SportsPro Podcast

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly speaks to Alberto Longo, co-founder and deputy chief executive of all-electric motorsport series Formula E.   A few weeks ahead of a season-opening night race in Diryah they discuss the continued development of the championship, from its hosting strategy to its relationship with manufacturers and its digital media output and esports events.    They also consider Formula E’s role in a changing conversation around sustainability, including how it will sit alongside newcomer Extreme E, how it will retain its USP as other series pursue greener ambitions, and how it is maintaining its own drive to be cleaner and more efficient.  Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly, digital editor Tom Bassam and deputy editor Sam Carp assess the ten figures set to play a major role across sport over the next year. The trio reflect on SportsPro's annual list, which ranges from a prime minister to a professional tennis player, identifying the merits and the broader context behind their inclusion. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly speaks to Anmol Malhotra, the head of sports partnerships at Snap.    Malhotra explains how social platform Snapchat combines fun, intuitive messaging with proprietary camera technology and AR to appeal to a younger audience and how it aims to help sports publishers, broadcasters, brands, teams and athletes to do the same. He also talks about how those collaborations are structured, from financial incentives to IP integration and content ideas.    Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Andrew Georgiou, the president of Discovery-owned pan-continental broadcaster Eurosport. They discuss the launch of the Discovery+ direct-to-consumer service and its impact on the group's sports project (3.25), how Eurosport is adapting to the unique challenges of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (20.00), and the implications of digital transformation for rights models and programming concepts (38.01).  Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly speaks to Manoj Badale, owner of Indian Premier League cricket team Rajasthan Royals.  They discuss the lessons of Manoj's new book – A New Innings, co-authored with cricket writer, analyst and broadcaster Simon Hughes – and track some of the trends that have marked his work in the sport and a few that will define its future.  On the agenda are the tensions between protection and progress, the export and domestic growth potential of Indian sport, the need to rebalance commercial models and reestablish priorities, weathering Covid and preparing for new opportunities. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro’s editorial team get behind their mics for one last time in 2020, as Eoin Connolly, Michael Long, Tom Bassam and Sam Carp review some of the best and worst moments of an extraordinary 12 months.      They consider some of the best and worst events, deals, innovations and moments of a unique year, casting an eye over everything from the NBA bubble and the NFL Virtual Draft to OneFootball’s takeover of Dugout, circling venture capital, big moves for Brett Gosper and Stefano Domenicali, and the fate of SportsPro’s ten influencers.   Meanwhile, Matt Rogan, Alexandra Willis and Adam Fraser drop in to share their New Year’s Resolutions for the sports industry for 2021. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

The SportsPro editorial team get together for the first of a two-part review of 2020, with Eoin Connolly, Michael Long, Tom Bassam and Sam Carp looking over some of the big themes of the sports industry year.   Remembering the sudden halt to sporting activity in March and how that exposed underlying frailties in the industry, while also unleashing unprecedented creativity, they consider how the forced migration to digital platforms created glimpses of what might outlast the crisis, and how a summer of protests emboldened athletes to pursue meaningful change.   There’s also time for some thoughts on 2021 and New Year’s resolutions for the sports business from Nick Meacham, Marisa Reich, Charlie Beall and Professor Simon Chadwick.   Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks, in the build-up to an unusual new NBA season.   They discuss the challenges of heading back to the Fiserv Forum behind closed doors, including the logistical and production plans behind that return and the financial measures helping teams through a campaign that is set for limited fan attendance.    Then Feigin describes the experience of an emotional summer of protests against racial inequality – one where the Bucks withdrew from a playoff game after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin – and explains how his outlook on the social responsibility of sports teams has been influenced by the events of 2020.  Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

In this esports-focused episode, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by staff writer, and the podcast's very own producer, Ed Dixon to talk through the latest developments in competitive gaming.   Then (20:54), Eoin speaks to Amir Mirzaee, chief operating officer at Bayes Esports. Having worked in business development at the Google subsidiary Waze, Mirazee is the latest executive to make the switch to gaming. Here, he discusses Bayes' involvement in esports, the sector's investment appeal and more, including what to expect in 2021.    Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

In a final entry from the SportsPro Insider Series for 2020, SportsPro event content manager Chris Stone finds out about how cycling events promoter Sweetspot and carmaker Skoda are working together on the Women’s Tour.   Chris is joined by Sweetspot chief executive Hugh Roberts, Skoda communications manager Lisa Kirkbright, and professional cyclist Lizzy Banks, who explain how the sponsorship operates, how the Women’s Tour sets the standard internationally, and why women’s cycling offers so much potential for prospective partners.