more valuable to sponsors, a club’s brand or a club’s fans? – (37:36)
The launch of the Apple Sports app signals the global technology giant's intent to take a larger stake in the fan's digital ecosystem. StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham is joined by SportsPro technology editor Steve McCaskill to discuss the significance of this move, as well as a few other news items in the sports media space. Talking points: How significant is the launch of Apple Sports? - (7:04) What legal action is Fubo taking against ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros Discovery? – (31:27) Why is the CW shifting into sports? - (42:08) Is putting the FA Cup behind TNT Sport’s paywall in the UK the right decision? - (50:08)
The Dyn Media streaming platform launched in Germany in the summer of 2023 with a unique offering of popular, but second-tier, sports. Backed by the Axel Springer publishing house, it is the digital home of handball, domestic basketball, volleyball, table tennis and hockey. Here, the platform's CEO Andreas Heyden talks to StreamTime host Nick Meacham about Dyn's journey so far. Talking Points: How and why Dyn was set up (4:16) The technology that makes the economics work (14:11) Distribution and monetisation models (20:11) How are fans using Dyn? (28:47) The role of social media (37:09) Unique challenges of the German market (40:52)
When Aura first announced itself in the sports streaming space it wanted to change the game. It still does, but in a different way. StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham speaks to Aura CEO Anthony Arena about the Australian-based technology company's next move. Talking points: How Aura has developed its streaming technology offering (3:00) Serving different types of fans (16:26) Creating new revenue streams (23:44) Positioning Aura as a tier-one product (30:00) Why the sports industry is different (38:18) AI and what's next for Aura? (47:10)
ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery's recently announced sports streaming joint venture looks like a game changer for the US media landscape. Sports media expert and former long-time Fox executive Patrick Crakes joins SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham to break down what it all means. Talking points: How significant is this announcement? (3:40) How will this impact each of the stakeholders? (14:29) The economics of the new streaming product (20:40) How will the competitors react? (28:36) The potential risks (36:35)
SportsPro reporter Josh Sim recently wrote about the big questions for women’s football in 2024 and the major changes on the horizon that could change the commercial model. Here he joins SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham to discuss what the right approach is for a sport on the verge of becoming big business. Key topics: Comparing and contrasting the approaches top women’s football leagues take to sports media (6:08) Pros and cons of the free-to-air approach (15:08) Ways the leagues could drive revenues without going behind the paywall (17:15) Why did DAZN U-turn on putting the Women’s Champions League behind a paywall? (18:24) What role can athletes and social media play? (28:56) Should private equity play a role? (38:10)
George Pyne's Bruin Capital recently sold its stake in the Two Circles marketing agency at an internal rate of return of more than 60%. That deal was just the latest exit to turn a profit for Bruin in recent years, with the respective sales of On Location to Endeavor and Deltatre to Bain Capital also generating big payouts. Here, Pyne, the founder and CEO of Bruin, talks to SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham about how the firm has struck gold with its investments in the sports industry.
Netflix has agreed a ten-year, ‘$5bn’ deal with WWE to become the exclusive global broadcaster of Monday Night Raw, including in the US, from 2025. The agreement also covers the international rights to WWE’s other programming and premium live events – including Wrestlemania. The announcement is by far and away Netflix’s biggest investment in live sports and so an emergency podcast was convened featuring SportsPro's Nick Meacham and Steve McCaskill alongside Minal Modha research director at Ampere Analysis to discuss what it all means. Talking points: The detail behind the deal (0:59) Why this works for Netflix (8:32) Who will Netflix go after next? (16:58) The role of advertising on Netflix and what next in sports? (20:30) TKO's hand in securing this deal (24:54)
With the digital marketing sector facing the phasing out of third-party cookies, the sports industry needs an alternative for collecting and leveraging data that will allow a greater connection with fans. Sportradar has a solution and here, Mike Falconer, the sports technology company's vice president of strategy, explains to SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham how it works.
How has EA adjusted to life after Fifa and has it made the most of its new freedoms? What can we learn from EA's success with its sports titles? Steve McCaskill joins SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham to talk all things video games. Talking points: A brief history of the EA-Fifa journey (5:49) The shift that supercharged the gaming industry and how EA took advantage (15:25) Why Fifa split from EA and how the video games producer reacted (24:04) Will Fifa's tournaments miss out? (31:43) EA's new revenue opportunities (33:36) How Fifa is reacting (38:50)
Dan Rayburn is one of the foremost authorities on streaming media technology and digital video business models. He joins StreamTime hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone to discuss how sports media companies are transitioning to the digital age. Talking points: The main business and technical challenges that face the major platforms today Is ultra-low latency really that important? The impact of big tech on the market What to look out for in 2024 from the big media giants What does it mean for the fans? Can streaming only work as a strategy? The stats about sports streaming Both StreamTime Sports and the SportsPro Podcast have been nominated for Best Sports Business Podcast at the 2024 Sports Podcast Awards. Vote for us here
From 'Quarterback' to 'Hard Knocks' and 'All or Nothing', hear about how the NFL produces content. Plus, we hear how Fanatics is looking to play a role in the world of sports broadcast and the global ambitions of World Rugby’s newest streaming platform. On this episode of StreamTime Sports hear from Pat Kelleher of NFL Films, Fanatics' Matt Primack, and James Rothwell of World Rugby. Key Points: Does the NFL have a specific strategy for targeting different audiences with its original content? Are we in a docuseries bubble propped up by Formula One’s Drive to Survive? Why do broadcasters need Fanatics? How ecommerce can be the best real time fan engagement tool How World Rugby launched a global platform in a few short weeks How effective are fantasy sports driving audience growth and engagement?
Amazon's Prime Video is officially stepping away from the Premier League, shifting its focus in the UK to the Champions League. Alex Green, Amazon Prime Video Sport's European managing director, tells Steve McCaskill what’s next for the platform. Talking points: How Amazon selects its sports targets on a market-by-market basis in Europe? How is Amazon Prime delivering innovation via user experience? What is the importance of the Champions League rights deal in the UK? What did Amazon learn from its first NFL 'Black Friday' game?