The SportBusiness Podcast

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Rest and Martin Ross pick apart the week’s headlines and address some big-ticket issues affecting the sports industry:THE NEWSROOM: An in-depth look at the imbalance between padel’s surging participation and commercial performance. Which revenue-generating sectors are serving up growth and why some baseline figures haven’t improved? Plus, key media rights developments for three European football leagues.INSIDE THE DEAL: As the debate around LIV Golf and PIF rages on, we look at that investment but broaden the discussion out to the wider Saudi sports ecosystem, from the Saudi Pro League to SURJ. Matthew Glendinning joins to offer on-the-ground reflections after his trip to Riyadh.AOB: A London Marathon participant to hog the limelight and a Killer setlist at the Enhanced Games. You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.Co-hosts: Jonathan Rest, Martin RossContributors: Matthew GlendinningEditor: Lumi LehmuskallioSources:Full Swing on Netflix suffers audience dropSaudi enters padel as 54 gets new Hexagon event remitWill PIF let LIV die?PODCAST: Unpacking losses at LIV, European Tour and DAZNSURJ INTERVIEW: DAZN to grow in Saudi, Mena ‘in measured way’Saudi Prince’s KHC takes majority stake in Al-HilalSponsorships make case for PIF as ‘impactful investor’Record rights fees in new Norwegian domestic cycleDAZN to honour Pro League deal next seasonCentralisation backed despite Benfica resistance

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, co-hosts Martin Ross and Jonathan Rest delve into the topics and trends shaping an eventful week for the sports industry:THE NEWSROOM: Maria Kholodova joins as we discuss Netflix’s surprise and controversial Concacaf Gold Cup move in Mexico amid political calls for the government to defend free access to major sports events. Plus, Alibaba’s impending Uefa sponsorship, IMG leadership changes and more profits for Matchroom Sport.INSIDE THE DEAL: Matthew Williams gets under the bonnet of Ford’s new MLB sponsorship and its Independence Day activation, but also the league’s sponsorship appeal further afield.AOB: A challenge to the Belgian Pro League’s planned format and some bog-standard suggestions for additions to the new Matchroom Talent Agency.You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.Co-hosts: Martin Ross, Jonathan RestContributors: Maria Kholodova, Matthew WilliamsEditor: Lumi LehmuskallioSources:Netflix nets exclusive Gold Cup rights in MexicoListed events call made to Mexican governmentNetflix outmuscles rivals for Women’s World CupEXCLUSIVE: Alibaba nears expansive Uefa dealCBO role for Francis in IMG leadership changesMatchroom profits uptick spurred by darts, boxingZDF ends Tour de France exile in new rights dealFord backs MLB’s Fourth of July pushPODCAST - Netflix blows rivals out of the water to land Women’s World Cup in US

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, Martin Ross is joined by Joseph Perry to give listeners the intel behind the latest industry stories and go deep on big topics.THE NEWSROOM: How Publicis’ $500m move for 160over90 represents its ‘big bet on sport’ in the AI era. Plus, the details behind Chelsea’s record £262.4m pre-tax loss.INSIDE THE DEAL: Frank Dunne explains how Fifa rejected a conditional offer for 2026 World Cup rights as Italian broadcasters hedged their bets on the national team qualifying. We bring you the lowdown on deals struck with Rai and DAZN.AOB: A looming UCL broadcast rights deadline, Unilever showering the public with World Cup products and the SportAccord curse strikes again.You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.Co-hosts: Martin Ross, Joseph PerryContributor: Frank DunneEditor: Lumi LehmuskallioSources:1. Emirates Arena renamed after fruitless search2. Spurs ups income, Chelsea posts record loss3. Publicis to buy 160over90 amid ‘big bet on sport’4. Italy no-shows weigh heavily on World Cup value5. Bumper Rai, TVP ratings for World Cup heartache6. RFP, UC3 ready mass-markets sales process 

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, we shake up the format as co-hosts Martin Ross and Jonathan Rest bring you the latest insights from the cutting edge of the industry.THE NEWSROOM: The launch of the $300m Premier Jumping League – its business model, backstory and disruption in showjumping. And the latest on investment in the NFL’s flag football league and its commercialisation.INSIDE THE DEAL: Ben Cronin explains why Mistral, Europe’s most valuable AI start-up, has invested in professional cycling and how the tech-led sponsorship sector is rapidly evolving.AOB: Bidding for NBA Europe teams reaches $1bn and the fallout from a dramatic night of Fifa World Cup playoffs.You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.Co-hosts: Jonathan Rest, Martin RossContributor: Ben CroninEditor: Lumi LehmuskallioSources:1. NFL unveils elite investor roster for pro flag venture2. IFAF to diversify revenue mix to lessen NFL reliance3. Returning McCourt backs Premier Jumping League4. Mistral flies the flag for European AI sector in Team Visma deal5. Euroleague to tap private markets, re-engages NBA6. DAZN, Rai to share World Cup coverage in Italy 

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.  This week, we look at the decision to snub riches elsewhere and keep snooker’s World Championships at The Crucible and what the deal means for the sport.Jonathan Rest is back from Toronto, where he spoke to industry leaders about Rogers and its MLSE stake, the C$11bn NHL rights deal, big tech and the CRTC’s OneSoccer v Rogers ruling.We report from Sportel Singapore, as Joseph Perry offer insights into the latest media rights sector developments, and Ben Cronin weighs in from Spain on LaLiga’s Jornadas de Clubes. Plus, flying discs and the World Paint Drying Championships.You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here. Host: Catherine Davies Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross, Joseph Perry, Ben CroninEditor: Lumi Lehmuskallio  Sources: 1. Rogers ‘to shell out’ $7.7bn for NHL renewal2. EXCLUSIVE: CSME ‘open for business’ to investors3. Snooker Worlds remain at Crucible for the long term4. Regulator backs OneSoccer in Rogers carriage row5. Serie A, LaLiga exploring overseas match options6. AFC halts bidding for 2031, 2035 Asian Cups7. EXCLUSIVE: WFDF targets World Frisbee rebrand 

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry. This week, Matthew Williams and Faaez Samadi join Catherine Davies to discuss the latest sponsorship trends in the Indian Premier League as the curtain rises on the latest iteration.Jonathan Rest looks at why IPL franchises are attracting billion-dollar bids and what this means for cricket’s future as a business. Lalit Modi, the league’s founder, also weighs in with his take on the next media rights cycle.Plus, we look ahead to what’s next for the US major leagues with on-the-ground observations from New York, and is latency killing the streaming star?You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.Host: Catherine Davies Contributors: Matthew Williams, Faaez Samadi, Jonathan Rest, Lalit ModiEditor: Lumi Lehmuskallio Sources: 1. Cricket the battleground in India’s AI arms race2. Gemini’s IPL deal follows ChatGPT’s WPL tie-up3. India leads the way as T20 nations split on shirt sponsorship strategy4. Sunrisers, Super Giants replace Dream11 on shirts5. Investors circle rare deals for IPL team stakes6. JioStar hits record revenues in first quarter7. BBC trial aims to shrink streaming latency8. Sky extends, expands Masters coverage 

This month Inside the Deal tackles one of the biggest deals in the industry for years: the Paramount Skydance deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.  The deal brings together two giants of the global media industry.  The podcast looks at the merger through a very specific lens: what it means for the sports media rights in Europe.  This involves assessing the combined sports rights portfolio of the two companies, and where that positions the new merged entity in the battle to be a dominant provider of sport globally. It looks in detail at Paramount’s recent surprise move on the rights in the UK and Germany to Uefa’s club competitions. And it examines potential targets for Paramount-WBD in the coming years, with a particular focus on the next domestic rights auctions of England’s Premier League and Germany’s Bundesliga. Frank Dunne, Editor-at-Large of SportBusiness, discusses these topics with Joseph Perry, Editor of SportBusiness Media, and Jonathan Rest, Chief Correspondent of SportBusiness.  You can subscribe to Inside the Deal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here. Host: Frank Dunne   Contributors: Joseph Perry, Jonathan Rest  Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio  Sources:1 Battle for WBD reignites as Paramount talks resume | SportBusiness 2 WBD in line for full Paramount takeover | SportBusiness 3 WBD board, again, rejects ‘inferior’ Paramount bid | SportBusiness 4 Paramount ‘confident’ in NFL, UFC relationships | SportBusiness 5 WBD board rebuffs Paramount Skydance’s offer | SportBusiness 6 Paramount sues WBD amid takeover battle | SportBusiness Media 7 Big Five rise lays down marker for new Uefa era | SportBusiness Media 8 Paramount makes 10-figure bet on UCL breakthrough | SportBusiness Media 9 UFC on TNT? Paramount takeover creates flexibility | SportBusiness Media 10 Skydance inks protracted Paramount takeover | SportBusiness Media 

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry. This week, we pay tribute to a highly-respected and much-loved industry colleague, Matt Cutler, who passed away late last month after a brave battle with cancer.Ben Cronin and Matthew Williams join to discuss the latest new deals and notable trends in Formula 1 sponsorship as the curtain rises on the 2026 season in Melbourne. Plus, Martin Ross and Jonathan Rest report from the FT Business of Football Summit, we look at DAZN’s FIBA slam dunk, Apple’s F1 plans and an end to the Enhanced Games sponsorship drought.You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.Host: Catherine Davies Contributors: Frank Dunne, Matthew Glendinning, Martin Ross, Jonathan Rest, Ben Cronin, Matthew WilliamsEditor: Lumi Lehmuskallio Sources: EXCLUSIVE: Etihad lines up McLaren F1 deal Barclays enters F1 with Williams, Anthropic signs on Cadillac strikes related party deal with TWG AI The Global Motorsport Report EPL makes long-studied Singapore D2C move DAZN nets exclusivity over Fiba’s Courtside 1891 Apple drives chunky US rights fee uplift for F1 Enhanced Games: Where’s the commercial injection?