Front Office Sports Today

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Paramount Floundering with Super Bowl on Horizon Jan 29, 2024

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Paramount Global is exploring a sale as cord cutting continues to eat into its margins and its deal for NFL rights creates as many problems as it solves. CNBC’s Alex Sherman joins for an in-depth report on the trajectory of the legacy media company, and its longtime competitors, Comcast, Disney, and Fox.

Plus, Jannik Sinner claims his place in tennis’ youth movement with an Australian Open victory, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is nearing an extension, and the NFL teased something happening in Accra, Ghana.

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USC Grilled at Trial Over Future of College Athletes Jan 26, 2024

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A trial brought by the National Labor Relations Board has produced uncomfortable moments for representatives of USC, as schools and the NCAA hope to maintain the amateurism model and prevent college athletes from becoming employees. Reporter Amanda Christovich reports from Los Angeles on some of the trial’s head-turning moments.

Plus, North Carolina is legalizing sports betting just in time for the ACC and NCAA tournaments, Ohio State is spending big to topple Michigan, and we look into the future of sports economics, including the role of private equity and the viability of major events like the Olympics with Deloitte analyst Pete Giorgio.

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LA Times Layoffs Show Deep Issues in Print Media Jan 25, 2024

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The Los Angeles Times became the latest major media outlet to announce deep cuts to its staff. The paper will not have a traveling beat writer with the Dodgers in Shohei Ohtani’s first year with the team. The cuts speak to broader issues in the media world, as legacy publications look for a sustainable model.

Plus, Salt Lake City is looking to become the next big sports hub, Doc Rivers’ departure could mean Doris Burke’s time to shine, and former Miami Marlins president David Samson joins to discuss the struggles the Oakland A’s are having in securing funding for their new stadium, the changes coming to local sports broadcasting, and why Red Sox fans are mad at the team’s ownership.

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Netflix Slams Into Live Sports with WWE Deal, Plus Jay Bilas Jan 24, 2024

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Netflix has leapt into the live sports ring with a 10-year deal for WWE’s Raw, worth more than $5 billion. The move gives Netflix a weekly live program with a devoted audience, and could augur further steps into sports. We also look at a potential labor strike by MLS referees and another viewership record broken by the NFL.

Plus, ESPN’s Jay Bilas joins to discuss the state of college basketball as the NCAA attempts to cling to amateurism and prevent college athletes from gaining employment status. Bilas argues that the NCAA is attempting to apply standards to college athletes that don’t exist for anyone else in the American economy.

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Fairway Flub: PGA Tour’s Rulebook Under Scrutiny Jan 23, 2024

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Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Alabama, bested some of the world’s top golfers at the American Express tournament, but was ineligible to claim the $1.5 million first place prize due to his amateur status. The incident raises questions around how the PGA Tour operates, as Dunlap considers whether or not to turn professional or finish out the college golf season.

Plus, Tiger Woods appears set to announce a deal with TaylorMade, Jim Ratcliffe makes his first big move as minority owner of Manchester United, and we dive into the increasingly murky picture of MLB, NBA, and NHL local broadcasts with The Athletic’s Evan Drellich.

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Sports Illustrated Conducts Mass Layoffs, Future Uncertain Jan 22, 2024

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Sports Illustrated is laying off large swaths of its staff, following a missed payment by its managing company, The Arena Group, to SI’s parent company, Authentic Brands Group. The future of the venerated, 70-year-old publication is full of questions, including who will operate the magazine going forward. Front Office Sports senior reporter AJ Perez, who broke the story on the layoffs, joins to break down what we know about Sports Illustrated and its future.

Plus, there is a massive difference in pay among quarterbacks of the remaining NFL teams, the Detroit Lions were Sunday’s hottest ticket, and the playoffs have raised the stature of fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

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ACC in Legal War with FSU Jan 19, 2024

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The ACC is trying to strip Florida State of its voting power on conference issues while the two sides are locked in a legal dispute. The enmity stems from FSU’s discontent over the ACC’s media deal, and the lack of conference competition that contributed to FSU being left out of the College Football Playoff after an undefeated season.

Plus, we look at how conference realignment, NIL, and heavier use of the transfer portal are reshaping college basketball with Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney.

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Why Amazon Could Be the Local Sports Broadcaster of the Future Jan 18, 2024

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Amazon is buying into regional sports network provider Diamond Sports Group in a deal that will see the tech giant broadcasting local games. The deal represents a lifeline for Diamond, which remains in bankruptcy proceedings. MLB, the NHL, and NBA will now have to decide how to work with Amazon going forward. However, much remains to be determined as a complicated bundle of deals remain in court proceedings.

Plus, as a league still introducing itself to much of its own country, Major League Soccer has room to experiment in a way that other, more established leagues don’t. MLS executive Chris Schlosser joins the show to discuss how MLS and Apple are innovating when it comes to the sports fan's experience.

Host: Owen Poindexter

Producer: Daniel Myrick

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Australian Open Becomes the Anti-Wimbledon Jan 17, 2024

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Tennis has long been one of the more most buttoned-up of professional sports. Most major tournaments prize civility and discourage noise during play. However, the Australian Open is tacking in the opposite direction with live music and a two-story bar by one of the courts. Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated joins us to discuss the changing face of tennis, a potential merger between the men’s and women’s tours, and how money from Saudi Arabia could change things.

Plus, the Detroit Lions’ first playoff win in 32 years is bringing a surge of excitement and a spike in ticket prices, and the busy NFL coaching carousel could see even more spots open up.

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A Wild Card Weekend That Lived Up to It's Name Jan 16, 2024

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Sub-Zero temperatures in Kansas City's "Peacock Bowl," an utter collapse by the Dallas Cowboys, and the Lions first playoff win in over 30 years made for a wild weekend in the NFL. Newsletter co-authors Eric Fisher and David Rumsey break down the wild-card weekend that lived up to its name.

Afterward, soccer reporter Ben Jacobs joins Owen Poindexter to share all his thoughts on this season's international transfer window — including Kylian Mbappe's future and the implications of Premier League clubs' financial fair play violations.

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