Pablo Torre Finds Out The Sporting Class: A Hostile Takeover, FIFA Bribes & the 2025 Gold Rush
Dec 18, 2025
Join John Skipper, former president of ESPN and expert in sports media, alongside David Samson, former MLB executive and sports business commentator, as they dive into the tangled web of sports business. They discuss whether Warner Bros. initiated a hostile takeover and the implications of the FIFA bribery case. Skipper shares insights from his courtroom testimony while Samson reveals the growing influence of institutional investors. They even invent a new cocktail amidst their lively banter about the shifting landscape of sports rights and consolidation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Zaslav's Compensation Shapes The Deal
- David Skipper's potential $0.5B payout makes his incentives central to any Warner Bros. deal drama.
- Shareholders and institutional investors, not just management, will decide which bid wins.
Shareholders Favor Streaming Consolidation
- Netflix likely wins because shareholders prefer a cleaner streaming home for WBD's assets.
- Institutional investors will follow the highest-value, cash-driven offer over management alignment.
Spin-Off Valuation Complicates Offers
- Paramount's bid values the separate spin-off company, complicating price comparisons.
- Assigning standalone values forces deeper due diligence from bankers and investors.