Undisputed Media Lessons with Mike Stricoff - [Making Media, EP.60]

Apr 11, 2024

Guest

Shannon Sharpe

Guest

Skip Bayless

Guest

Mike Stricoff

Sports media veteran Mike Stricoff discusses personality-driven media businesses, the evolution of independent creators, and the challenges of producing engaging content on national TV and tech platforms. Insights on the competition between Fox and ESPN, transitioning to Snapchat, and navigating the digital content landscape.

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ANECDOTE

Launching Undisputed's Talent Focus

Mike Stricoff produced the first episode of Undisputed and witnessed the show's talent-driven format firsthand.
The show lets personalities like Skip Bayless freely express themselves, which makes it highly entertaining and engaging.

INSIGHT

Authenticity Fuels Host Energy

Shows thrive by allowing hosts to passionately discuss topics they care about, enhancing authenticity on camera.
Organic expression of personalities connects better with audiences, as seen with Shannon Sharpe's consistent energy on and off screen.

INSIGHT

Host and Audience Interests Align

Top hosts like Skip Bayless also understand audience interests, aligning their passions with what viewers want.
Sometimes producers must steer conversations towards topics with broader audience appeal despite hosts' personal interests.

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Our guest today is sports media veteran Mike Stricoff. Mike spent a decade producing live sports talk on national TV, first working at MLBN before moving to Fox Sports, where he helped launch Undisputed. Mike worked on that show alongside Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe, and others as the main line producer.

In 2017, he left national TV for tech, going to work at Snap where he led their sports and gaming content. And, more recently, he has launched his own business working as an adviser to digital media companies and connecting investors & content producers.

We tap into all his experience in a discussion around personality-driven media businesses and how that has evolved both at a national scale and for independent creators. Please enjoy our conversation with Mike Stricoff.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.

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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Media

(00:02:15) Behind the Scenes of The Launch of Undisputed

(00:04:00) The Art of Personality-Driven Media

(00:08:18) Catering to The Host Vs The Audience

(00:13:38) Fostering Chemistry Between Co-Hosts

(00:17:51) Mike’s Experience Launching FS1

(00:21:48) Mike’s Transition to Snap & A New Frontier in Sports Content

(00:31:05) The Pros and Cons of Algorithm-Driven Content

(00:34:48) The Evolution of Content Creators From Traditional Media to YouTube Stars

(00:39:06) Advice for Aspiring Content Creators

(00:40:40) Bridging Creators with the Investment World

(00:45:16) Debrief