StreamTime Sports

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, Nick Meacham and Chris Stone sit down with Graeme Smith, commissioner of South Africa’s SA20 league, alongside data and digital specialist Ellie Roach from InCrowd, to unpack what it really takes to launch and scale a modern sports league.
 
From private investment and broadcast strategy to data foundations, fan experience and the evolving role of franchise cricket, the conversation explores how SA20 has been built at speed and with intent in a changing sports media landscape.
 
Key Points:
How and why the SA20 league was created, and what it takes to launch a competition at pace
The role of broadcast partners, equity structures and long-term media deals in de-risking growth
Why getting the domestic product right is critical before scaling internationally
How data, digital infrastructure and first-party fan relationships were prioritised from day one
What SA20’s approach reveals about the future of cricket, franchise leagues and fan engagement

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, Nick Meacham and Chris Stone return with a wide-ranging conversation on the forces shaping sport and sports media right now. From trust and authenticity, to AI, betting, streaming strategy and the pressure on media rights models, the pair reflect on what feels different as the industry enters its next phase.
Key Points:
- Why trust and authenticity are becoming critical issues for sport
- How AI-generated content is changing how fans engage
- The growing influence of betting and prediction markets
- Where YouTube fits in the current media ecosystem
- Why media rights, pricing and commercial pressure are reaching a tipping point

In this special 200th episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone look back on four years of conversations shaping the industry. From standout guests and defining moments to the biggest shifts in media rights, streaming, and direct-to-consumer models, the duo reflect on how the industry — and the podcast — has evolved. They also share behind-the-scenes insights from building the podcast, discuss what’s surprised them most along the way, and look ahead to what the next phase of sports media could bring, including mergers and changing rights values. Key Points:• The most memorable guests and moments from 200 episodes of StreamTime Sports• How media rights, DTC models, and platform strategies have evolved over the past four years• Lessons learned from building a long-running industry podcast• Why personal relationships still matter in an increasingly digital sports media landscape

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Nick Meacham sits down with Rob Pilgrim, Head of Sport for EMEA at Meta, to explore how digital platforms are reshaping the sports media landscape.
 
Rob reflects on his journey from YouTube to Meta, the shifting dynamics of audience engagement and how platforms like WhatsApp and Threads are becoming central to the sports conversation. 
 
The duo also examine Instagram’s evolution from a photo-sharing app to a video-first platform, including Meta’s recent move to launch its Instagram for TV app. Rob explains why the company sees a growing opportunity for lean-back, living room consumption, how vertical video and creator-led formats are translating to the big screen, and what Meta has learned from YouTube’s rapid growth on connected TVs.
 
Key Points:
• Why Instagram’s expansion onto TV signals a new phase in short-form video consumption• The growing influence of individual creators and athletes in the sports ecosystem• The future impact of AI and wearables on fan experiences
• Privacy, responsibility, and trust as Meta introduces new technologies
• The importance of collaboration between sports organisations and Meta to drive innovation

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Nick Meacham continues the Making YouTube Pay series with Angelica Lindeberg, CEO of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL).
Angelica shares how the SDHL executed a full shift from traditional broadcasters to a YouTube-first strategy in under 90 days. She breaks down the early audience insights, how the league is empowering clubs and players to grow their own reach, and what this transformation means for the future visibility of women’s hockey.

 Key Points:
How the SDHL transitioned to a fully YouTube-led model in less than 90 days
Early audience data and what it reveals about fan behaviour
The role of clubs and athletes in driving visibility and engagement
Why YouTube is central to growing the reach of women’s hockey
What the shift means for the league’s long-term strategy and commercial potential