The Varsity

Sean McManus, the former CBS Sports chairman and president, shares his rich media career journey. He reveals how he fought to bring the NFL back to CBS, highlighting why networks without the NFL struggle. McManus also talks about the evolution of sports media, the rise of women's sports, and the economic pressures of broadcasting rights. His insights offer a fascinating look at both personal milestones and industry shifts, blending nostalgia with the excitement of modern sports entertainment.

After popular demand, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins the pod to discuss McAfee, Manning, Inside the NBA, the Pitaro star strategy, the best Marchand jokes, and so much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Nathanson, co-founder and top analyst at MoffettNathanson, dives into the upheaval in sports media as streaming takes center stage. He discusses the survival tactics for sports leagues and college conferences amid the decline of traditional TV. Nathanson humorously highlights the implications of new streaming competitors like Amazon and YouTube for live sports rights. The conversation also touches on the struggles of legacy broadcasters and how they are adapting their strategies to keep fans engaged in a fragmented media landscape.

Bill Cohan, a partner at Puck and former investment banker, joins the discussion on the shifting landscape of media mergers. He analyzes Comcast’s spin-off plans, private equity's looming role, and the broader implications for the industry. Cohan also shares insights into Wyc Grousbeck’s leveraged buyout of the Boston Celtics, detailing the impressive rise in franchise value and the potential buyers circling the team, including Steve Pagliuca and Jeff Bezos. It’s a riveting conversation on sports and media's intertwined fates.

David Levy, former president of Turner Networks, brings his expertise to the discussion on the seismic shifts in sports media. He dives into Comcast's surprising move to spin off cable channels and examines Amazon's potential to revolutionize the regional sports network landscape. The conversation highlights Netflix's innovative Tyson-Paul fight and the far-reaching effects of the TNT-ESPN deal. Levy also touches on the impactful rise of women's sports and the evolution of NBA broadcasting, revealing insights that are shaping the future of sports entertainment.

Sara Fischer, an Axios media correspondent and CNN analyst, joins to unpack the intriguing challenges of live sports streaming on platforms like Netflix. They discuss the tech hiccups during the Tyson-Paul fight and what this means for future sports broadcasts. The conversation also dives into TNT's collaboration with ESPN and the evolving role of production companies founded by athletes. With insights on local sports and the shifting landscape of regional sports networks, Fischer offers a keen perspective on the ever-changing media terrain.

John is joined by one of ESPN’s brightest stars, Mike “Greeny” Greenberg. In a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving media landscape, the duo dive into Greeny’s remarkable 28-year (and counting) career at the network, the market for on-air talent and how it’s changed over the years, how his morning show Get Up became a cornerstone of ESPN’s morning programming, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John is joined by NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, creator of ProFootballTalk, to contemplate the biggest dramas facing the NFL today: the debate surrounding whether (and how) to add an additional game to the schedule, the push to expand its international footprint, the league’s surprising difficulty selling NFL media, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LightShed super-analyst Rich Greenfield joins John to discuss what Trump’s reelection means for the sports media business and the M&A landscape. Then they debate how the business will look in 10 years, whether platforms like YouTube and Spotify could get into sports, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fan favorite Ben Strauss return to discuss why he believes that Fox Sports—not ESPN—reigns supreme as the "woke” sports network. Then the duo dive into Fox Sports’ unique live-sports media strategy and wade into the rising drama surrounding beat reporters’ locker room access. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices