SportsPro Podcast

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly heads back to the office to chat to senior writer Sam Carp about the imminent Fifa Women's World Cup (16.45), with brands, broadcasters and fans promising to mass behind the competition as never before. Fifa head of women's football Sarai Bareman (31.47) is also on the line with her thoughts on the weeks ahead in France, and just what it is that is driving the commercial breakthrough in women's sport.  There's also time to talk through a week of massive events elsewhere in the world of sport, from the impact on DAZN and the rest of the fight game of Anthony Joshua's shock loss to Andy Ruiz in New York, to Uefa's twin club finals and its Nations League bow in Portugal, and the prospect of a Fifa Club World Cup in Qatar. 

The 2019 ICC Men's Cricket Cup is here, with ten teams heading to England and Wales for 48 games across six weeks until the middle of July. SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly presents a special edition of the podcast looking at some of the work that has gone into putting together one of the biggest events of the year.  First up is Cricket World Cup 2019 managing director Steve Elworthy (3.47), the former South Africa international running his sixth global ICC event but taking charge of the big one for the first time. He talks about the final days of preparation, the task of managing an expanded team, how the tournament can capture the public imagination and his ambitions for the future.  Then, with England heading into the tournament as favourites for a first title, ECB head of marketing Jenny Smith (41.41) talks about how the national body is trying to connect with younger fans before a pivotal 2020 season. And Surrey chief executive Richard Gould (60.11) reveals what The Oval expects from its host venue duties this summer ahead of the opener between England and South Africa. 

Former British sports minister Tracey Crouch MP joins SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly to share her thoughts on the industry.   Crouch, who has taken on a role as a senior adviser to London-based communications agency The Playbook, explains why her objection to a delay on restrictions on fixed-odds betting terminals on UK high streets led her to resign her post, and gives her wider views on the role of gambling in British sport. She also recalls her experiences of working in government, from the reality of her remit to the challenges of securing funding in an era of austerity, and the likely impact of Brexit on sport.  And as a landmark decade of major events continues in the UK, she discusses the evolution of the sports business, the role of the public sector, the need for governance reform to reflect challenges like athlete safety, and the one sports job she would take if offered.    

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly presents a series of interviews recorded during SportsPro Live 2019 at The O2. Sean Bratches, the managing director of commercial operations at Formula One, talks about the series' calendar, the OTT service F1TV, and a partnership with movie star Will Smith's Westbrook Studios. (5.18)  Neil Hopkins, global head of strategy at M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment, discusses changes in the media landscape and the future of sports sponsorship. (10.41) Michael Prindiville, chief executive of Philadelphia 76ers-owned esports team Dignitas, gives his thoughts on the franchise's plans, the convergence of traditional sports and professional gaming, and the impact of Google Stadia. (21.10) And we hear from Premier League-winning Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs, founder of Fifa esports team No Fuchs Given, about how he got into the space and whether he expects other professional athletes to follow him. (28.24)

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam wrap up two days of insights and new ideas at SportsPro Live 2019, discussing lessons learned where technology meets the sports business with Digital Sport editor Chris McMullin. SportsPro Live host and Sky Sports presenter Adam Leventhal (15:10) shares his thoughts; Sports Innovation Lab co-founders Angela Ruggiero and Josh Walker (20:00) explain how fandom has changed forever and what Avengers Endgame can teach the sports industry; and Seven League chief executive Richard Ayers (27:32) works through the nuts and bolts of digital transformation.  Finally, there's talk from the stage as Simon Wear (37:18), whose Play Sports Group was recently acquired by Discovery, reveals how digital communities are built, why publishers got into OTT, and plans for a unique global cycling network.

With the SportsPro team in full event mode delivering the biggest ever edition of SportsPro Live at The O2, editor at large Eoin Connolly presents two recent interviews from opposite sides of the globe.  First up, tennis: Wimbledon commercial and media director Mick Desmond discusses the grass-court Grand Slam's first Asian sponsorship deal with smartphone brand Oppo, its plans in China and India, improvements to SW19 including a roof and hospitality suites at No1 Court, the future of its sponsorship strategy and more.  Then, speaking to the team at SportsPro OTT Asia, Optus head of television and content Corin Dimopoulos talks about the lessons the Australian telco learned from a glitchy Fifa World Cup last year, the opportunities arising from the women's tournament this summer, distribution plans for the Premier League and Uefa Champions League, and the 5G future of OTT.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and print editor Michael Long return to talk through the latest developments in the sports industry, including the signature partnership between NBC Universal and the organisers of the LA 2028 Olympics to sell commercial partnerships in the US around the next four Games. Meanwhile, senior writer Sam Carp is joined at the SportsPro offices by the organisers of two global events taking place in England. Netball World Cup event director Lindsay Impett and Jon Dutton, chief executive of the Rugby League World Cup in 2021, reveal the details of a unique collaboration between their two tournaments to help grow reach and share best practice.

SportsPro print editor Michael Long returns to reveal all to editor at large Eoin Connolly about his recent trip to Japan, taking the pulse of the sports industry there ahead of the Rugby World Cup this year and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. There's the latest on what the local organising committees for both of those events are thinking, and a sense from MMA's ONE Championship of what it takes to make a mark in the country.  Meanwhile, in an interview from SportsPro OTT Asia in Singapore, Rakuten's Laura Li talks about the Japanese ecommerce giant's partnerships with the likes of the NBA and how OTT video and data are being filtered through its ecosystem.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly talks to Simon Dent, the former lawyer and soccer agent turned founder of BT Sport Industry Award-nominated creative agency Dark Horses.  Speaking at the company's London offices, Dent discusses the gap he saw for more creatively minded work in sports sponsorship and marketing campaigns, and how he partnered up with Lucky Generals to fill it. He also reveals why he values being surrounded by smarter people, and how Dark Horses plans to maintain its underdog streak, and talks about the growth to be had for brands in women's sport and the search for new audiences.

SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam shake off the jet-lag and reflect on the inaugural SportsPro OTT Summit Asia, discussing everything from Manchester City's All or Nothing series on Amazon, to DDMC Fortis' strategy for soccer across the continent, Kayo Sports' unique entry into the Australian market, and how Rakuten is using sport to bring people into its ecommerce ecosystem.  Then there is time to listen in on one of the sessions from the Pan Pacific in Singapore, as Picture Board founder Unmish Parthasarathi asks Joyee Biswas, Facebook's head of sports partnerships for the APAC region, about the social media giant's experiments with the Premier League, La Liga and the IPL, different visions for video on Facebook Watch and Instagram, and its expectations for VR with Oculus.