StreamTime Sports

NBC is the biggest financial backer of the Olympics but that investment has come under scrutiny after a couple of down Games. With Paris 2024 in full swing we hear from Gary Zenkel, NBC’s Olympics president, on the broadcaster’s welcome success so far. While StreamTime Sports host Chris Stone is also joined by Steve McCaskill to discuss latest broadcast technology on display at the Olympics. Talking points: • What is driving the rebound of Olympics viewership? • How is NBC looking to attract different audiences? • What role is streaming playing for the Olympics? • How is AI being used during the Games? Interview with Gary Zenkel – (38:45)

After years of speculation the NBA has finally reached an agreement for its new broadcaster partners from 2025. StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone discuss the impact of the NBA’s decision, as well as other recent sports media news. Talking points: Why did the NBA choose ESPN, Amazon, and NBC? What is next for Warner Bros Discovery after losing the NBA? What impact will Ligue 1’s new broadcast deal with DAZN and BeIN have? Will Reddit’s partnership with the NFL, NBA, and MLB move the needle? Why YouTube is a perfect partner for the WSL What does Donald Trump’s appearance on Bryson DeChambeau's YouTube say about the influence of athletes?

Whether it be subscriptions, PPV, or free-to-air, sports have been searching for the perfect way to monetise their content. On this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone discuss which monetisation models are overrated or underrated. Talking points: Is the NFL’s free to air success replicable? Do linear broadcasters like ESPN and Sky still carry value? Are subscription services such as DAZN flawed? Can AVOD reach its full potential? Should we see more sports offered via PPV? Has FAST already fallen off?

After a decade-long absence due to ongoing NIL litigation, EA Sports is finally releasing the latest edition of its college football simulation game. StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone are joined by SportsPro technology editor Steve McCaskill to discuss the role video games play in sports media. The trio also discuss how other major rights holders such as Fifa, Wimbledon and the NBA are approaching video games. Key Points: What are the business implications of video game licensing? Why did Fifa end its relationship with EA Sports? Can video games successfully help develop younger fans? What impact can esports leagues have? What can teams, leagues, and broadcasters learn from video game streaming platforms? 

Just two years after launch and Fifa is already looking to raise $2 billion to expand its Fifa+ OTT platform. StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone analyse what Fifa is trying to do here, as well as providing their initial reactions to the NFL’s legal issues with the Sunday Ticket class action suit. Key points: Why did Fifa decide to originally invest in launching its own DTC platform? Where has Fifa+ fallen short? How will Fifa invest $2bn in the platform? Can the NFL win its appeal in the Sunday Ticket class action suit? What impact could the legal dispute have on future rights negotiations, fans, and pricing?

In a summer filled with major events StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone examine their importance to broadcasters, how they differ to regular sporting competitions, and the role of social media. Key points: How do broadcasters assess the value of major events compared to the likes of the NFL, Premier League, and NBA? What role do time zones play in rights negotiations for global events? How do major events maintain fan engagement between competitions? Should major events offer greater inclusivity to athlete marketing? Why do events like Wimbledon and the Olympics excel in production quality?

Apple’s Vision Pro and its potential impact on sports media consumption are discussed. The challenges of VR adoption, pricing strategies, and exclusive content partnerships are explored. Additionally, Apple’s legal issues with the European Commission and the implications of their control over the sports media industry are examined.

Jon Cruz, YouTube's global head of sports partnerships, discusses YouTube's sports strategy, NFL Sunday Ticket rights, and Primetime Channels. The podcast explores YouTube TV, engagement strategies, YouTube Shorts impact, creator collaborations in sports content, and innovative sports media monetization models.

Amid the exits of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar from the French top flight in recent years, Ligue 1 will soon lose its longest tenured broadcast partner and may be forced to launch its own OTT platform. StreamTime Sports hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone discuss the future of Ligue 1 as a broadcast product, along with some other recent news in sports streaming. Talking points: Will Ligue 1 have to launch its own OTT platform? Why did Netflix decide to acquire its own NFL package? What does Sky Sports+ mean for the UK market? Does Venu Sports need Warner Bros Discovery to tie down the NBA rights? What to make of TikTok’s introduction of 60 minute videos? Will OneFootball’s partnerships with MLS and Yahoo Sports help with US growth?

Paul Gleb, a former senior director at Bayer with a wealth of knowledge in sports marketing, joins Scott Young, co-founder of Transmit Live, who specializes in live sports technology. They dive into the evolving landscape of sports advertising in the streaming era. Topics include how ad-supported streaming can enhance subscription models and why live sports remains a premier advertising venue. They discuss the power of premium moments, the challenges of new media rights, and how technology can help brands—both big and small—maximize their advertising impact.