The Varsity Sports Media’s Winners (and Losers) of 2025
Dec 10, 2025
Julia Alexander, a media analyst focused on streaming, Dylan Byers, a media strategy reporter, and Eriq Gardner, a courts reporter, discuss the biggest sports media winners of 2025. They highlight David Ellison's impact in rights wars and Pat McAfee as a transformative on-air personality. Gardner emphasizes Judge Claudia Wilkins’ pivotal rulings on college athlete rights, reshaping the landscape. The conversation explores the influence of talent-driven franchises and the potential of McAfee's model across various media platforms.
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Ellison’s Long Game In Sports Rights
- David Ellison's aggressive acquisitions signal a long-term play to own valuable sports rights across streaming and linear.
- Dylan Byers argues Ellison's capital and strategy make him a major future player in sports media rights.
Personality-First Media Wins
- Pat McAfee blends live YouTube engagement with linear TV, creating a cross-platform franchise that drives ratings and loyalty.
- Julia Alexander says McAfee exemplifies how personality-first media builds communities around talent.
License Creator Feeds, Don’t Rebuild Them
- Legacy networks should license creator-led video feeds rather than try to fully recreate the creator model in-house.
- Dylan Byers advises embracing talent-as-franchise to retain audiences and adapt economics.