SportsPro Podcast

Series five of Drive to Survive was watched for 90.2m hours in the first half of last year - one of Netflix's biggest hits. Box to Box, the creator of the show, is now applying the popular format across a number of different sports. Warren Smith, the production company's head of sport and factual, joins the podcast to give us the inside track on Box To Box's approach to making a hit sp...

SportsPro has published its fifth annual class of sports technology startups worth investing your attention in. To mark the occasion, technology editor Steve McCaskill joins the pod to talk through the list before we hear from Gareth Lippiatt, co-founder and chief executive of one of the companies in this year's class, FanHub. Talking points: How the list comes together (1:08) The trends in th...

Danny Townsend, the recently installed CEO of SRJ Sports Investments, has a fun job. Counting the PIF as its sole shareholder, SRJ (pronounced 'surge') has been set up to accelerate the growth of the sports sector in Saudi Arabia by targeting the acquisition of new events IP and commercial rights. Trying to unpick what that actually means is SportsPro's Tom Bassam, who sat down with To...

Since being founded in 2016, UK-based Castore has come from nowhere to establish itself as one of the most eye-catching brands in sportswear. Brothers Tom and Phil Beahon have overseen a rise that has seen the company go from handing out apparel outside gyms to having some of the biggest names in sports wearing Castore kit. Here, Tom Beahon makes a return to the SportsPro Podcast to tell George Br...

As Everton (again) and Nottingham Forest become the latest Premier League clubs to fall foul of the Premier League's financial rules, George Breare, Tom Bassam and Josh Sim discuss that story, plus a potentially huge NFL-ESPN deal. Then Two Circles CEO Gareth Balch joins the show to talk about the Charterhouse move. Talking points: What's the story with the Premier League's profit and...

Lenah Ueltzen-Gabell, Wasserman Group MD, and Women in Football board member Jo Tongue, who is also CEO of Tongue Tied Management - an agency that represents two of the biggest stars in the England team in Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh, as well as current Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes - join SportsPro's Tom Basam for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of play in women's football....

With SportsPro presenting its annual list of ten influential figures whose work will shape the sporting agenda over the next 12 months, George Breare, Sam Carp and Tom Bassam discuss some of the potential power players for 2024.

Two teams, three rounds of trivia based on the year in the sports industry... what could possibly go wrong? George Breare hosts SportsPro's annual end-of-year quiz as Tom Bassam and Chris Stone team up to take on Steve McCaskilll and Ed Dixon.

The final NEW ERA podcast of 2023 is a look back at some of the professional and personal moments that defined the year for Kirsty Arundale, Tori Wells and Milly Miller-Adams. Plus, a look ahead to what 2024 might have in store for both women's sports and women in sports.

A European Super Bowl, the deal of the century, and whether or not it’s fair for fans to illegally stream live Premier League... worlds collide StreamTime Sports co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone face off with the stars of the SportsPro Podcast, Tom Bassam and George Breare, in a sports business debate that seeks settle the argument once and for all. - Is piracy of the Premier League fair and...

Sky Sports, TNT Sports the BBC have agreed new rights deals to air the Premier League until 2029 worth a reported £6.7bn. George Breare, Tom Bassam and Sam Carp pick through the details. Then (29:43), we hear DAZN CEO Shay Segev talking to SportsPro editorial director Michael Long at the recent SportsPro Madrid event. Talking points:  Initial thoughts on the new Premier League rights deals (1:11)...

Ben Morel, the new CEO of LFP Media, is overseeing a CVC-backed commercial overhaul of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. He spoke to Tom Bassam at SportsPro Madrid and then we took the temperature of the delegates to get their thoughts on the new vision for French football.

How do take a 30 year old brand and relaunch it with a new name? David Jackson, EA Sports' vice president of brand, takes SportsPro technology editor Steve McCaskill on the gaming giant's journey through the launch of EA Sports FC and the plans for the soccer title going forward.

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 broa...

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)...

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 H...

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 ticketin...

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...

SportsPro's annual 50 Most Marketable Athlete list is out now to provide a definitive guide to the power players of global sports. In this episode, host Tom Bassam chats to SportsPro's Michael Long and Sam Carp about how we put the list together alongside our 50MM partner, Northstar Solutions Group. Talking points: How the 2023 50MM list came together (1:23) Why is Lionel Messi number one?...

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...

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 h...

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) Tournam...

Take a listen as George Breare takes you through this years SportsPro Madrid agenda. To view the full agenda and book your pass with a special podcast discount of 30%, head to www.sportspromadrid.com and use code POD30 . Discount ends Friday 6th October.

George Breare and Tom Bassam head to Sky’s west London campus for an in-depth chat with Sky Sports’ head of women’s sport Jo Osborne. Talking points: The new WSL season and Sky’s plans (0:47) The next rights deal (18:57) The rise of women’s sports and how to make the most of it as a broadcaster (21:49) Backing up the talk on (48:31)

The latest NEW ERA special edition of the podcast sees Milly Miller-Adams, Katie Preston and Tori Wells explore what they've learned from sports. Before Elena Kouyoufa talks to Abi Ijasanmi, COO of the African Football Confederation (CAF), about her journey in the sports industry and what she's learned along the way. Talking points: Welcome Tori (0:20) Our personal learnings from sports (1:04) How...