The FIFA Club World Cup – A $1 billion gamble for DAZN
Is DAZN betting big on a tournament without guaranteed returns? In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone break down the high-stakes investment in FIFA’s Club World Cup and whether it can deliver on its $1 billion price tag. From the complexities of the broadcast deals to sluggish audience numbers, they explore whether this bold play is a long-term growth opportunity or a cautionary tale in the making.Key points: What would it take to turn the FIFA Club World Cup into a profitable venture?What do empty stadiums and underwhelming TV ratings mean for the tournament’s future?Is DAZN’s product experience influencing viewership and retention? What role is Saudi investment playing in shaping the future of DAZN and FIFA?Will the knockout stages and marquee matchups make up for the early group stage apathy?
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54:47
How MLB’s pitcher’s mound became a multi-million dollar asset
In a sports world dominated by conversations around broadcast rights and ad spend, what’s the real media value of sponsorship?In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone are joined by Franco De Bonis (VISUA) and Georgie Webb (Vision Insights) to explore how brands, rights holders, and agencies are moving beyond vanity metrics to uncover the true ROI of sponsorship. From AI-powered exposure tracking to high stakes valuations on everything from jersey patches to Ted Lasso cameos, they break down what’s driving smarter sponsorship decisions—and where the industry is still falling short.Key Points:What delivers more value: a commercial during the World Series or in-game brand exposure on the field?Why are 1 in 3 brands still struggling to accurately measure sponsorship ROI?Which metrics actually matter when measuring sponsorship value? How do American and European sports differ in how they value digital and broadcast sponsorship assets? How is AI reshaping sponsorship measurement down to the millisecond?
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1:05:01
The sports creator economy – growing audiences through cultural crossovers
Live rights are no longer enough for sports organisations to capture attention. On this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Chris Stone is joined by content creators Maya Stephen and Stella Tran, as well as digital producer Tom Jewell.The discussion explores how the next phase of audience growth lies with sports partnering with content creators who bring cultural relevance and built-in communities. Whether it’s badminton, Formula 1 or women’s soccer today’s fans aren’t just watching they’re connecting through creators.  Key PointsSports media’s blind spot: The industry’s overreliance on live rights and highlightsContent creators bridging the gap: the new media connecting Gen Z and digital first audiences to sportsViral ≠strategy: Don’t chase trends, build communitiesAuthenticity rules: Fans connect with relatable, low-friction content over polished highlight reelsCulture as currency: How creators are using music, fashion and travel to unlock fandom in unexpected places
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56:38
From a van to $100M: FloSports’ gameplan for tier 2 & 3 sports
FloSports CEO Mark Floreani joins StreamTime Sports to break down how the platform is redefining sports streaming for the underserved majority. From partnering with the NCAA and AHL to landing backing from India’s Dream Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone explore how FloSports is building a tech-first, fan-driven ecosystem. Key PointsHow did a $10K van-based startup grow into a $100M platform reshaping sports streaming?What made Dream Sports invest in a niche American sports company?Can subscription-based models really work for cheerleading, wrestling, and D3 college sports?How do you build an NFL-quality viewing experience—without the NFL?
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47:27
Why sports streaming is at a tipping point and what comes next?
From AI-powered dubbing to stripped-back broadcast vans to clever piracy countermeasures, sports streaming is undergoing a major shift. In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-host Nick Meacham shares his key takeaways from Streaming Tech Sweden, an annual event for streaming tech in the Nordics, as well as a behind the scenes at the Ice Hockey World Championships with Infront to understand what it takes to deliver a global broadcast.Key Talking Points:How modern broadcast supply chains are being rebuilt from the ground upDYN Media proving how lean production can still scale with qualityInfront’s thirty-one camera broadcast of the Ice Hockey Worlds shows innovation in actionPiracy continues to grow, but smarter deterrents are emergingÂ
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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