

StreamTime Sports
SportsPro
A weekly podcast profiling the people, businesses and technologies driving the sports media revolution. The go-to place for sports industry professionals seeking ideas, insights and inspiration in these times of rapid transformation across streaming, OTT and digital.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 22, 2023 • 43min
Is streaming inevitable? ESPN, NBA, Premier League and the future of broadcast
Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that ESPN will launch a full DTC streaming service by 2025, but how will that impact the whole sports broadcast ecosystem? Co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone discuss this story amongst others including the NBA, Premier League, Amazon, and more.
Key Points:
- What will ESPN’s DTC strategy look like? - (4:22)
- Did Netflix succeed with its first foray into live sports? - (11:47)
- Should European football be concerned about the broadcast negotiations for Ligue 1 and Serie A? - (16:20)
- Can the Premier League create a bidding war by offering more games to broadcasters? - (25:31)
- Will the NBA offer a comprehensive digital package in its upcoming broadcast talks? - (29:18)
- What to make of the Indian market with the sale of Disney Star - (32:48)

Nov 15, 2023 • 35min
The power of Apple, Lionel Messi and MLS’s global media strategy
As MLS' first season streaming live on Apple TV wraps up, we hear from the league's SVP of emerging ventures, Chris Schlosser, about leveraging technology to connect with a digitally native fanbase.
Talking points:
What are MLS’s key technology pillars? - (6:54)
How does Apple’s partnership impact the league's approach to innovation? - (14:34)
How does technology help MLS serve both domestic and international fans? - (23:07)
Where does the future of sports technology lie? - (30:58)

Nov 8, 2023 • 57min
Is it time for sports to invest in the metaverse?
Fan engagement and revenue from digital collectibles, virtual stadiums, and other immersive experiences are on the rise as new technologies such as Apple’s Vision Pro are soon to be released. On this episode of StreamTime hear from MLB, the PGA Tour, and the R&A on how they’re connecting physical experiences with virtual worlds to engage fans.
Talking Points:
• What is Major League Baseball’s Web 3.0 strategy and how is it broadcasting within the Virtual Ballpark? - (2:33)
• How the R&A hosted the first golf major in the metaverse - (24:30)
• What is the PGA Tour doing in its partnership with Roblox to attract younger fans? - (46:36)

Nov 1, 2023 • 47min
TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram... why the future of sports could be vertical video
With video consumption on social media only growing, should sports prioritise putting live content in vertical formats? Co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone discuss the growing trend and who is best placed in sports to benefit.
Talking points:What is driving vertical video? - (8:09)
Should sports consider live broadcast in vertical formats? - (15:06)
Can social media platforms help sports monetise mobile-centric content? - (21:26)
How can vertical formats increase fan engagement? - (30:16)
Which sports make the most sense for vertical video? - (35:07)

Oct 25, 2023 • 47min
UFC, WWE, and Endeavor... all you need to know about the TKO merger
SportsPro’s technology editor and WWE fanatic, Steve McCaskill, joins hosts to discuss the merger of UFC and WWE. They explore Endeavor's role in sports, WWE's approach to media, the value of the UFC, factors behind the creation of TKO, future broadcast plans, and the tech leverage for WWE and UFC.

Oct 18, 2023 • 50min
Navigating crisis and building OneFootball into the ultimate football fan platform
OneFootball’s new CEO Patrick Fischer joins StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone to discuss a challenging 18 months for the digital football platform and how the company is building for the future.
Talking points:
How is OneFootball building off of the legacy set by founder Lucas von Cranach going forward? – (3:44)
Why does OneFootball still believe in Web 3.0 despite early struggles? – (13:23)
Will European soccer fans ever take to PPV?- (21:05)
Managing through crisis – (24:11)
Can European soccer duplicate the American advertising model? - (29:16)
What services can a sports platform offer to monetise fans? - (34:46)

Oct 11, 2023 • 47min
US sports betting... what’s happened in the five years since legalisation?
The podcast discusses the prevalence and growth of sports betting in the US since its legalization, the key players in the market, the potential for further growth, comparisons with other mature betting regions, and the impact of sports betting on sports media and coverage.

Oct 4, 2023 • 55min
A health check on the state of the European soccer rights game
The hosts discuss the challenges in increasing the commercial value of media rights in European soccer leagues, highlighting potential competition from Amazon and DAZN. They also explore the impact of celebrities on athletes' marketability and the introduction of new features and technologies in the NFL to improve fan engagement.

Sep 27, 2023 • 51min
Has OTT delivered on its promises?
On this episode of StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone are joined by Aarti Dabas, the chief media officer at Formula E. They discuss how successful OTT has been for disruptor sports, the growth of cricket, and will India become the next big market for sports.
• How effective is OTT for disruptor sports like Formula E? - (7:46)
• Can a sports OTT platform survive? - (15:06)
• For disruptor sports what is more important – reach or revenue? - (25:35)
• How much larger can cricket grow? - (30:38)
• Will incoming sports be able to crack the Indian marketplace? - (39:35)

Sep 20, 2023 • 50min
NFL v Premier League: Grading early season starts
On this episode of StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone look at how two of the world’s biggest sports properties have kicked off their seasons, new streaming platforms, and future broadcast negotiations.
• Is the NFL’s streaming strategy with Amazon, Peacock, and YouTube working? - (5:00)
• Can the NFL expand its international presence? – (10:52)
• Will DAZN win over fans with NFL GamePass? - (23:53)
• Should the Premier League have concerns over their upcoming domestic rights negotiations? - (33:29)
• Are subscription fatigue and piracy at a breaking point for the Premier League? - (41:33)