The Sports Media Podcast

Latest Episodes:

David Ellison pays up; a new direction for games in Detroit; and CAA Sports’ top broadcasting agents give a lay of the land Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp discusses the implications of David Ellison and Paramount Skydance winning a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Also, what the Red Wings and Tigers are doing for local games in Motown and what Unrivaled needs to accomplish in Season 3. Plus, CAA Sports’ Matt Kramer and Tom Young dish on what they look to accomplish for their broadcasting clients, and what trends they’re following for talent in 2026.

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Golden viewership, Milan Cortina in the rearview, and the NHL’s Keith Wachtel Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

This week on the SBJ Sports Media Podcast, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp delivers his takeaways from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, including a look at NBC’s cross‑platform strategy that helped drive record viewership for the USA–Canada women’s hockey gold‑medal showdown. Later in the episode, the president of NHL Business Keith Wachtel joins the show to share on‑the‑ground insights from his Olympic experience and to lay out why the league views major global events as a cornerstone of its long‑term plan to expand hockey’s international reach.

Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry.

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Main Street’s demise creates havoc, opportunity; Big TV numbers during President’s Day weekend; SBJ’s Rachel Axon talks Olympics from Milan Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp discusses what the end of Main Street Sports Group and the FanDuel Sports Networks means for teams across the NHL, NBA and MLB. Plus, he breaks down numbers for the NBA All-Star Game’s return to NBC, the Daytona 500 and first week of the Milan Cortina Winter Games. And SBJ’s Rachel Axon gives an on-the-ground report from Italy and what she’s hearing concerning all things Olympics.

Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry.

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Super Bowl viewership, the NFL’s media future, changes for NBA All-Star weekend and more Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp is joined by SBJ special contributor Richard Deitsch, and the duo break down Super Bowl viewership, changes coming to NFL media rights, the start to the Milan Cortina Olympics, this weekend’s NBA All-Star Game and Daytona 500 and more.

Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry.

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Breaking down the MLB team exodus from Main Street; ESPN and the NFL get a deal done early; and all things media with Octagon’s William Mao Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp brings on colleague Tom Friend to talk about the latest with Main Street Sports Group and its RSNs. Then, Karp gets into the closing of the NFL-ESPN equity deal and what surprised him. Then, Octagon media rights expert William Mao joins the pod to dish on the NFL, college sports, a potential squeeze on mid-tier properties and more.

Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking down the latest NFL numbers; SEC vs. Big Ten; and FanDuel’s Christian Genetski on the intersection of gambling and media Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp breaks down the NFC/AFC conference championship, and whether he thinks Patriots-Seahawks will set a Super Bowl audience record. He also breaks down the CFP title game number, and why the SEC’s regular season numbers still dwarf the Big Ten on the whole. Plus, FanDuel President Christian Genetski gives insight on how sports betting is helping TV viewership, how he’s monitoring the Main Street Sports RSN mess and why the company’s ads feel different.

Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NFL’s Hans Schroeder gets into the business of The Shield Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp looks into what a potential CFP format expansion would mean for interested media. Sticking with college, the hardwood is heating up and so are audience numbers, as Karp shares why the Big Ten Network isn’t just relying on football for a record start. Plus, with the NFC and AFC championship games set for Sunday, NFL media chief Hans Schroeder dishes on the matchups, plus where things stand on media rights and Nielsen’s Big Data. 00:55 CFP RECAP 01:45 FIRST TRIP TO TGL 03:27 CFP EXPANSION? 05:20 HANS SCHROEDER INTERVIEW 23:17 KARP'S CORNER Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cash is king for Netflix as it pursues WBD; the NFL keeps humming on Wild Card weekend; Checking in on TikTok and Playfly Media Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp looks at the latest movement in the battle for WBD, as well how the numbers looked around NFL Wild Card weekend and the CFP semifinals. Plus, some chatter on the latest with MLB teams and RSNs and Fanatics getting into the content production business. Then, a conversation with TikTok executive Kat Marquez on how the platform views sports, as well as a talk with the new head of Playfly Media, Nick Cartan.

Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CFP ratings coming up roses, Main Street blues continue and ESPN’s Bryan Jaroch Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp shares what could be next for Main Street Sports Group as the RSN saga continues. Plus, the path to Super Bowl LX is set and we put a bow on NFL regular season viewership trends. Plus, Indiana's trouncing of Alabama did not slow down the Rose Bowl juggernaut, and Karp shares why the audience numbers will only continue to grow as the College Football Playoffs roll on. And speaking of the CFP, ESPN’s Bryan Jaroch drops in to share what they have planned for the semifinals.

Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NBA gives more thoughtful Christmas presents; Will DAZN pull the trigger on Main Street? Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

On this week's pod, host and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp starts off 2026 with his experience taking in the Pop-Tarts Bowl and why bowl season on TV continues to be ripe for brand experimentation. Plus, some talk on how the NBA and NFL delivered on Christmas Day and what’s next for a potential DAZN-FanDuel RSNs marriage. Then, a conversation with top Wall Street media analysts David Karnovsky (JPMorgan) and Naveen Sarma (S&P Global) from SBJ’s Media Innovators event on key issues around sports media. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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