Front Office Sports Today

The NBA is working with tech company Playback to create an alt-cast platform that allows fans to watch along with podcasters and creators. Playback is looking to strike similar deals with other major sports leagues.Plus, ESPN and Andscape senior NBA writer Marc Spears joins to discuss the state of the league, its relationship to the G-League and Overtime Elite, and where it should expand next.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum joins the podcast to discuss the league's media rights deals, potential expansion, and the midseason tournament. The NBA is considering a streaming-only game package and looks to the NFL's Amazon deal for inspiration. They explore potential media partners and the possibility of a salary cap in the English Premier League. The NBA plans to introduce a midseason tournament to engage fans and add significance to regular season games. They also address the issue of star players wanting to be traded while under contract.

After seeing the success of ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Amazon, the NBA is looking into crafting an exclusive streaming package of its own, with Amazon and Apple believed to be interested. We also take a look at the first player to defy the NHL’s pride tape ban and Michigan State’s nightmare season.Plus, Shea Serrano and Jason Concepcion join to talk all things new in the NBA, including the midseason tournament, load management rules, which teams could surprise, and whether Victor Wembanyama will live up to the hype.

For the first time in its history, Disney reported ESPN’s earnings separately from the rest of the company. The findings reveal quite a lot about the state of the sports media giant, and why Disney CEO Bob Iger has chosen to hang onto the company despite calls to spin it off.Plus, we hear from McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown on Formula 1's United States Grand Prix in Austin, the Las Vegas GP next month, and how he feels about a team backed by Andretti and General Motors potentially entering the grid.

The NFL is thrilled with the progress of ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Amazon Prime Video with the league in its second year of an 11-year pact with the retail giant’s streaming service. We also hear more dispatches from the NFL owners’ meetings, including the league eyeing Spain and Brazil for regular season games and Roger Goodell’s new contract.Plus, Sports Illustrated editor in chief Steve Cannella joins to offer his thoughts on the changes in sports media and at the legacy publication, and his experience of allowing Jimmy Butler to guest edit an edition.

Shaquille O’Neal is Reebok’s new president of basketball and he wasted little time in inking his first signature star: LSU’s Angel Reese. The move provides an early sign of how Shaq and vice president Allen Iverson are positioning the brand as it seeks to rebuild its stature.Plus, Howard University basketball coach Kenny Blakeney joins to discuss the school’s return to the NCAA tournament, its 20-year commitment from Jordan Brand, and how it is evolving in the era of NIL and a more active transfer portal.

Kim Ng, the first female general manager in MLB history, has declined her mutual option and is leaving the Miami Marlins. Former team president David Samson joins the podcast to discuss her tenure, Derek Jeter’s previous role with the team, why the Tampa Bay Rays could be sold, and the MLB playoffs.Plus, Front Office Sports newsletter co-author David Rumsey joins to discuss why some want the WNBA to separate itself from the NBA.

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is buying a 25% stake in Manchester United, allowing Joel and Avram Glazer to retain a controlling interest in the club. Ratcliffe will have influence over roster-building decisions and could seek full control of the club. We also discuss the NFL, and commissioner Roger Goodell revealing that the league is mulling the idea of a London Super Bowl in the future.Plus, we explore the international baseball landscape with reporter Shawn Spradling, in light of the IOC approving it for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and highly touted Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki is making the unprecedented move of forgoing Nippon Professional Baseball to play in college in the U.S.

Major League Baseball has made legal filings to compel Diamond Sports Group to declare which of the 12 teams for whom it has local broadcast rights it intends to broadcast in the 2024 season. MLB wants more time to prepare its media landscape after having to scramble when DSG dropped its broadcasts of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks mid-season in 2023. We also look into the intrigue around Endeavor bidding for a piece of the PGA Tour, the sports talk morning show wars, and the Connor Bedard effect on ratings.Later, Ben Pickman, staff writer for The Athletic, joins to discuss the WNBA finals and the state of the league as it looks toward, expansion, its next set of media deals, and the potential for new CBA negotiations in 2025.

Brett Favre has been preventing Mississippi authorities from accessing his tax returns. Favre is under investigation for allegations that he purposefully directed funds intended for needy families to a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi. Senior reporter AJ Perez joins to discuss the latest in the legal drama.Plus, we hear from the founder of Moolah Kicks, Natalie White. White started the sneaker company after realizing that many women’s basketball shoes were actually smaller versions of men’s shoes and don’t account for differences in women’s bodies.