SportsPro Podcast

BlackBook Motorsport writer Cian Brittle sits down for an in-depth conversation with Dorna Sports' new chief commercial officer, Dan Rossomondo, about improving the fortunes of MotoGP. 

The UK media market continues to turnover, but while some things change others remain the same. Viaplay leaves as quickly as it entered, Apple indicates now is not the time for the Premier League and BT Sport becomes TNT. So where does it leave us? George Breare, Tom Bassam and Sam Carp discuss all of that and what the future holds for the Commonwealth Games.

SportsPro features editor Sam Carp makes an appearance alongside regular hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam to cast an eye Down Under as Fifa prepares for its biggest Women's World Cup yet. Talking points: Changing perceptions of women's soccer since the France 2019 (2:50) Has the unbundling of the Women's World Cup rights been a success (4:57) Will Fifa meet it two billion target for tournament viewership? (22:56) Hitting targets on the ground in the host nations (27:50) The equal pay issue (29:28) Predictions (40:20)

Something different from the SportsPro Podcast, as BlackBook writer Cian Brittle talks us through his experience of Formula One's British Grand Prix. Talking points: Reflections on race day and a health check on Formula One at Silverstone (0:41) What's the fan experience like at the British Grand Prix? (5:06) Is there room for improvement? (7:39) Can F1 Academy be a game changer for bringing in female fans? (9:41) Report from Silverstone: Taking in the Fusion Lounge (11:17) Report from Silverstone: Pre-race predictions (14:11) Report from Silverstone: Post-race reaction (18:48) Report from Silverstone: James Byrom on Match Hospitality's secrets to success at Silverstone (22:03)

For Women's Sport Week, we share a conversation between SportsPro editorial director Michael Long and Micky Lawler, the president of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). The interview, recorded as part of our special series to mark the WTA's 50th anniversary in June, covers the early days of the tour, its progression as a business and the direction of travel as women's tennis enters a new era.  Talking points: -          The WTA’s foundation in 1973 (02:48) -          Commercial partners involved in the tour’s growth (04:46) -          The WTA’s purpose and the push for gender parity (06:43) -          Setting the commercial benchmark for women’s sport (14:51) -          Expansion into Asia and the tour’s future in China (18:53) -          CVC’s investment and the creation of WTA Ventures (25:03)

To mark Women's Sport Week at SportsPro, we have a special NEW ERA episode of the podcast with Milly Miller-Adams, Elena Kouyoufa and Katie Preston exploring the meaning of taking risks.  Our hosts take it in turns to interview three women at different stages of their careers in the sports industry to find how they view taking risks and the biggest roll of the dice they have made so far. Talking points: What does risk mean to you? (0:46) Katie Bryan, senior event manager at Keith Prowse, on leaving full-time employment to take on a short-term contract (3:15) How Sahaj Shah, product designer at Areto Labs, made the big leap from working in business development to chase her dream in a completely new role (16:49) The story of how Gabrielle Guedj, ATP Media's director of commercial rights sales and new business development, agreed a deal that could have brought down IMG based on a handshake (31:34) Lessons in how to think about taking risks (45:24)

Regular SportsPro Podcast hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by technology editor Steve McCaskill to talk all things SW19 as the British tennis Grand Slam takes hold for its two weeks in the sun (and rain).

In this special episode of the SportsPro Podcast we hear from Sergei Palkin, the chief executive of Ukrainian soccer powerhouse Shahktar Donetsk, about the challenge of leading change in the face of conflict as his club struggles for survival amid the Russian invasion of his homeland. Recorded at SportsPro Live 2023, Palkin is in conversation with Empower Sports' Pedro Pinto. Talking points: How the war changed everything for Shakhtar and the Ukrainian people (6:30) Why was important to return to football (9:23) Fifa, Annexe Seven and the cost of losing players (11:28) Representation in the ECA and UEC (16:35) Pivoting from being a recruitment strategy to a development strategy (18:18) What others can do to support Ukrainian clubs (20:58) The reality of operating a club in a warzone (24:51) Quick-fire questions (30:25)

SportsPro Podcast hosts George Breare and Tom Bassam chop up the latest sports industry news and look at the impact of Netflix's latest sports docuseries, before Josh Sim joins the pod to give his thoughts on MLB's return to London. Talking points: Will 'Tour de France: Unchained' do for cycling what 'Drive to Survive' did for F1? (2:44) Unpacking Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami (12:20) Todd Boehly becomes the latest to move into the multi-club ownership game (18:24) Talking MLB in London (24:05)

Tom Bassam and George Breare return for a quick roundup of the week in sports industry news. Talking points: Why has Michael Jordan sold the Charlotte Hornets? (2:10) The Women's World Cup rights picture becomes clearer (8:14) The demise and legacy of the W Series (17:50) Chelsea and Stake.com, how did we get here? (24:29)