FIFA claimed 2.7 billion people tuned in to this summer’s Club World Cup, but what is the truth behind the numbers? In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone dig into the reality behind FIFA’s staggering stats, DAZN’s billion-dollar gamble, and YouTube’s live NFL broadcast. They also unpack which metrics matter most for streaming, what Apple’s next move in Formula One could mean, and why Pluto TV is betting big on handball. Key Points:Can FIFA’s claim of 2.7 billion Club World Cup viewers be trusted?Has DAZN’s $1 billion investment in the tournament paid off?What did we learn from YouTube’s live NFL broadcast of Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers?Which metrics matter most for live streaming compared to linear?Does it make sense for Apple to acquire Formula One’s U.S. rights?What makes Pluto TV’s handball deal a smart play?
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The NFL’s next play: From primetime to YouTube with MrBeast and IShowSpeed
With the new season underway, the NFL is leaving no screen untouched. Co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone break down the league’s bold broadcast strategy, from teaming up with YouTube creators like MrBeast and IShowSpeed, to expanding free-to-air access in the UK, and even NBC selling out every Super Bowl ad before kickoff.Key Points:Can the NFL prove through YouTube that its advertising model is the future of broadcasting?What impact will the NFL’s partnership with content creators MrBeast and IShowSpeed have?Should fans be concerned that NFL RedZone is introducing commercials?How significant is it that NBC sold all of its Super Bowl advertising before the season kicked off?Why has DAZN taken on a sublicensing deal with ESPN for college football?What do the WSL’s international broadcast moves mean for women’s soccer?Is UFC Fight Pass the reason ESPN was willing to let the MMA promoter move to Paramount?
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The keys to unlocking and protecting live sports revenues
UFC’s recent $7.7B deal with Paramount, along with Ligue 1’s partnership with Amazon, highlights how content protection is influencing today’s media rights agreements. In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone are joined by content security expert Olga Kornienko, COO and co-founder of EZDRM. Together, the trio explore how streaming has transformed the approach to content protection and the financial risks of not securing distribution. Key Points:How are media rights deals being shaped by the growth of piracy?Why is content security not just an issue for the NFL and Premier League, but for all sports?How has the acceleration of sports streaming changed the playbook for protecting content?What technologies and innovations — such as DRMs and double encryption — are making life “really annoying” for pirates?
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The new Bundesliga broadcast strategy
The top-flight German soccer league has taken a bold and innovative approach to its broadcast strategy in the UK market. Live coverage of this season’s action spans Sky Sports, Amazon, BBC, and YouTube, offering multiple ways to watch — from subscriptions to free-to-air and pay-per-view. In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone share their thoughts and hopes for how this strategy plays out. Key Points:What characteristics of the UK market led the Bundesliga to take a new approach to distributing its games out of market?Should we expect this approach to fundamentally impact domestic broadcast deals?Why did the Bundesliga select YouTube and content creators as broadcast partners?Which of the Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 approaches will have the biggest impact in the race to become the leading foreign league in the UK?
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How is UFC doubling media rights revenue whilst killing off pay-per-view?
In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone break down how UFC's evolving media strategy could signal the end of traditional pay-per-view.They break down Paramount’s big-money move for UFC rights, why ESPN stepped aside, and what this shift means for niche sports, bundling, and the future of global broadcasting. They also look ahead to what’s next for Fubo and Hulu partnerships in the U.S., and whether piracy could shape the future of bundling in Europe.Key Points:What does ESPN’s sports-only bundle mean for UFC content?Could the UFC’s deal with Paramount mark the end of pay-per-view?How are sports media dynamics shifting in the U.S.?Will piracy influence how bundling evolves in Europe?What’s next for Fubo and Hulu partnerships in sports broadcasting?
A weekly podcast profiling the people, businesses and technologies driving the sports media revolution. The go-to place for sports industry professionals seeking ideas, insights and inspiration in these times of rapid transformation across streaming, OTT and digital.
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