UP497 'Buy It or Build It': Simon Denyer on the Billion-Dollar Sports Media Playbook

6 snips

Aug 19, 2025

Simon Denyer, a veteran sports-media entrepreneur and the mind behind PEAK Sports Media, dives into the evolving dynamics between sports and major digital platforms like Disney+ and Amazon. He discusses the strategic partnerships with leagues, the changing landscape of rights sales, and the impact of piracy in fragmented markets. Denyer also shares insights on how streaming platforms are reshaping audience engagement with sports and why varied revenue streams are vital for leagues. His expertise sheds light on the future of sport in a digital age.

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ADVICE

Carve Rights To Match Buyer Needs

Do design rights strategies that carve packages to suit different buyer needs rather than forcing one-size-fits-all auctions.
Use combinations of sports broadcasters and OTT buyers to increase total revenue by creating complementary lots.

INSIGHT

Streamers Added New Money And Different Value

The arrival of multiple streamers has added genuinely new money and subscribers to the sports market rather than only cannibalising pay-TV.
Streamers bring different value signals: subscriber acquisition, engagement frequency, and ad monetisation.

ADVICE

Model Buyers To Unlock Extra Value

Do model buyer needs (subscriber retention vs reach) and create packages that let incumbents keep core rights while selling premium standalone pieces to new OTTs.
Aim to grow total market value by matching content slices to each buyer's commercial objectives.

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As co-founder of Perform and DAZN, Simon Denyer has spent the last twenty years at the intersection of sport, media, and technology. Last week he brokered an innovative new relationship between La Liga and Disney+ via his new company PEAK Sports Media.

This is a conversation about the big picture of sport's relationship with the major digital platforms, from YouTube and Netflix to Amazon and Apple.

Unmissable.

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