StreamTime Sports

FOX's Pete Distad on building FOX One, the Venu Sports setback and lessons from a decade at Apple

Pete Distad has spent much of his career at the centre of streaming’s evolution. He worked at the pioneering Hulu, spent a decade at Apple, and attempted to consolidate the world of sport DTC with Venu Sports. Now he’s leading Fox’s own digital ambitions with Fox One. Distad sat down with Nick Meacham at SportsPro New York to unpack the thinking behind FOX One, what he has learned from launching and scaling multiple streaming products, and how those experiences are shaping Fox’s next chapter. They discuss: The strategy behind FOX One and where it fits in thechanging US sports media landscape What a decade at Apple taught Distad about building and scaling streaming products Why Venu Sports remains the one project he still looks back on and wonders what might have been Building products consumers actually want and knowing when you’re onto something The mistakes, lessons and decisions that have shaped his career across Hulu, Apple, Venu and Fox Why the 2026 Fifa World Cup was a major test for FOX One and its streaming ambitions StreamTime Sports is thrilled to make the top 5 Sports Business podcasts. See the full list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_business_podcasts/

Men in Blazers' Roger Bennett on the growth of US fandom, EPL vs the MLS, and their move into streaming live football matches

With Premier League kickoff just a day away, Men in Blazers pulled off something it had never done before — live-streaming a Tottenham preseason match direct to North America and pulling in over 3x the concurrent viewership it had forecast. On this episode, Nick sits down with Roger Bennett, Co-Founder and CEO of the Men in Blazers Media Network, to unpack how MiB became one of the biggest independent football media businesses in North America — and what football's rapid rise in the US means for the sport's next 50 years. How Men in Blazers built its business on two first-mover bets: spotting football's rise in the US back in the early 2010s, and timing its launch around the emergence of podcasting Inside the World Cup output that pushed MiB's streams up over 500% — 200+ podcasts plus TV shows, newsletters, alternate broadcasts and live eventsWhy NBC's 2013 Premier League deal — and its off-primetime kickoff slots — became an accidental masterstroke in growing US fandomMLS's move behind the Apple paywall, and why friction is the enemy of a fanbase that "finds football easily" America's multi-team fandom habit, and why Wrexham draws roughly seven times the average Premier League club's US following Debrief: streaming Tottenham vs Hoffenheim live to North America ~10,000 concurrent viewers against an internal forecast of 2,800–3,200 — and what it signals for the next wave of club-direct broadcasts StreamTime Sports is thrilled to make the top 5 Sports Business podcasts. See the full list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_business_podcasts/

The Future Economics of Fandom - Exclusive with Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke

Don't adjust your dials. This episode of StreamTime Sports features an interview by host Nick Meacham with Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke featured on t he SportsPro Pod. For decades, the sports industry has relied on broadcasters to fund growth, distribute content and monetise audiences. But what happens when that model starts to change?Locke discusses Genius Sports' evolution from its betting roots into a global technology business, the company's acquisition of Legend, the growing role of AI and data ownership, and why he believes the next generation of sports growth will come from direct relationships with fans. The conversation also examines the changing economics of media rights, the NFL partnership, gaming as a future distribution channel and what sports organisations need to do to thrive in a more personalised digital world. This is the first episode in SportsPro's New Economics of Fandom series, exploring how sport's commercial future is being rewritten. StreamTime Sports is thrilled to make the top 5 Sports Business podcasts. See the full list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/sports_business_podcasts/

YouTube, Peacock, and the rebundling of sports

Streaming was supposed to unbundle television. Instead, the sports industry may be building a new bundle altogether. This episode explores YouTube's new partnership with NBCUniversal, which brings Peacock into the YouTube ecosystem, and DAZN's move to become the streaming home of YES Network and MSG Networks content in the United States. The discussion examines whether aggregators are becoming the new gatekeepers of sports media, how live sports continue to drive platform strategy, and why the streaming industry increasingly resembles the cable bundle it once set out to replace. The pair also discuss the Commonwealth Games' move from BBC to TNT Sports and the trade-off between audience reach and premium coverage. Key Topics: What does the YouTube-Peacock partnership reveal about YouTube's long-term ambitions in sports and streaming? Has the streaming industry come full circle and begun rebuilding the traditional television bundle? Can regional sports networks thrive by partnering with platforms like DAZN rather than operating their own streaming services? How much audience reach should rights holders sacrifice in exchange for deeper streaming coverage and higher commercial returns?

Inside Roku's Sports Strategy — And What the Fox Deal Could Mean Next

Roku just agreed to be acquired by Fox in a deal valuing the streaming giant at $22 billion — but long before the headlines, Roku had quietly built one of the most ambitious sports strategies in streaming. On this episode, Nick sits down with Joe Franzetta, Head of Sports for Roku Media, to unpack how a platform reaching 100 million households is working to make sports content frictionless to find, aggregate, and monetize in an increasingly fragmented rights landscape. How Roku's "Sports Zone" aggregates live games, clips, highlights and stats across leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NWSL and WNBA — and how that model scaled to seven territories for the World Cup The difference between Roku as a platform (distribution partner integrations) versus the Roku Channel as a first-party service (FAST channels, originals, live rights deals with MLB, Formula E, X Games and the Savannah Bananas) Why rights fragmentation isn't reversing — and how personalization, metadata and interactivity are becoming the tools to reaggregate the viewing experience without a cable-style bundle How Roku funds its sports push through advertising and sponsorship rather than subscription or affiliate fees, and what "shared upside" partnerships look like in practice A first take on what the pending Fox acquisition could mean for Roku's sports ambitions, and why it's "business as usual" until the deal closes Like and subcribe to receive weekly episodes from StreamTime Sports. Streamtime Sports is part of SportsPro Media Group Subscribe to StreamTime Sports on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsProNick Follow Nick Meacham on Linkedin or instagram as @sportspronick

Record World Cup Audiences. So Why Did FIFA Need More Money?

FIFA's proposed $20 billion enterprise plan lasted less than 48 hours before facing widespread opposition, reigniting debate around private equity's role in sport and whether football's governing bodies should be selling stakes in their commercial future. The episode explores why the proposal generated such a strong reaction, how it compares to similar investments across the sports industry, and what it reveals about FIFA's long-term commercial ambitions. Chris and Nick also break down the first major audience figures from the FIFA World Cup, examining record-breaking television audiences, streaming growth, and the eye-watering social media numbers generated across platforms including TikTok and YouTube. Key Points: Why did FIFA's proposed $20 billion enterprise plan unravel so quickly, and was the backlash justified? What do the World Cup's record television and streaming audiences tell us about the future of sports consumption? Have platforms like TikTok and YouTube become as important as broadcasters in the global sports ecosystem? How should rights holders measure success when social media engagement reaches into the trillions but audience behaviour continues to fragment?

Why NFL teams are suddenly worth $10 billion

Fresh from the SportsPro Investment Summit, Nick and Chris unpack the record-breaking $9.6 billion sale of the Seattle Seahawks and what it reveals about the state of sports investment. They examine the role media rights play in franchise valuations, the growing influence of private equity, and why US sports teams continue to command premium prices. The conversation also explores the differences between North American and European sports ownership models, and whether rising media rights fees can continue to fuel the next wave of sports investment. Key Points: Why are NFL franchises now commanding valuations approaching $10 billion? How much of modern sports team valuation is driven by media rights revenue and future broadcast growth? Will private equity become an increasingly important force in sports ownership as franchise values continue to rise? Does the structure of European sport limit franchise valuations compared to North America's closed-league model?

The EuroLeague's Expansion Play: Exclusive with CEO Chus Bueno

EuroLeague CEO, Chus Bueno, outlines his vision for transforming European basketball through a franchise model, league expansion and a direct-to-consumer strategy. He discusses the EuroLeague's valuation, why investors are lining up for new franchises, and how the organisation plans to unlock the value of its 65 million fans. Chus also shares his perspective on the NBA's ambitions in Europe, whether cooperation is still possible, and why he believes the EuroLeague remains the strongest platform for growing basketball across the continent. Key Points: Can the EuroLeague's new franchise model unlock significant value and accelerate the growth of basketball across Europe? Should the EuroLeague and NBA work together in Europe, or is competition between two rival leagues inevitable? Why are investors willing to pay significant expansion fees for EuroLeague franchises despite the NBA's plans for the market? How can a direct-to-consumer strategy help the EuroLeague better monetise its fan base and close the gap with other major sports properties?

Why Sky Bought ITV — And What It Means for Sports Broadcasting

Comcast's decision to separate its media and telecom businesses, combined with Sky's acquisition of ITV, could signal a major shift in how media companies think about content, distribution and audience reach. Chris and Nick explore whether the era of owning both the pipes and the content is coming to an end, why sports rights have become even more valuable in the streaming age, and how Sky could use ITV's free-to-air reach to unlock new opportunities for advertisers, rights holders and fans. They also discuss which competitors should be paying close attention to these developments and what it could mean for the future of sports broadcasting in the UK. Key Points: Does Comcast's restructuring signal the end of the traditional strategy of owning both content and distribution in the streaming era? Have live sports become the most valuable asset in modern media as entertainment content becomes increasingly commoditised? How could Sky use ITV's free-to-air reach to generate more value from premium sports rights like the Premier League, Formula One and the NFL? Should broadcasters, streaming platforms and rights holders be worried about Sky becoming an even stronger force in the UK sports media market?

How are fans really watching the World Cup

With the FIFA World Cup reaching the knockout stages, Nick and Chris compare notes on how they're actually watching the tournament across the UK, US and Sweden. From YouTube's preferred platform experiment and replay consumption to streaming audience growth and free-to-air reach, they explore whether this tournament represents a genuine turning point in how global sports are distributed and consumed. They also discuss record-breaking US audiences, spoiler-free viewing experiences, and what the World Cup reveals about the ongoing shift from traditional television to streaming. Key Points: Is this the first truly streaming-first World Cup, and what does growing streaming consumption mean for the future of sports distribution? How effective are FIFA's preferred platform experiments, and are they creating a better viewing experience for fans? Do record US audience figures represent a genuine breakthrough for soccer in the market? Does the World Cup once again prove the unrivalled reach and cultural impact of free-to-air television for major sporting events?

The HBO Max Playbook: Bringing sports, entertainment, and streaming together

The launch of HBO Max in the UK marks the latest chapter in Warner Bros. Discovery's journey to bring premium sport and entertainment content under a single streaming destination. In this conversation recorded live at SportsPro London, David Gibbs, SVP of Sports Product at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, explains the strategy behind the launch, the lessons learned from delivering major events such as the Olympic Games, and how technology is reshaping the fan experience. From AI-powered personalisation and multiview experiences to the enduring value of live sport, David shares a candid perspective on what it takes to operate a streaming platform at global scale—and where sports viewing is headed next. Key Points: Can a single streaming platform successfully unite live sport, blockbuster entertainment and documentary programming without overwhelming consumers? How did Warner Bros. Discovery use the Olympic Games to showcase a new generation of streaming experiences, from multiview to real-time highlights and personalised discovery? As viewing becomes more personalised, can streaming services preserve the shared live moments that make sport unique? What does it take to deliver more than 35,000 live sporting events a year across multiple markets, languages and devices?

Why Netflix Took a £14m Bet on Live Sports Podcasts

Goalhanger CFO Andy Hodgson joins StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham to discuss the company's rapid growth, the success of The Rest Is Football, its groundbreaking Netflix partnership during the FIFA Club World Cup, and the evolving economics of podcasting. The discussion covers subscriptions, advertising, YouTube, creator monetization, sports media innovation and why high-quality long-form content continues to attract global audiences. Key Points: How did Goalhanger build one of the UK's fastest-growing podcast businesses and scale beyond £37m in annual revenue? What does The Rest Is Football's Netflix partnership reveal about the future of sports media distribution? Why are subscriptions, memberships and fan communities becoming critical to modern media growth? Can long-form podcast content outperform traditional sports media in the battle for audience attention? What opportunities do YouTube, creator-led brands and new revenue models create for the future of sports media?

HYROX: Building a global phenomenon

Since being founded in 2017, HYROX has established itself as the fastest-growing fitness sport in the world, with a staggering 1.5M participants competing in 85 cities across 30 countries during the 2025/26 season alone. In the latest episode, brought to you from SportsPro London, StreamTime host, Nick Meacham, is joined by Chief Growth Officer, Douglas Gremmen to unpack HYROX’s journey, both globally and commercially.

How creators are reshaping sports media

Creators, athletes, and influencers are reshaping how fans engage with sport, but is the industry able to keep up? As initiatives like DAZN48 and athlete-led platforms gain momentum, the balance between media rights, reach, and relevance is being tested. Co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone question whether broadcasters are losing control of the conversation and why off-field content is starting to outperform the main event. If attention is shifting faster than revenue models can evolve, what does that mean for the future of sports media? Key Points: Are creators and athletes starting to control the sports conversation over broadcasters? Is attention now more valuable than traditional media rights? Why is off-field and creator-led content outperforming the live product? Can the sports industry actually monetise the massive attention it generates? If the model doesn’t evolve, who loses out—broadcasters, leagues, or everyone?

Free-to-Air vs Paywall: What the Champions League numbers reveal

The Champions League final highlighted a growing issue in sports media: more fans are becoming unwilling to pay for content. Despite record-breaking media rights deals, the shift from free-to-air to paywalled access appears to be reducing reach and reshaping audience behaviour. As subscription fatigue and fragmentation increase, questions are emerging around whether the current sports broadcasting model is sustainable. The discussion explores whether the industry needs to rethink pricing, distribution, and how it defines and monetizes its true audience. Key Points: Did moving the Champions League final behind a paywall push fans away? Are paywalls prioritizing short-term revenue at the expense of of long-term audience growth and reach? Is piracy a symptom of pricing and accessibility issues rather than a problem that can be solved through enforcement? If piracy is growing, what does that mean for the actual value of sports media rights? How should sports rethink distribution - free-to-air, subscriptions, or new hybrid models - to better match modern fan behaviour?

Can the World Cup keep growing — Or is the model breaking?

The FIFA World Cup has grown into a media powerhouse, but questions are emerging about how far that growth can continue. With expanding formats, fragmented broadcast deals, and new partnerships across YouTube and TikTok, FIFA is experimenting with how football is distributed and monetised. But increasing supply, shifting audience behaviour, and pressure on broadcasters could challenge the model. From media rights to ticketing and in-game ads, the balance between scale, revenue and fan experience is being tested. So the key question remains: is the World Cup still evolving—or starting to strain under its own ambition? Key Points: How much further can FIFA expect to grow the World Cup's media rights? Do preferred platform partnerships with YouTube and TikTok strengthen distribution or weaken broadcaster value? Is FIFA effectively balancing reach and revenue effectively - or is the model being stretched too far? Do rising ticket prices and fan experience issues represent a wider disconnect in the ecosystem? How impactful will new in-game advertisements be for the World Cup and soccer more broadly?

Turning data into content: How brands are winning in sports marketing

Xbox set out to create an impactful campaign using data—and ended up tapping into something much bigger. Joined by Johnny Whitmore (Opta / Stats Perform) and James Donovan (Edelman), we explore how the xJinx campaign turned data into something fans could connect with, share and talk about, reflecting a wider shift happening across sport. Data is no longer just analysis—it’s becoming a core part of content, storytelling and commercial strategy. What once sat behind the scenes is now driving fan engagement, conversation and real brand value. A look at how the smartest players in sport are turning numbers into meaningful experiences that cut through. Key Topics: How did data evolve into a core content strategy in sport? Why are brands like Xbox investing in data-driven fan experiences? What role does Opta's credibility play in making data engaging? How can data unlock new commercial and sponsorship value? How can complex data be transformed into something fans actually want to engage with and share?

Inside the Deals: Bruin Capital, DAZN, & Disney’s Investment Plays

Sports investment is shifting—and the latest moves from DAZN, Disney, Bruin Capital and the NFL show exactly where the smart money is going. As media rights markets evolve, investors are increasingly targeting platforms, IP ownership and the infrastructure powering the industry. From Matchroom’s billion-pound valuation to DAZN’s ViewLift play and the NFL’s streaming experiments, the landscape is changing fast. The question is no longer who owns the rights—but who controls the ecosystem around them. Key Points: Are DAZN, Bruin Capital and Disney signalling a shift away from traditional media rights as the core investment in sport? What makes “picks and shovels” businesses like Matchroom and ViewLift so attractive to investors right now? Is owning sports IP and platforms more valuable than owning the rights themselves? What are Netflix, YouTube and the NFL really testing with these smaller, strategic deals? Could local media rights and ecosystem control become the most undervalued assets in sport?

Is YouTube the new TV? How sports are monetizing the platform in 2026

YouTube is rapidly becoming a central hub for sports media, reshaping how audiences consume content and how rights holders generate revenue. From connected TV growth and evolving monetization models to the rise of creators and platform-native strategies, the landscape is shifting fast. Major moves like the BBC’s expansion and the increasing role of influencers signal a deeper transformation in how sports reach fans. This conversation breaks down what’s working, what’s changing, and what the future of sports on YouTube really looks like. Key Points: Is YouTube quietly becoming the new global broadcaster for sports? What does the BBC launching dedicated YouTube channels signal for traditional TV? Why are short-form and long-form content diverging in how they’re consumed? Why has connected TV viewing of YouTube exploded — and what does it mean for rights holders? How are major events like the Australian Open using YouTube to break audience records?

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A Conversation with Deltatre: Platforms, Fan Data and Tech Fragmentation

Peter Bellamy, Chief Revenue Officer at Deltatre, joins StreamTime Sports to share an update on the business, including the arrival of new CEO Marc Watson, integrating Endeavor Streaming and how the company is evolving in a changing sports media landscape. The conversation explores how sports organisations are approaching platforms, fan data and distribution strategy, from the shift toward direct-to-consumer to the realities of fragmented tech stacks. It also looks at how leagues and broadcasters are balancing media rights with their own platforms, and what it takes to launch, migrate and scale OTT services today. Key Points: How are sports organisations transitioning from traditional broadcast to OTT and direct-to-consumer models Why is the “one-platform” approach (content + OTT + data) becoming more attractive to rights holders? What challenges exist when migrating users from legacy platforms to new streaming services?

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