The Powers That Be: Daily Steve Bornstein’s NFL Gospel
Nov 15, 2025
Steve Bornstein, a veteran media executive who shaped the landscape of sports television, discusses his experiences with the late Paul Tagliabue, the former NFL commissioner. He shares insights on launching the NFL Network and the evolution of sports media amid the streaming wars. Bornstein critiques broadcast versus streaming metrics and highlights the potential of women's volleyball as an emerging sport. He also reflects on the shifting dynamics between tech giants and legacy networks, emphasizing the importance of broad access for fans.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Big Deals With Tagliabue
- Steve Bornstein first did major business with Paul Tagliabue negotiating ESPN Sunday and Monday rights in the 1990s.
- Those early deals were pivotal in giving ESPN full-season NFL programming and driving rate increases.
How Tagliabue Recruited Bornstein
- Paul Tagliabue personally reached out to Bornstein after he left Disney and helped persuade him to join the NFL.
- Bornstein credits Tagliabue, Pat Bowlen, Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell for convincing him to make the move.
Legacy Beyond A Single Creator
- Bornstein believes the NFL Network idea predated him but his experience gave the league confidence to execute it successfully.
- He expresses pride seeing NFL Network alongside ESPN in public spaces as part of his legacy.