StreamTime Sports

In this discussion, Paul O’Donovan, Senior Director at MediaKind, tackles the escalating piracy problem costing the sports industry $28 billion annually. He reveals how piracy has evolved, emphasizing the need for proactive security measures. Exploring the roles of big tech platforms like Amazon, he questions if they're enabling piracy. The conversation also highlights the balance between accessibility and pricing, and suggests that the industry may need a fundamental shift in how live sports are distributed in this digital age.

Is DAZN betting big on a tournament without guaranteed returns? In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone break down the high-stakes investment in FIFA’s Club World Cup and whether it can deliver on its $1 billion price tag. From the complexities of the broadcast deals to sluggish audience numbers, they explore whether this bold play is a long-term growth opportunity or a cautionary tale in the making.Key points: What would it take to turn the FIFA Club World Cup into a profitable venture?What do empty stadiums and underwhelming TV ratings mean for the tournament’s future?Is DAZN’s product experience influencing viewership and retention? What role is Saudi investment playing in shaping the future of DAZN and FIFA?Will the knockout stages and marquee matchups make up for the early group stage apathy?

In a sports world dominated by conversations around broadcast rights and ad spend, what’s the real media value of sponsorship?In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone are joined by Franco De Bonis (VISUA) and Georgie Webb (Vision Insights) to explore how brands, rights holders, and agencies are moving beyond vanity metrics to uncover the true ROI of sponsorship. From AI-powered exposure tracking to high stakes valuations on everything from jersey patches to Ted Lasso cameos, they break down what’s driving smarter sponsorship decisions—and where the industry is still falling short.Key Points:What delivers more value: a commercial during the World Series or in-game brand exposure on the field?Why are 1 in 3 brands still struggling to accurately measure sponsorship ROI?Which metrics actually matter when measuring sponsorship value? How do American and European sports differ in how they value digital and broadcast sponsorship assets? How is AI reshaping sponsorship measurement down to the millisecond?

Live rights are no longer enough for sports organisations to capture attention. On this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Chris Stone is joined by content creators Maya Stephen and Stella Tran, as well as digital producer Tom Jewell.The discussion explores how the next phase of audience growth lies with sports partnering with content creators who bring cultural relevance and built-in communities. Whether it’s badminton, Formula 1 or women’s soccer today’s fans aren’t just watching they’re connecting through creators.  Key PointsSports media’s blind spot: The industry’s overreliance on live rights and highlightsContent creators bridging the gap: the new media connecting Gen Z and digital first audiences to sportsViral ≠ strategy: Don’t chase trends, build communitiesAuthenticity rules: Fans connect with relatable, low-friction content over polished highlight reelsCulture as currency: How creators are using music, fashion and travel to unlock fandom in unexpected places

FloSports CEO Mark Floreani joins StreamTime Sports to break down how the platform is redefining sports streaming for the underserved majority. From partnering with the NCAA and AHL to landing backing from India’s Dream Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone explore how FloSports is building a tech-first, fan-driven ecosystem. Key PointsHow did a $10K van-based startup grow into a $100M platform reshaping sports streaming?What made Dream Sports invest in a niche American sports company?Can subscription-based models really work for cheerleading, wrestling, and D3 college sports?How do you build an NFL-quality viewing experience—without the NFL?

From AI-powered dubbing to stripped-back broadcast vans to clever piracy countermeasures, sports streaming is undergoing a major shift. In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-host Nick Meacham shares his key takeaways from Streaming Tech Sweden, an annual event for streaming tech in the Nordics, as well as a behind the scenes at the Ice Hockey World Championships with Infront to understand what it takes to deliver a global broadcast.Key Talking Points:How modern broadcast supply chains are being rebuilt from the ground upDYN Media proving how lean production can still scale with qualityInfront’s thirty-one camera broadcast of the Ice Hockey Worlds shows innovation in actionPiracy continues to grow, but smarter deterrents are emerging 

What can a week in Sweden can teach us about the future of sports media? StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham unpacks his recent trip in the Nordics, where he hosted a Two Circles event to uncover the key trends shaping the industry - from the rising value of fandom to the stark realities of media rights and piracy. We also hear from Dugald Macdonald, CEO of Sportable on how real-time performance data is enhancing the fan experience and broadening its media impact.  Key Points:Two Circles predicts four billion global sports fans by 2033 - driving a 50% increase in content consumptionNearly 50% of all sports fandom is formed before age 14 and why making youth focused content is more vital than everThe Nordic region leads in streaming adoption, but also highlights major piracy challenges 'Friction is the enemy,' paywalls, user experience, lack of time, and share of wallet are major blockers to lifelong fandom Sportable's performance data is key to unlocking serving super fans with knowledge 

ESPN launches a new streaming bundle with innovative AI features, shaking up the market. YouTube's first globally streamed NFL game marks a monumental shift in live sports broadcasting. The WNBA capitalizes on its partnership with the NBA, enhancing its financial growth and fan engagement. Premiership Rugby celebrates a massive £200M deal with TNT Sports, while MLS experiments with live-streaming via the EA Sports FC app, blurring lines between gaming and sports viewership. It's a transformative time for sports media!

Spiideo delivered an incredible 3000 games in a single week. It’s a bold demonstration of how AI is revolutionising sports production—making it faster, more scalable, and more accessible than ever before. On this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone dive into the growing role of AI in sports media. They’re joined by Patrik Olsson, CEO of Spiideo and long-time innovator in AI, who shares how their technology is enabling leagues like Lega Basket Serie A to deliver high-quality broadcasts at unprecedented scale. Key Points: Overcoming production challenges with AIAchieving broadcast scalability without compromising quality How AI is unlocking new opportunities for both elite and grassroots coverageThe story behind how Italy’s top basketball league was able to scale their coverage and effectively monetise their rights

Soccer's digital transformation raises eyebrows as fans face paywalls. Uefa's restrictive highlight policies may be alienating audiences, while YouTube's role in global reach and anti-piracy is crucial. The rise of Amazon Prime's pay-per-view model is reshaping viewer expectations, but challenges remain in making content accessible. Discoverability emerges as a vital factor for fostering engagement and reducing subscriber churn, bringing both opportunities and obstacles to the future of fan interaction.