The Varsity
Hosted by Puck Sports Correspondent John Ourand and featuring a rotating cast of industry insiders, this podcast goes inside the executive suites and owner boxes that run the entire sports business. Listeners hear interviews with everyone from athletes to network executives and more. The show is an extension of John's private Puck newsletter of the same name. New episodes are released twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Episodes
Kevin Burkhardt's Art of "Not Showing How Smart You Are"
Fox's go-to guy for the Super Bowl and World Series joins John to discuss his enviable broadcast career, his weekly prep routine during the NFL season, and the zen of knowing when not to let your research get in the way of the game. Join us at In the Arena on Oct. 1 in NYC. Tickets here: https://puck.events/inthearena/
TV’s New Gatekeepers
Super analyst Michael Nathanson returns to the pod to discuss the tectonic forces reshaping how America watches sports. He and John unpack the logic behind Fox’s bid for Roku, why YouTube TV could save cable, Charter’s streaming-bundle strategy, and Netflix’s “eventization” of everything. Join us at In the Arena on Oct. 1 in NYC. Tickets here: https://puck.events/inthearena/
Peter Schrager’s Big Day
ESPN's Peter Schrager joins John to discuss his winding road to hosting his own daytime show. The two also dig into the Rams’ rough Australia opener, the NFL’s flag football and international push, the next wave of team owners, and the NFL’s standoff with YouTube over live rights.Join us at In the Arena on Oct. 1 in NYC. Tickets here: https://puck.events/inthearena/
Nick Khan's Plan to Let the Boxers Box
WWE president and TKO board member Nick Khan joins John ahead of Saturday’s Ryan Garcia-Connor Benn welterweight title fight to lay out the Zuffa Boxing strategy. The two dig into why past boxing broadcasters bailed on the sport, WWE’s Netflix and ESPN Unlimited deals, the soaring valuations behind the Lakers and Commanders sales, and why Khan tunes out the noise on social media.Join us at In
Jim Gray’s History Lessons
The Zelig-esque sportscaster joins John on the eve of a new NFL season to discuss why football has a stranglehold on the sports-watching public. Plus he recounts the backstories behind his memorable interviews with George W. Bush, Mike Tyson, Pete Rose, and more. Join us at In the Arena on Oct. 1 in NYC. Tickets here: https://puck.events/inthearena/
Can Washington Actually Fix College Sports?
Industry consultant Marc Ganis, a member of President Trump’s College Sports Council, joins John to break down the bipartisan Senate bill aimed at saving college athletics from itself. The two dig into runaway transfer chaos, the Lakers’ $12.5 billion sale, why the Seahawks fetched over $9 billion, Lachlan Murdoch’s risky bet on NFL media rights, the league’s flag football and international expans
The NFL’s Broadcasting Shake-Up
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand returns to the pod to break down the biggest storylines in sports media ahead of the NFL season. He and John weigh Tony Romo’s odds of returning to CBS’s top booth, Mike Tomlin’s early days in NBC’s studio, and whether Aaron Rodgers could follow the long line of star quarterbacks into broadcasting. They also dig into the NFL’s media rights leverage heading toward 203
NASCAR’s $7.7 Billion Bet
Brian Herbst, the executive who negotiated the sport’s media rights deals, joins John to assess a landscape reshaped since he signed them. The two dig into the new Chase playoff format, the surprisingly loyal audience following NASCAR across five networks, Herbst’s beef with Nielsen's methodology, and the sport’s growing bet on original content, including the Days of Thunder sequel.Join us at In t
Life After SI
Longtime Sports Illustrated columnist Jimmy Traina joins the pod to discuss why he left the publication after 20-plus years and what to expect from his move to Underscore Media. Jimmy and John also highlight some of the sports media trends they’re monitoring and how they expect the business to evolve.Join us at In the Arena on Oct. 1 in NYC. Tickets here: https://puck.events/inthearena/
Inside D.C.'s Sports Ownership Boom
Mark Ein, a veteran investor with stakes in the Commanders, Orioles, and Leeds United, joins John to trace his path from World Team Tennis owner to NFL minority owner. Ein breaks down why franchise valuations keep shattering records (hint: AI wealth), where he sees real risk in sports' media-rights dependency, and what it'll take to make tennis a bigger deal in America.
How Iger Got the Lakers
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who broke last week’s big news about the LA Lakers, joins John to walk through how the $12.5 billion deal came together practically overnight. The two dig into the NBA’s exploding franchise valuations, what kind of owner Iger is likely to be, why LeBron James really left for Philly, and the murky, slow-moving investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.
Cable Bundles of Joy
John sits down with Guggenheim's Mike Morris to unpack the NFL's media rights maze and outline some worst case scenarios for the Sunday Ticket lawsuit. The pair dig into why the cable bundle still prints money, Netflix's math on Sunday football, and why the NFL's leverage, for all its power, isn't quite as bulletproof as it looks.
A ’26 NFL Off-Field Season Preview
NBC Sports’ Mike Florio returns to the pod to preview the upcoming NFL season and the biggest off-field intrigue. He and John dig into the Sunday Ticket legal drama, Tony Romo’s arrest and indefinite CBS Sports suspension, the implications of NFL’s new ownership stake in ESPN, the enduring 18th-game chatter, and much more.
Netflix’s NFL Booth & CBS’s Romo Conundrum
Athletes First executive Gideon Cohen joins John to take the temperature of a broadcasting market undergoing sweeping change alongside the rest of the sports media industry. The duo chew over the slow death of the studio show, Netflix’s new NFL booth, the Tony Romo suspension, and why the future of the business increasingly runs through an iPhone.
Can the WNBA Survive Its Own Success?
Annie Costabile of The Athletic, who covers the WNBA and women’s basketball at large, joins John to discuss the league’s growing pains as it makes the leap from niche product to mainstream juggernaut. Annie explains why, despite record TV ratings, attendance, and sponsorships, the WNBA remains mired in internal conflict—from online harassment to the breakdown in communication between star players
Is the A.I. Arms Race Coming for Sports?
Analyst Michael Nathanson joins John to break down some of the biggest storylines in sports media right now—from the implications of Paramount pausing its Warner Bros. deal to the way the A.I. capex arms race has reshaped how streamers approach sports rights. He also gets into Netflix’s sports strategy, Apple’s sports rights appetite, and more.
What ESPN’s Layoffs Really Signal
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand rejoins John to break down ESPN’s recent layoffs, which hit more than 100 employees. They explain why the NFL Network acquisition—and the massive salaries commanded by the likes of Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee—set the stage for the cuts. They also discuss the SEC’s stance on the Protect College Sports Act, streaming’s growing influence over NFL rights, the future
Has the U.S. Finally Fallen in Love with Soccer?
JT Batson, C.E.O. of the U.S. Soccer Federation, joins John to lay out his vision for “the American soccer movement”—a five-year push toward two marquee moments: the 2028 L.A. Olympics and the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Batson makes the case for building the sport at the grade-school level, explains why corporate dollars are suddenly lining up behind soccer, and argues why MLS 3.0’s success is impera
Can MLB Surpass the NBA?
The Athletic’s Evan Drellich joins John to discuss MLB’s looming labor war. Evan puts the odds of a 2027 lockout at 100 percent and the chance of missed games at 75—all while baseball is enjoying a banner season with increased ratings, attendance, and sponsorships. They also explore the sport’s real potential to surpass basketball, the challenges facing its next media deal, and more.
Presenting: Fantasy Football Today
Want to dominate your league and earn Fantasy Football bragging rights? Join the crew at Fantasy Football Today. Adam Aizer, analysts Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings have everything you need. Start or Sit, Waiver Wire, Buy or Sell, Grade the Trade, and Fantasy Cops to settle your league disputes and answer all your listener questions. It’s like hanging out with your buddies and talki
Caught Stealing… The View?
Puck’s legal expert Eriq Gardner joins John to work through a docket’s worth of sports media legal battles—from the looming challenges to the Paramount-WBD merger to the NFL’s ongoing antitrust case. Plus, a long-simmering dispute between the Chicago Cubs and the rooftop owners over sightlines into Wrigley.
Fanatically Speaking
Michael Ratner, C.E.O. of Fanatics Studios, and Lance Fensterman, C.E.O. of Fanatics Events, join John to discuss the wild growth and evolution of Fanatics Fest—and why immersive, interactive experiences built around high-profile athlete appearances are central to its appeal. Ratner also gets into the thinking behind a reimagined ESPYs, which he’s overseeing and which should kickstart a major week
Can Linear TV Actually Afford More NFL?
Wells Fargo Securities analyst Steven Cahall joins John to cut through the noise on sports media’s biggest storylines: why a sale of NBC is less likely than the market assumes, the fuzzy logic surrounding the $22 billion Fox–Roku deal, whether linear networks can actually afford to pay more for the NFL, and much more.
Wimbledon’s Grass is Always Greener
With Wimbledon in full swing, John is joined by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of tennis. They get into Serena Williams’ return to the court, the WTA’s player protests over fair wages, and the challenges and opportunities facing the sport in the U.S. Wertheim also illuminates how tennis keeps finding itself at the forefront of women’s sports’ remarka
Fox Sports’ Golden Boot
C.E.O. Eric Shanks joins John to gush about the World Cup and Fox’s decade-long investment in soccer. He discusses his biggest surprises, Fox’s always-on approach to coverage, Zlatan Ibrahimović’s unlikely TV career, the controversial hydration breaks, the looming 2030 rights war, and more.
Soccer’s American Dream
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand is back on the pod to discuss the World Cup’s runaway success, from its strong attendance numbers and high TV ratings to its positive impact on social media. He also predicts what the momentum means for the 2030 rights, and whether it could land on a streamer for the first time. Plus, how MLS can capitalize on the moment to become a top league globally.
FanDuel’s Next Gamble
FanDuel President Christian Genetski joins John to talk shop about World Cup engagement, the sports betting scandals putting the industry under a microscope, and FanDuel’s foray into prediction markets. Genetski addresses the looming transparency and regulation questions head-on, and explains how he’s threading the needle between legal complexities and a consumer appetite that's only intensifying.
College Sports Confidential
NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach rejoins The Varsity to gab with John about all the latest chaos in college sports, from a bizarre twist in the Big Ten–SEC rivalry to the ongoing legal drama surrounding Brendan Sorsby and an unexpected political threat in Washington.
The James Dolan Paradox
Fresh off of the Knicks' historic championship victory, John sits down with ESPN's Brian Windhorst and New York's own Mike Breen to dig into James Dolan's ownership of the team, the undervalued roster Leon Rose quietly assembled, and why Jalen Brunson is essentially funding his own teammates. Breen also expands on his emotional call as the clock hit zero.
UFC's White House Fright Night
John sits down with Axios media correspondent Sara Fischer to discuss the throw down set for next Sunday on the White House lawn. They discuss the press access issues and the potential growth opportunities for the UFC. The pair also chat about the brands flocking to F1's Apple era, and the Murdoch vs. NFL leverage war playing out on Capitol Hill.
YouTube’s NFL Discipline & NFL Partner Math
Rich Greenfield, the LightShed partner and sports guru, joins John to weigh in on the looming NFL rights renegotiation bonanza: who wins, who blinks first, and why the league still has all the leverage in the post-cord-cutting era.
Full Court Press!
Puck legal guru Eriq Gardner joins John Ourand to explain how Capitol Hill and a veritable army of lawyers are reshaping college athletics: the fight over the Sports Broadcasting Act, the usual NIL mishegas, the Sunday Ticket time bomb, and much more.
Burke Magnus’s ESPN Wish List
ESPN head of content Burke Magnus joins John to discuss what's working for the network and what's in store. They chat about Inside the NBA, the state of the NBA booth, the NFL Network acquisition, and what it takes to draw younger audiences in through digital and social. They also discuss the MLB.tv experiment, and Magnus reveals what's still on his wish list for the network.
Is the U.S. Ready for the World Cup?
John sits down with Dan Helfrich, COO of US Soccer, ahead of the World Cup. Helfrich makes the case for the US team’s readiness and discusses how this three-nation-hosted tournament is so unique. He also explains why the pipeline to a top-tier MLS starts with youth development, college soccer, and the communities that support them.
In Defense of Apple’s Crazy F1 Math
Peter Supino, the Wolfe Research super analyst, joins John to gab about the changing sports media landscape and the insider math behind two of the biggest rights deals of the decade: Apple’s curious bet on F1, and whether Paramount overpaid for UFC.
The Beautiful (iPhone) Game
The Athletic's Andrew Marchand joins John to discuss Apple’s use of numerous iPhone 17 Pros to produce a live soccer match, and whether iPhone broadcasting could become the norm. They also get into the 2026 World Cup and whether issues like ticket pricing, immigration concerns, and stadium occupancy will significantly impact the event. Finally, they discuss Netflix’s acquisition of the Women's Wor
Super Bowl or Bust
Horizon Media’s Adam Schwartz hops on the pod to discuss the state of the ad sales market with John. They talk about the vitality of the 30 second ad spot, A.I. optimization for commercials during sports broadcasts, social media sponsorships…. and why there’s still nothing that beats the Super Bowl.
Any Given Wednesday
UTA Sports chief Jerry Silbowitz joins John to discuss the newly released 2026 NFL schedule, including the league's experimentation with games on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Saturdays in December, and a whopping nine games abroad. Then they turn to the rise of talent-led IP—like Dave Portnoy's Barstool—and the impact of the creator economy on sports media.
Pro Sports’ Private Equity Pickle
Jason Stein, the sports investor and indefatigable pickleball advocate, joins John to discuss the flow of private equity into sports at all levels, the commercialization of the NCAA, the future of youth sports…. and Apollo’s $225 million investment in Pickleball Inc.
The Future of ESPN
Business Insider’s Peter Kafka joins John for a deep dive into ESPN’s effect on Disney’s bottom line. Kafka explains why Disney chief Josh D’Amaro ultimately decided against spinning ESPN into a separate company and looks into what needs to happen for his position to change. The two also highlight the new creator economy in sports media and handicap what’s likely to happen during the NFL’s media r
Is the Next Great American Sports League… Lacrosse?
Paul Rabil, co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, joins John for a candid chat about the challenges of carving out space in today’s overcrowded sports media landscape. They dig into the essential changes the league is implementing this upcoming season, its rights deal with ESPN, and an exciting women’s league launch slated for this year—including the budding superstar Rabil believes could tra
LIV to Die?
Joe House and Nathan Hubbard, hosts of The Ringer’s Fairway Rollin podcast, join John to weigh in on LIV Golf’s strategic misfires, from its combative marketing to its Saudi entanglements, which they suggest ultimately undercut the golf startup’s lofty ambitions. They also discuss PGA Tour’s ratings rebounds, the potential return of LIV players to PGA, the future of TGL, and more.
Introducing Family Lore
Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now: https://link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD
The NFL’s Media Monopoly
Guggenheim Securities analyst Mike Morris rejoins the pod to assess how the negotiating table has shifted for the Shield and its media partners over the past few months, YouTube’s deepening relationship with the NFL, Amazon’s football fantasy, and how the league has transformed the sports rights landscape writ large.
This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating forregula
Who Won NFL Draft Weekend?
Andrew Marchand joins John to recap the NFL Draft—and which broadcasters won the weekend, from ESPN and ABC to NFL Network and Pat McAfee. They also explore the growing political scrutiny surrounding the league, Mike Tomlin’s move into media with NBC, how NFL Network could evolve under ESPN, and more.
This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating forregulated, responsible
NBC Sports’ Survival Strategy
Live from the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas, top NBC exec Jon Miller joins John for a candid conversation about his network’s strategy for competing with trillion-dollar, sports-hungry streamers. He also discusses why MLB left money on the table to partner with NBC, whether the sports rights bubble is real, where Peacock fits in NBC’s bigger picture, and much more.
This s
The NFL’s Draft Day Fantasy
NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry joins John to discuss this week’s NFL Draft through a fantasy football lens—and what to watch for when the picks start rolling in. They also dig into ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network and what fans should expect from the programming. The NFL’s media rights negotiations come into focus too, along with a bigger picture conversation about the evolution—and future—of fantasy
The Athletic’s Russini-Vrabel Stress Test
Dylan Byers joins John to parse the Diana Russini–Mike Vrabel scandal, and shed light on the tensions it has exposed between The New York Times and The Athletic. Dylan breaks down the Times’ internal investigation, The Athletic’s initial defensive posture, and what the episode reveals about the ongoing challenges of integrating the two newsrooms.
This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting
The NFL’s Cracked Shield
Michael Nathanson rejoins the pod to discuss what the NFL must do to lock in its next round of media deals ahead of September’s kickoff—and what’s at stake if it doesn’t. They also examine the potential ripple effects of the D.O.J.’s latest investigation, which Michael says could spell more trouble for broadcasters than for the NFL itself. Plus, Michael explains why he believes the sports media la
How Much NFL Is Too Much?
NBC Sports’s Mike Florio joins John to tackle the most pressing questions facing the NFL as it stares down a highly consequential offseason—from looming media rights negotiations and the potential loss of its antitrust exemption to referee labor talks, the continued push for an 18-game schedule, the league’s expanding appetite for marquee midweek games, and much more.
This show is brought to you
Mashburn’s N.I.L. Market Theory
Kentucky Wildcat legend and former NBA veteran Jamal Mashburn joins John to break down the strange duality of college basketball, where the business is increasingly chaotic but the on-court product has arguably never looked better. He explains how mid-majors can navigate the N.I.L. maze, emphasizes the growing premium on education and career development for student-athletes, and reflects on how hi
Reinventing America’s Favorite Pastime
ESPN’s Jeff Passan joins John to break down the sweeping changes reshaping MLB—from the new robo umps to the ripple effects of the pitch clock. They also discuss Netflix’s MLB debut and baseball’s evolving streaming future, the global momentum of the World Baseball Classic, whether Olympic participation is finally within reach, and much more.
ESPNW’s Growth Engine
Top ESPN exec Susie Piotrkowski joins John to talk about the explosion of women’s sports, from the surging popularity of the WNBA and women’s college basketball to the growing reach of the NWSL. She also dives deep into ESPN’s push to mainstream the category, including the launch of “Women’s Sports Sundays” this summer—and discusses how stars like Trinity Rodman and Caitlin Clark are accelerating
Presenting The Draymond Green Show | Draymond Green Versus Skip Bayless
On the Draymond Green Show, no topic is off limits. In this episode Draymond welcomes Skip Bayless to discuss Michael Jordan, Stephen A Smith, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and they debate whether or not Draymond is really the dirtiest player of all time.
Inside MLB’s Netflix Experiment
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins John to break down the biggest media storylines shaping the MLB season—from its Netflix “experiment” to the future of the World Series and World Baseball Classic. They also dig into the NFL’s looming rights negotiations and whether the league is pushing too far with its ask, plus what the PSKY-WBD deal could mean for the future of March Madness.
How Broadcast Survives in a Netflix World
Curtis LeGeyt, C.E.O. of the National Association of Broadcasters, joins John to assess the future of local TV in a streaming-first world. He weighs in on the need for scale in competing with tech giants like Netflix and Amazon, scrutinizes the Tegna-Nexstar deal, argues for modernized regulations to keep broadcasters in the game, discusses the NAB’s role in defending the First Amendment—and much
ESPN's Talent Whisperer
ESPN senior vice president Mike Foss joins John to spill the secrets on running the network’s studio shows, from SportsCenter to First Take to Get Up. He explains why The Pat McAfee Show is in a league of its own, how ESPN balances talent across different shows and platforms, their biggest digital headaches and opportunities, and much more. Plus, his take on why collaboration beats top-down manage
The NWSL’s Moneyball Moment
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman joins John to preview the upcoming season as its 14th is set to kick off tomorrow. She dives deep into the league’s meteoric growth, rising attendance, and viewership records. She also sheds light on the league’s expansion plans, media rights deals, the logic behind its new “high-impact player rule,” and much more.
Twenty nations and territories will compete in th
An Ex Cable Cowboy on the Future of Sports
David Levy, the former Turner Networks prez turned sports marketing exec, joins John to chart the evolution of the industry, the streaming rights arms race, and the surprising implications of the Paramount Skydance–WBD deal. Then the guys chat about a potential CBS–Turner Sports merger and why women’s sports are primed for explosive growth.
Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World
Can the NHL Find Its Groove?
NHL commish Gary Bettman returns to chat about the state of professional hockey, the sport’s boost from the Olympics, and future expansion opportunities. Then they dig into the rights landscape writ large, prediction markets, and how the Paramount-WBD merger could be “very good” for the league.
Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 MLB
Can ParaBros Keep the NFL?
Guggenheim analyst Mike Morris joins John to discuss how a combined Paramount-WBD could impact future NFL media rights deals. Then they break down the true value of the league’s media contracts and how streamers like Netflix, Amazon and YouTube might eventually take even bigger pieces of the pie.
Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 M
Can MLS Win the World Cup?
Roger Bennett, founder of the soccer-centric media company Men in Blazers, joins John to assess soccer’s American ascent ahead of the World Cup in Atlanta. He explains how the sport has quietly climbed to become the third most popular sport in the country, outlines the challenges and upside facing MLS, and breaks down why youth investment will determine whether the league can seize its moment. He
MLB’s Netflix Era
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand returns to parse MLB’s media rights reshuffle and how the league will be packaged across its many platforms, from Netflix to NBC. Marchand and John also discuss ESPN’s MLB programming pivot, grade Peacock’s Legendary February, and predict who will be the winners and losers of the NFL’s looming rights renegotiations. Plus: Barry Bonds’ new gig with Netflix and his end
Jay Bilas’s College Basketball Bull Case
ESPN’s college basketball savant Jay Bilas joins John with a surprisingly optimistic diagnosis of the sport. He argues the on-court product has never been better, and makes a case that N.I.L. has only strengthened—not fractured—collegiate athletics. Plus, his thoughts on reform, his take on March Madness expansion, and why the game’s best days may still be ahead.
Olympics Politics & LA28’s Epstein Problem
Veteran sports columnist Christine Brennan joins John live from Milan to chew over the buzziest storylines emerging from the Winter Olympics. She discusses the unusually charged political atmosphere—including the notable booing of J.D. Vance at the opening ceremony, even as the U.S. team received significant applause—and why politics feels more front-and-center than usual among athletes. They also
NASCAR’s Roadmap to Victory Lane
NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell joins John to reflect on his 20-year rise inside the company—going from the infamous “hat dance guy” to the executive now steering the motorsport’s high-stakes future. Then he breaks down the new playoff format, NASCAR’s global ambitions, why staying a “must-have” media property is more critical than ever, and much, much more.
NFL’s New TV Order
Ben Strauss, the now-former Washington Post media reporter, joins John to share a firsthand account of being swept up in the paper’s mass layoffs and the shuttering of its sports desk. Then they dive into NBC’s Super Bowl performance and the broader NFL ecosystem—from its international expansion and looming media rights negotiations to the league’s outsized influence over traditional networks, and
Any Given Sunday With Mike Florio
Live from Santa Clara, NBC Sports’ Mike Florio returns to the pod to take stock of the NFL’s biggest off-the-field storylines, from potential reforms to the Hall of Fame voting process after the first-ballot snubs of Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft, to looming changes to the salary cap. They also weigh into the concerns about officiating, the league’s ongoing struggle to make the Rooney Rule effec
Super Bowl LX Soliloquies
Top NFL exec Jeff Miller joins John for a candid pre–Super Bowl Sunday deep dive. They dig into the league’s landmark new deal with ESPN and what it signals about the NFL’s evolving media strategy, the league’s increasing use of A.I. in player health and safety, why the Rooney Rule fell flat this hiring cycle—and what, if anything, the league can do to fix it.
Belichick’s H.O.F. Snub & Jerry Jones Succession Questions
ESPN’s Don Van Natta joins John to preview the biggest off-field storylines shaping Super Bowl week, starting with the news that stunned the league: Bill Belichick falling short of first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. They also dig into the NFL’s continued push toward an 18-game season, the criminal investigation into the NFLPA, Jerry Jones’s looming succession questions in Dallas, the Washington
The WaPo Reckoning & TikTok’s Next Act
Axios’s Sara Fischer returns to the pod to discuss the biggest storylines shaping the media and sports business—from the looming mass layoffs at The Washington Post to the implications of a potential Warner–Netflix merger. They also dig into TikTok’s new ownership structure, Peacock’s evolving sports rights strategy, and what it all signals about where the industry is headed.
When Sports Media Marries the Sportsbook
Washington Post contributor Danny Funt joins John to explore the uneasy moment facing the sports betting industry. As FanDuel and DraftKings feel the squeeze, Funt explains the hunt for higher margins, the marketing tactics fueling growth, and the growing demand for consumer protections. They also discuss how gambling has been increasingly woven into sports media—and whether the U.S. is inching to
Marchand on the NFL’s Media Chessboard
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins John to break down the future of sports media rights, with a particular focus on the NFL. They discuss why so many leagues’ next deals hinge on the NFL’s upcoming negotiations, which NFL packages are most vulnerable to streamer disruption, why it’s no longer far-fetched to imagine Amazon eventually landing a Super Bowl—and more. Plus, why Travis Kelce is primed
MLB’s Dodger Economics
The Athletic’s Evan Drellich joins John to break down the L.A. Dodgers’ $240 million deal for star outfielder Kyle Tucker and its potential implications on MLB’s next round of labor negotiations. They explore the renewed conversation around a salary cap, the parity between big- and small-market teams, the looming media rights reset, the prospect of a free-agency deadline, the financial strain on R
Inside Ratner and Rubin’s Fanatics Content Factory
Michael Ratner, C.E.O. of OBB Media, joins John to discuss his new joint venture with Michael Rubin’s Fanatics to launch Fanatics Studios—aiming to produce sports content across feature films, documentaries, and live events. Ratner explains how they plan to leverage Fanatics’ deep athlete relationships and league partnerships to disrupt the sports content market—and offers his read on where sports
Inside the NCAA’s Moneyball Era
NCAA president Charlie Baker joins John to confront the growing sense that college sports are in troubled waters. Baker breaks down the chaos of the transfer portal, the accelerated professionalization of college athletics, and why Congress may need to step in to impose uniform eligibility rules. He also discusses the NCAA’s media rights deal with ESPN, makes the case for expanding March Madness,
Inside NBC’s Sports-Ad Olympics
Mark Marshall, NBCU’s global ads chief, joins John to talk shop about the sports media market. Marshall recounts selling out the Olympics weeks ahead of the opening ceremony (alongside the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Weekend…); what really went down with NBC’s big NBA deal; the action behind MLB’s new contract, and much more.
How Youth Sports Went Pro
The New York Times’ Ken Belson joins John to discuss the professionalization—and monetization—of youth sports, and the mental-health toll for kids caught in the middle. He explains how private equity and big money have turned youth athletics into a sprawling $40 billion ecosystem, driving up costs and pressure on families nationwide. Then Ken shares the biggest storylines he’s pursuing for the upc
YouTube’s Sports Takeover & More ’26 Predictions
Sports media analyst Michael Nathanson swings by the pod to reveal the sports media plotlines insiders are tracking over the coming year. They discuss YouTube’s growing footprint in the sports streaming ecosystem, how legacy players like ESPN can maintain relevancy, whether a Netflix-WBD merger might impact TNT Sports, and much more.
Explore how prediction markets skirt state authority and pose r
The Varsities: Sports Media’s 2025 Superlatives
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins John to bestow The Varsity’s inaugural Sports Media Awards—from the most overhyped plot line and the sleeper story that flew under the radar, to the best play-by-play announcer, top analyst, and the executive who moved the industry the most. Then they look ahead and call their shot on which executive takes home the 2026 crown.
Explore how prediction markets sk
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