The Sports Media Podcast

Sports media’s two biggest rights deals that are available at the moment – one for the Big Ten and the other for the UEFA Champions League – are the first two topics on this week’s podcast. Andrew Marchand and John Ourand provide updates on what viewers can expect once these deals get signed. The two also look at Matthew Berry’s decision to leave ESPN after a 15-year run. Marchand and Ourand talk about where he’s headed and why it makes sense. They also look at who will replace Berry as the face of ESPN’s fantasy sports business. Other topics include a new on-air role at ESPN for Robert Griffin III and the latest on the NFL’s Sunday Ticket negotiations. Mentioned this week: Danny Sillman, Robert Griffin III, Randy Moss, David Jacoby, Ja Morant, Eric Rydholm, Ben Strauss, Adam Schefter, Armando Benitez, Chris Mason, Acie Wyatt, Abe Madkour, Mark Sanchez, Matthew Berry, Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Mike Clay, Pete Sampras, Roger Goodell, Brian Rolapp, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic, Chris Fowler, John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Renaud Lichtenstein, Bud Collins, Dick Enberg.

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand give their insights on what is happening behind the scenes as the billions of dollars in TV money has changed the landscape of college football with USC and UCLA moving to the Big Ten. They explain how the Big Ten and SEC expansions are big successes for leaders of Fox Sports (Eric Shanks) and ESPN (Jimmy Pitaro), while also delving into who else may be involved, including Amazon and Apple. In the rest of the pod, Marchand and Ourand wonder why MLB didn't have other Yankees and others playing on July 4, have an update on where the MLS negotiations stand with ESPN and Fox, as well as the end of NBC's Olympic Channel. They also revisit some of last week's guest host, David Levy's opinions. Plus, a tribute to Hank Goldberg.Mentioned on this week’s pod: Brian Windhorst, David Levy, Jack Swarbrick, Eric Shanks, Jimmy Pitaro, Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Jacob deGrom. Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Manny Machado, Adley Rutschman, Austin Hays, Aaron Judge, Rob Manfred, Nick Saban, Tripp Mickle, Tim Cook, John Skipper, Eddy Cue, David Zaslav, Don Garber, Adam Gold, Hank Goldberg, Jeremy Schaap, Hy Goldberg, Edwin Pope, Dan Le Batard.

Former Turner Broadcasting boss David Levy fills in as a guest host for Andrew Marchand, who is on vacation this week. Levy and John Ourand go in-depth on a variety of topics, including Formula 1’s new deal with ESPN that’s worth $75-90 million per year; what to expect when the NBA’s media rights are available in three years; and a review – and preview – of LIV Golf’s launch. The two also discuss MLS’s Apple deal, Apple’s sports strategy vs Amazon’s, ESPN’s direct-to-consumer plans and where to find the best sports media investments these days.Levy is chairman of Genius Sports, senior advisor of the Raine Group and founder and CEO of the sports investing and consultancy company Back Nine Ventures.Those mentioned on this pod include: Chris Mason, Amanda Levy, Brett Levy, Niki Levy, Eric Shanks, Adam Silver, Jay Marine, Don Garber, Jay Monahan, David Hill, Rory McIroy, Justin Thomas, LeBron James, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Jake Paul, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Adley Rutschman, Kevin Brown, Jim Palmer, Gary Thorne

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand go deep about the future of sports media in light of the Apple-MLS deal, as both have extensively researched and reported on the subject. At minimum, it will have an impact on what happens with the NBA in 2025 and could be a landmark move that one day down the road has serious implications for all the major sports leagues. Plus, Ryan Fitzpatrick joins the pod fresh off the announcement that he has officially joined Amazon as a studio analyst for Thursday NIght Football this fall. Fitzpatrick goes in depth into his career, why Amazon is next and how he and his wife manage their seven children. Those mentioned in the pod include: Adam Silver, Mike Bass, Chris Ripley, Jerry Reinsdorf, Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Mark Apter, Seinfeld, Chris Mason, Gary Bettman, Aaron Judge, Ryan Glasspiegel, Richard Sherman, Tony Gonzalez, Charissa Thompson, Jimmy Pitaro, Steve Bornstein, Timmy Chang, Nathaniel Hackett, Liza Barber, Tony Romo, Jim Nantz, Terry McLaurin, Carson Wentz, Drew Brees, Mark Sanchez, Daryl Johnston, Jon Vilma, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard, Bob Costas, Rudy Martkze, Marv Albert, Jerry Johnson, Sean McDonough, Joe Buck, Jack Buck, Mike Francesa, Chris Russo, Wally Pipp, Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Acie Wyatt

News of Apple’s all-encompassing Major League Soccer deal broke just before Andrew Marchand and John Ourand taped this week’s podcast. The two go in-depth on deal terms and what Apple’s involvement means for the rest of the business. Marchand and Ourand also analyze what Luis Silberwasser’s surprise appointment as chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports means for the sports media business and what changes to expect at Turner Sports. Chris Solomon, host of the golf podcast No Laying Up, joins this week as The Big Get. Speaking from the US Open, Solomon talked about the future of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour and what to expect from both. As always, the two pick who’s up (Peyton Manning and Don Garber) and who’s down (Bob Chapek and Jay Monahan), as well as the Call of the Week from Mike Breen.Mentions this week: Rory McIroy, Greg Norman, Don Garber, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Pat McAfee, Dan Le Batard, Tom Brady, Bob Chapek, Jay Monahan, Jim Nantz, Michael Jordan, Taylor Twellman, Chris LaPlaca, David Zaslav, Chris Mason, Lenny Daniels, Jimmy Pitaro, Jeff Zucker, David Levy, Karen Brodkin, Hillary Mandel, Sean McDonough, Al Michaels, Joe Buck, Jack Buck, Dick Enberg, Curt Gowdy, Dick Stockton, Charissa Thompson, Kay Adams, Nate Burleson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Richard Sherman, Tony Gonzalez, Marshawn Lynch, Kirk Herbstreit, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Charles Schwartzel, Phil Mickelson, Mark Cuban, Elon Musk, Talor Gooch, Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Mohammad bin Salman, Jordan Poole, Mike Breen, Marv Albert, Ian Eagle, Eddy Cue.

LIV Golf’s opening weekend is the top topic on this week’s pod with Andrew Marchand and John Ourand debating the tour’s media future. The two also dive into the latest with Big Ten rights, Amazon’s moves to build out an NFL studio team, Jason Garrett’s negotiations to call Notre Dame football and the future of the “Manningcast.” The two also review the first two games of the NBA Finals. Pelicans Guard C.J. McCollum joins the pod and discusses his media future, the state of NBA media today and why he majored in journalism at Lehigh University. Mentions this week include: Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson, Arlo White, CJ McCollum, Troy Aikman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Amy Rosenfeld, Molly Solomon, Stephanie Druley, Mark Jones, Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Mike Bass, Michael Jordan, Ian O’Connor, Dustin Johnson, Greg Norman, Chris Russo, John Sterling, Marshawn Lynch, Richard Sherman, Kay Adams, Ryan Glasspiegel, Pat McAfee, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Magic Johnson, Brian Rolapp, Jason Garrett, Tony Romo, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Joe Buck, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Peg Ourand, Ryan Ruocco, Dave Pasch, Ian Eagle, Mike Tirico, Herb “Papa Clicker” Marchand, Stuart Scott, Tom McCarthy, Mike Schmidt, John Kruk, Jimmy Pitaro.

Big Ten and MLS rights deals should have been done by Memorial Day. Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss where those deals stand and what viewers should expect. Other topics include NBA Finals preview, on-air roles for Magic Johnson and CJ McCollum, the next generation of NFL broadcasters, and future plans for NFL+. Podcast mentions go to Anish Shroff, Jimmy Pitaro, Greg Olsen, Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Tom Verducci, Chris Mason, Arlo White, Peter Drury, Ted Lasso, David Zaslav, Grant Wahl, Tim Cook, Brian Rolapp, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Breen, Magic Johnson, Dave Roberts, Michael Wilbon. Stephen A. Smith, Jalen Rose, CJ McCollum, Draymond Green, Herb “Papa Clicker” Marchand, Boomer Esiason, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Drew Brees, Mike Tomlin, Sean McVay, Aaron Rodgers, Travis Kelce, Bill Belichick, Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty, Kyle Van Noy, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth, Charles Davis, Ian Eagle, Mark Schlereth, Bob Wischusen, Phil Mushnick, Ben Fischer, Dave Ryan, Zach Shaw.

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch's comments on Tom Brady's 10-year, $375 million deal, Fox Sports' plans on its NFL booth, Warner Bros.-Discovery's future, the PGA, LIV Golf, Joe Buck, Amanda Renner, Magic Johnson, NBA Countdown, Inside the NBA, Dan Orlovsky, Lesley Visser, Jack Michaels and Chris Ripley. 

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand detail what could be next for Drew Brees on TV, more implications of Tom Brady’s $375 million deal with Fox and Joe Buck and Troy Aikman go to Bristol for the first time. Plus, the MLS’ upcoming TV deal that is expected to include Apple.In the Bettman interview, the NHL commissioner addresses the league’s first year with ESPN and Turner, as well as answers gambling's impact on the league and how much longer he will stay in the job. Plus, “Who’s up? Who’s Down?” and the “Call of the Week.”

Fox Sports surprising move to sign Tom Brady as its top NFL game analyst – even before he has finished his playing career – is the main topic on this week’s podcast. Andrew Marchand and John Ourand tackle this topic from all angles, including how this move affects other NFL analysts like Greg Olsen and Drew Brees. They also try to make sense of Brady’s huge $37.5 million per year contract. Shoutouts this episode go to Brady, Kevin Burkhardt, Eric Shanks, Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Eric Shanks, Brees, Cris Collinsworth, Tony Romo, Kirk Herbstreit, Olsen, Chris Russo, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Joe Tessitore, Booger McFarland, Jason Witten, Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Brian Griese, Andrew Fegyveresi, Acie Wyatt, Jason Benetti, Michael Nathanson, Greg Norman, Joe Montana, Jim Nantz, Mike Tirico, John Madden, Larry Collmus.