SportsPro Podcast

David Jackson, EA Sports' vice president of brand, discusses the process of rebranding a 30-year-old brand to create EA Sports FC. He talks about balancing innovation and authenticity, choosing a name and logo, the importance of licenses, and the challenges of communicating the rebranding change.

Inside the NBA star Kenny Smith and long-time Turner exec Craig Barry help Sam Carp lift the lid on why the network's flagship basketball show is such a hit, plus we learn how Warner Bros Discovery is planning to extend that success to the UK. Talking points: Sam Carp goes behind the scenes at Inside the NBA (0:45) Why the show works (6:00) Kenny Smith and the role of the pundit in sports broadcasting (9:33) Shaq's role (18:13) What Warner Bros Discovery hopes to bring to its NBA coverage in the UK (23:43) Warner Bros Discovery's opportunity to take a global approach to sports broadcasting (30:39) SportsPro is currently offering 25% off our annual Premium Memberships, you can subscribe here and use code SP25 to claim your discount. Offer expires 24th November.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix returns to Nevada for the first time since 1982, with Formula One now worlds away from the series that previously raced around the car park at Caesars Palace. BlackBook writer Cian Brittle joins the pod to explain how and why Liberty Media is gambling $500m on a completely new approach to putting on a race. Talking points: How we got to a new F1 grand prix in Vegas (1:00) Is this a shift in F1's strategy for hosting races? (7:19) Is the interest there for another F1 race in the US? (19:39) Has F1 already peaked in the US? (26:30) The health of Nascar and motorsport's next big rights deal (34:50)

South African rugby legend and Laureus academy member Bryan Habana joins the pod to give his take on how brands can be a force for positive social change, before TikTok's global head of sports, Harish Sarma, explains why making it into the Index is a result of a deliberate attempt to use its platform for good. Talking points: Bryan Habana on the Laureus perspective (1:13) The brand view with Harish Sarma (19:27) The 30 brands in this year's Laureus Sport for Good Index have now been revealed. Check out the Sport for Good Index hub here.

Few know more about how the NFL's overseas games are bringing in new fans than the companies that sell the tickets to the matches. As a secondary market specialist, Viagogo has a unique perspective on the industry and here, general manager, Cris Miller, explains how effective the league's overseas operations have been in creating new fans. Plus we delve into the business of resale ticketing and its role in sports.

The dawn of a new NBA season brings with it some intriguing narratives on and off the court. George Breare and Tom Bassam are joined by SportsPro analyst (and resident basketball nut), Gabriel German Higinio Hoyos, to break it all down. Talking points: What the data tells us about the NBA's media landscape (3:10) How the NBA is trying to boost its media value (9:55) The NBA's audience and why that provides an edge (17:43) Setting the scene ahead of the next rights deal (22:56) Why the NBA is so successful overseas (31:50) Check out the 2023/24 NBA Commercial Guide as discussed on the podcast!

SportsPro's representatives Michael Long and Sam Carp discuss the process behind the 2023 50 Most Marketable Athlete list. They delve into the reason why Lionel Messi topped the rankings, the significance of authenticity in athlete branding, the rise of athlete influencers due to NIL, and they also have a quiz about the list.

Michelle Wie West has never been afraid of being a trailblazer. At points in her career she has been the youngest ever qualifier for an LPGA Tour event, a record since taken by Ariya Jutanugarn, and the youngest female to ever play in a PGA Tour tournament. In an exclusive interview with SportsPro's Josh Sim, Wie West discusses her plans post-retirement, the health of women's golf and how she thinks about making investments. Talking points: • Looking back at Michelle's career and how women's golf has progressed (4:47) • Michelle's career influences and what's shaped her mindset (7:33) • The TGL and why being an athlete creates a unique approach to investing (14:19) • Why female athletes need to think like investors (20:52) • Why values are important when Michelle invests in a company (25:52) • Michelle's key lessons for athletes looking to become investors (20:46) This interview is part of SportsPro's 2023 Athlete Week, which will also see the launch of our latest 50 Most Marketable Athletes list, in partnership with Northstar Solutions Group. Check out all our #SP50MM content on the dedicated 50mm.sportspromedia.com digital hub.

As the puck drops on the new NHL season, Tom Bassam, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim discuss some of the major business storylines, they then try to untangle the web of mystery that is Fifa's World Cup hosting process, plus some chat on what influencer brands bring to sports. Talking points: Health check on the NHL (00:59) The RSN issue (3:30) Consumer trends among NHL fans (8:49) The World Cup heads to... basically everywhere (13:25) Mr Beast's Feastables and unpacking the influencer brand sports deal trend (22:04)

With the Cricket World Cup getting underway in India, George Breare, Tom Bassam and Josh Sim consider whether the ODI tournament is on its last legs.  Talking points:  Why the stakes for the Cricket World Cup are high (1:43) The India problem (5:36) What does the tournament’s future hold? (9:29) How the ICC is trying to innovate (12:49)  Disney’s battle to retain its status in India(15:05) Tournament predictions (18:47) Why the Ryder Cup was so good and why the Solheim Cup should feel let down (22:27) LIV Golf-PGA Tour latest (28:00) The Ligue 1 rights pickle (31:13)