SportsPro Podcast

Regular hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by senior staff writer Ed Dixon to discuss the latest sports industry news, including a review of YouTube’s first week as an NFL broadcaster. Then Dixon talks us through his latest long read on a decade of of Thomas Bach as IOC president.

Digital transformation will impact sports organisations of all sizes, transforming existing processes or unlocking entirely new possibilities in almost every area – on and off the pitch. Recruitment, performance, and fan engagement are but three areas that are being revolutionised by digital innovations.  Navigating an increasingly complex technological ecosystem that comprises big tech, startups and sports-specific vendors can be tricky. Mitch Heath, co-founder of Teamworks, and Katia Zavershinskaya, a technology lead who has experience working with Premier League soccer clubs, discuss what to look for when picking a technology partner, the importance of collaboration, and what the possibilities are for technology within sport.

Co-founders Xavier Green and Victorien Tixier explain the journey of establishing ScorePlay, their AI-fused content management management designed especially for the sports industry. The conversation with SportsPro’s George Breare covers all the steps of the startup’s journey, from setting up the business, to gaining high-profile athlete investors and case studies from ScorePlay’s clients, through to its future growth plans.

The NFL’s head of Europe and the UK, Brett Gosper, explains to SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham how the biggest money maker in American sports plans to grow that pie overseas. Talking points: What has been on Gosper's agenda since he joined the National Football League (NFL) from World Rugby? (0:57) How the NFL's approach to Europe has changed over time (6:00) The role of teams in marketing the NFL overseas (13:26) The international broadcast approach and working with DAZN (15:58) Creating a player pathway for overseas athletes (21:09) Quickfire questions (25:01)

Industry experts discuss the future of the sports industry, focusing on trends in content and consumption. They cover the rapid growth of sports property as a media and entertainment business, the success of Formula One and the potential influence of Amazon in sport. They also touch on the changing landscape of Twitter as a platform for sports news, the future of BBC in sports coverage, the European Super League, and the future of cricket.

Spain have won, the Lionesses fell just short and Australia fell in love with the Matildas, but what does it all mean? Tom Bassam, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim unpack the 2023 Women's World Cup. Talking points: Tournament takeaways (1:10) The big winners (2:42) Who were the losers? (9:03) The important numbers (15:33) Spain and the RFEF, uncomfortable winners? (23:44) How should the FA and the Lionesses view the tournament? (29:23) Women's World Cup breakout stars (36:03) The sports industry stories that matter this week (39:11)

Gary Lineker, the former England striker turned Match of the Day host and founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, sits down with Tom Bassam for a wide-ranging conversation.  Talking points: Becoming a podcast mogul with Goalhanger (1:21) The Walkers relationship (10:50) Lineker's media career (14:35) How Match of the Day is made (17:50) The role of the BBC in modern sports media (24:35)

Tom Bassam hosts a look ahead to the new season of the Premier League with SportsPro colleagues Sam Carp and Ed Dixon. The panel tackle a few key storylines dominating the headlines going into the new campaign by asking: what’s more likely? Then, Josh Sim comes on to talk about his latest feature that dives into some of the more interesting metrics that we should be on the look out for with the Premier League this season. Talking points: What's more likely? The Glazers cancel the sale of Manchester United or Manchester City learn of their punishment over alleged financial rule breaches before Christmas (1:12) What's more likely? Amazon takes over as the main UK broadcaster for the Premier League or DAZN finally picks up a domestic package of matches (11:54) What's more likely? The 'New Deal for Football' sees the English Football League (EFL) Cup scrapped or Chelsea agree a shirt sponsorship deal with a betting brand (20:31) Predictions for the season (31:45) The key data points for the 2023/24 Premier League season (38:16)

With 11.4 million users around the world, Fantasy Premier League is a success story in fan engagement. Alexandra Willis, director of digital media and audience development at the Premier League, explains how the English soccer competition’s official fantasy game provides value for the organisation’s commercial partners and underlines its role in promoting the league globally.

George Breare and Ed Dixon bring you the insights and sounds from SportsPro APAC 2023 from on the floor at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands. Talking points: Setting the scene (0:52) The importance of mobile (4:32) ONE Championship and the metrics that matter (7:43) FanCode and cracking the Indian market (15:34) How Hong Kong Sevens has positioned itself as an entertainment event (23:07) Liverpool's approach to APAC with CEO Billy Hogan (27:07) The health of esports in 2023 (34:09) Inside SportsPro APAC networking drinks (40:57)