The Varsity

UFC Rights Fights, F1 Deal Heat & ESPN’s Media Moneyball Feb 19, 2025

CNBC’s Alex Sherman joins John for a deep dive into how leagues can maximize profits from social media engagement in the streaming era. They also wade into the brewing media rights battles between traditional networks and streaming giants, with UFC and F1’s rights up for grabs, before Alex shares his personal insights on the overall state of sports media and the business behind the games.

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Grant Hill From the Owner's Box Feb 16, 2025

NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill joins John for a candid conversation about his pivot from the court to the sidelines, where’s he's become a standout broadcaster. Hill discusses his ownership stakes in various sports franchises, the health of the NBA, and the impact of their blockbuster media rights deal. He also reflects on leading Team USA to back-to-back gold medals and weighs in on ESPN’s evolving media strategy.

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Shams’ Art of the Scoop Feb 12, 2025

ESPN’s Shams Charania, the consummate NBA insider and veritable scoop machine, joins John to probe some of the biggest business stories ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend: the impacts of sports betting, Maverick Carter’s attempt to jumpstart an NBA-adjacent international rival, and the league’s evolving trade dynamics. Plus, Shams explains the bizarre Luka-A.D. trade—and how he broke the story.

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NBC Sports in The Big Easy Feb 09, 2025

NBC Sports president Rick Cordella joins John from Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans for an in-depth conversation on the business of the NFL and the evolving landscape of sports media, breaking down the NFL’s unparalleled ability to draw massive viewership and the complexities of media rights negotiations. Then he offers a preview at what’s in store for NBC’s NBA coverage and a look at next year’s Winter Olympics.

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In Goodell We Trust? Feb 05, 2025

ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. joins John for a wide-ranging conversation on the NFL’s booming business, where soaring ratings and sponsorship deals underscore the league’s financial dominance—highlighted by the Dallas Cowboys’ staggering $10 billion valuation. They also tackle some of the league’s prime concerns, including the perceived officiating problems, before discussing the power dynamics of owners like Jerry Jones and speculating on Roger Goodell’s future as commissioner.

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Hoop Talk With Stan Van! Feb 02, 2025

TNT analyst and former NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy joins John for a broad-spectrum chat about the overall health of the league. The duo address potential scheduling and rule changes, the realities of player empowerment, the influx of 3-point shooting, and much more. Plus, Stan shares his insights on the turbulence in college basketball, and offers his take on how to mitigate the instability surrounding college basketball sparked by N.I.L. and the transfer portal.

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The NFL’s Streaming Playbook Jan 29, 2025

Fox Sports and NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager joins John for an in-depth look at the business trends shaping the NFL as the Super Bowl approaches. They explore the league’s media opportunities, the growing influence of streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon, and what it all means for traditional broadcasters. Then they debunk the idea of “Chiefs fatigue,” before Peter explains why relying on TV ratings to measure the NFL’s popularity is an archaic concept.

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Netflix’s UFC Gamble & ESPN’s Streaming Calculus Jan 26, 2025

Michael Nathanson rejoins John to dissect the most pressing sports media topics of 2025: Netflix’s potential bid for UFC rights, the challenge of building a sustainable PPV business model, the viability of ESPN’s streaming strategy (and Fox Sports’ need to develop one), and so much more.

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College Football's Billion-Dollar Gold Mine Jan 22, 2025

NBC Sports’ college football insider Nicole Auerbach reunites with John for an all-encompassing deep dive on the new-and-improved 12-team CFP. Nicole discusses the biggest successes like increased fan engagement throughout the regular season; shortcomings like the problematic seeding issue; potential tweaks like further expanding the field to 14 teams; and much, much more.

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ESPN's Staying Power & NFL's Global Gridiron Jan 19, 2025

ESPN studio host Laura Rutledge joins John for an exuberant wide-ranging conversation about the future of the sports media business. Having recently signed an extension with ESPN, Laura discusses what drove her decision to stay put, before diving into the challenges of cord-cutting, the potential impact of streaming services like Netflix and YouTube TV, the CFP’s expansion, the NFL going abroad, and much more.

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Iger’s Fubo Curveball & The TikTok Endgame Jan 15, 2025

Axios’s Sara Fischer joins John for a wide-ranging conversation covering the latest trends transforming the sports media landscape: the striking Disney-Fubo merger, DirecTV’s new $70/month sports package, the potential ripple effects of a TikTok ban on sports media, and the murky future of R.S.N.s in major markets like Chicago and New York.

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The Golf Revolution Will Be Televised! Jan 12, 2025

C.E.O. of TMRW Sports Mike McCarley sits down with John to dish about the launch of TGL, the semi-virtual, made-for-TV indoor golf series co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy. After nearly a million viewers tuned in for its ESPN debut, McCarley opens up about the league’s innovative format, his strategic partnership with Disney, how TGL is shaking up the traditional golf world, and whether the out-of-the-box concept could be replicated for other sports.

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Hubo? Fulu? Inside a Shock Streaming Mashup Jan 08, 2025

Puck’s legal expert Eriq Gardner joins John to break down the year’s first huge M&A earthquake: Disney cutting a deal to merge its Hulu + Live TV with Fubo. What does the combination mean for ESPN’s own planned streaming service, Flagship? And what’s next for Venu Sports? Then Eriq and John turn to how a combined Hulu + Fubo product might actually work…

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The Billion-Dollar Business of the College Football Playoff Jan 05, 2025

Rich Clark, executive director of CFP, joins John for a candid conversation about this year’s College Football Playoff and the state of college sports in the NIL era. They discuss the early successes of the inaugural 12-team format, CFP going head-to-head with the NFL, potential changes we could see down the line, the New Orleans act of terrorism that caused the Sugar Bowl to be delayed, and much more.

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Introducing: Office Ladies 6.0 Jan 03, 2025

The Office co-stars and best friends, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, are doing the ultimate Office-lovers podcast for you. Each week Jenna and Angela will dive deeper into The Office giving you access to even more behind the scene details, interviews and lots of stories that only two best friends who were there, can tell you.

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PGA of Arabia Jan 01, 2025

Golf personalities Joe House and Nathan Hubbard join John for a candid convo about the state of professional golf. While House is cautiously optimistic about the sport’s future and emphasizes the compelling nature of upcoming majors, Hubbard is more critical and highlights golf’s need for better product-market fit. They also discuss the impact of LIV Golf, the PGA Tour’s investment from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and the upcoming launch of TGL.

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SVP! Dec 29, 2024

ESPN A-List sportscaster and fellow Maryland Terrapin Scott Van Pelt joins John for a rollicking conversation about the state of the sports media industry. He shares his thoughts on colleagues Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee, whether he wants a role in the network’s NBA programming, his love for postgame coverage, how he’s reinvented late night SportsCenter, what makes someone a needle-mover, and much more.

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2024 Wrapped: Sports Media Edition Dec 25, 2024

Jon Kelly and Dylan Byers join John to chew over the biggest sports media stories of 2024: the forfeiture of WBD’s NBA rights, Comcast’s SpinCo, Stephen A. Smith’s history in the making, Netflix’s deal with the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and much more.

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The Tao of Talent Management Dec 22, 2024

Constance Schwartz-Morini, the C.E.O. and co-founder of SMAC Entertainment, sits down with John to share her journey as a trailblazer in talent management, providing an inside look at the ins and outs of running a talent firm and managing a roster of high-profile clients including Deion Sanders, Michael Strahan, and Erin Andrews. She also sheds light on her bold decision to leave a promising career at the NFL—where she started as an assistant—to carve out her own path as an entrepreneur.

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The Belichick Whisperer Dec 18, 2024

ESPN senior writer and “Belichick whisperer” Seth Wickersham joins John to give an inside look at Belichick’s surprising decision to jump to the college ranks and become UNC’s next head coach. Seth dissects the appeal of this position, whether Belichick will be able to emulate his NFL success, and his desire to build a legacy beyond football. Then he dives into the evolution of the “Patriot Way” and offers his take on Brady’s broadcasting learning curve.

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The ESPN Fantasy Draft Dec 15, 2024

NBC sports commentator and fantasy football guru Matthew Berry joins John to discuss the new economics of on-air talent, from Stephen A. to Mike Clay; who’s actually moving the needle for the sports media business; and the grinfucker of the week.

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Stephen A. Breaks the Bank & World Cup Media Limbo Dec 11, 2024

Ben Strauss reunites with John to delve into a litany of hot topics stimulating the world of sports media: Stephen A. Smith’s soon-to-be historic contract, B1G’s college football noon kickoffs, ESPN’s MNF Simpsons alt-cast, the surprising non-bidders for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and more.

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No NFL, No Glory Dec 08, 2024

In a special live recording of The Varsity at the University of Massachusetts, former CBS Sports chairman and president Sean McManus sits down with John for a candid conversation about the ins and outs of sports media and his decades-long run as a media exec. The duo dive into how Sean got introduced to the biz, his crusade to bring the NFL back to CBS, why networks without the NFL can’t thrive, the ascension of women’s sports, and much, much more.

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Marchand! Dec 04, 2024

After popular demand, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins the pod to discuss McAfee, Manning, Inside the NBA, the Pitaro star strategy, the best Marchand jokes, and so much more.

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The Live Sports Streaming Playbook Dec 01, 2024

Michael Nathanson, the co-founder and top analyst at MoffettNathanson, joins John for a rollicking exploration of the challenges facing legacy media now that streaming is king. Then they dive into how sports leagues and college conferences can survive, and thrive, in the post-TV era.

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Media Merger Mania & The Celtics L.B.O. Nov 27, 2024

Bill Cohan joins John to assess the fate of Comcast’s Spinco, the potential involvement of private equity, and the snowball effect it could have on the industry writ large. Then Bill previews some potential M&A activity in the media space before recounting the surprising backstory to Wyc Grousbeck’s leveraged buyout of the Boston Celtics.

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The ESPN-TNT Crossover Nov 24, 2024

Former Turner Network prez David Levy joins John for a rollicking discussion of Comcast’s bombshell decision to spin off its cable channels, Amazon’s opportunities to dominate the R.S.N. market, the brilliance of Netflix’s Tyson-Paul fight, the ripple effects of the TNT-ESPN deal, and much more.

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Netflix’s Fight Night & Zaz’s NBA Play Nov 20, 2024

John is joined by Axios media star Sara Fischer for a look behind the headlines captivating the sports world: The glitch-ridden Tyson-Paul bout, TNT’s partnership with ESPN, WBD’s settlement with the NBA, how Trump 2.0 will impact local sports, and much more.

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Getting Up With Greeny Nov 17, 2024

John is joined by one of ESPN’s brightest stars, Mike “Greeny” Greenberg. In a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving media landscape, the duo dive into Greeny’s remarkable 28-year (and counting) career at the network, the market for on-air talent and how it’s changed over the years, how his morning show Get Up became a cornerstone of ESPN’s morning programming, and much more.

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NFL Growing Pains Nov 13, 2024

John is joined by NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, creator of ProFootballTalk, to contemplate the biggest dramas facing the NFL today: the debate surrounding whether (and how) to add an additional game to the schedule, the push to expand its international footprint, the league’s surprising difficulty selling NFL media, and much more.

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Trump Merger Mania Nov 10, 2024

LightShed super-analyst Rich Greenfield joins John to discuss what Trump’s reelection means for the sports media business and the M&A landscape. Then they debate how the business will look in 10 years, whether platforms like YouTube and Spotify could get into sports, and much more.

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Woke Fox Sports & Locker Room Politics Nov 06, 2024

Fan favorite Ben Strauss return to discuss why he believes that Fox Sports—not ESPN—reigns supreme as the "woke” sports network. Then the duo dive into Fox Sports’ unique live-sports media strategy and wade into the rising drama surrounding beat reporters’ locker room access.

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NASCAR's Next Gear Nov 03, 2024

John is joined by NASCAR President Steve Phelps for an in-depth discussion about how America's favorite homegrown motorsport plans to rev up its reach—without alienating the die-hard fans who fuel its legacy.

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Amazon’s Crap Shoot & MLB’s Fall Classic Magic Oct 30, 2024

John rings up Dylan Byers for a temperature check on the stability-starved media industry. They discuss why major streamers like Amazon are reticent to dabble in live news, the current trend of on-air talent salaries, why the Yankees-Dodgers World Series is good for MLB’s “health,” and much more.

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Smoltz's Double Play Oct 27, 2024

John Ourand rings up baseball Hall of Famer turned analyst John Smoltz for a broad-spectrum conversation about broadcasting and Smoltz’s ascension to becoming Fox Sports’ top World Series analyst. Then the duo preview the World Series and get into the riveting narratives stemming from the Yankees-Dodgers/Judge-Ohtani matchup.

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College Sports’ Big Money Era Oct 23, 2024

John sits down with NBC Sports’ lead college football insider, Nicole Auerbach, for an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of the college sports business. They explore the impact of N.I.L., the dynamics of the transfer portal, the shifting tides of conference realignment, the potential role of private equity, and much more.

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Manfred’s MLB Magic Oct 20, 2024

As the World Series looms, MLB commish Rob Manfred joins John to discuss the league’s landmark 2024 season, its outreach to younger fans, new (and future) rule changes, and the enhanced in-game experience—all contributing to the league’s highest attendance in seven years. Then they weigh into the media rights landscape and Manfred’s grand plans.

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Jack Nicklaus’ N.I.L Nightmare Oct 16, 2024

Legal expert Eriq Gardner joins John to discuss the bizarre saga of Jack Nicklaus’ lawsuit against Nicklaus Companies, in which the retired golfer is fighting to reclaim the rights to his own name, image, and likeness. Eriq offers some very frank advice to athletes looking to capitalize on their N.I.L. Then the duo dig into the looming DirecTV-Dish merger, and whether Venu Sports will ever see the light.

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Inside Woj’s ESPN Exit Oct 13, 2024

John sits down with Matt Kramer, co-head of CAA Sports’ media group and Adrian Wojnarowski’s agent, for an inside look at how Woj’s surprise retirement unfolded. Kramer also discusses the changing landscape for on-air talent, and what media networks are actually prioritizing these days when hiring.

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The MLB-ESPN Showdown & Shams’ Side Step Oct 09, 2024

John is joined by WaPo sports media reporter Ben Strauss for a wide-ranging conversation on ESPN’s looming media rights negotiation with MLB, how ESPN scooped up Shams after the departure of Woj, and the WNBA’s Caitlin-centric coverage.

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OK, Boomer Oct 06, 2024

John is joined by the broadcasting GOAT and 45-year ESPN veteran Chris “Boomer” Berman for a candid conversation about his rise through ESPN’s ranks, how the sports network is navigating a shapeshifting media landscape, and much more.

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Apple’s MLS Gambit & Bezos’ Sports Fantasy Oct 02, 2024

John is joined by Business Insider’s Peter Kafka for a wide-ranging discussion about the major streamers: Apple TV’s deal with the MLS, Amazon’s NBA and NFL packages, the likelihood FOX Sports gets acquired, and much more.

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Gary Bettman on the NHL’s Media Moves Sep 29, 2024

On today’s episode, John Ourand is joined by the dean of professional sports, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, for a deep-dive discussion about the NHL’s media strategy as opening night approaches on Friday. Bettman candidly speaks about the league’s global imprint, ESPN’s excellent job promoting the game, their 7-year deals with WBD, and much more. With new media negotiations on the horizon, Bettman expresses his optimism about where the league is headed.

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The Tao of Woj & More Zaz Woes Sep 25, 2024

Dylan Byers joins John to discuss the aftermath of Woj’s abrupt exit from ESPN and what that means for the future of ESPN’s programming strategy. Then the duo examine the magnitude of the problems facing W.B.D. and forecast what’s next for sports media at large.

To celebrate Puck’s third anniversary, we’re offering readers a limited-time, 20 percent discount on an annual subscription. Claim yours here: https://www.puck.news/johnourand.

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Snoop, Léon & An Olympics Postmortem Sep 22, 2024

John sits down with NBC’s top two Olympics TV producers, Molly Solomon and Amy Rosenfeld, for a candid talk about what went into bringing the Paris Olympics to the U.S. and whether L.A. 2028 can beat the hype. Then the duo discuss why they decided to give so much airtime to Snoop, how international stars like Léon Marchand factored into the ratings, and their own roles as women producers in a male-dominated field.

By the way, to celebrate Puck’s third anniversary, we’re offering readers a limited-time, 20 percent discount off an annual subscription. Claim yours here: https://www.puck.news/johnourand.

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Charter Martyrs, Zaz’s News Cycle & RSNapalooza Sep 18, 2024

Axios media reporter Sara Fischer joins John to discuss all the feels on the sports media beat—Disney vs. DirecTV, Zaz’s Charter deal, ESPN Flagship hypotheticals, and much, much more.

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The Disney Deal, Zaz’s MFN & Lax God Paul Rabil Sep 15, 2024

John sits down with Paul Rabil, the lacrosse G.O.A.T., and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League for a candid chat about his journey as a player and the genesis of the PLL. Paul extemporizes candidly about his pro career, the white space in the market, the fundraising hurdles and the early challenges of standing up the league. Then the duo discuss the opportunity ahead for niche and niche-ish sports in the current media ecosystem.

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ESPN Economics & Brady’s Big Fumble Sep 11, 2024

With the NFL season kicking off, The Washington Post's Ben Strauss joins John to discuss Jimmy Pitaro’s plan to turn ESPN into a veritable streaming juggernaut, the incredible ascendance of Pat McAfee, and the confounding economics of live sports in the post TV era. Then they trade notes on Tom Brady’s underwhelming debut as a Fox Sports talking head.

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The WNBA’s Cathy Engelbert on Caitlin & the $200M Deal Sep 08, 2024

WNBA Cathy Engelbert is called up to The Varsity to discuss the league’s digital transformation, her league’s new media deal, this new generation of star power and her relationship with Adam Silver.

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The DirecTV Gambit & Bundle Extinction Events Sep 04, 2024

Puck co-founder Jon Kelly joins The Varsity for a spirited conversation about the Disney-DirecTV grudge match, Disney's channel-shedding journey, and Amazon's great expectations for its third season of Thursday Night Football.

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Jimmy Pitaro on the NBA Deal, Stephen A., Flagship, Venu, McAfee & ESPN’s Future Sep 01, 2024

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro sits down with John in Bristol for an incredibly candid and detailed conversation about the state of his business and the industry. The duo delve into ESPN’s various broadcast negotiations with the top leagues, its streaming strategy, an evolving view on talent, and so much more.

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Peyton Manning on NIL, Brady, ManningCast, Belichick & More Aug 28, 2024

Welcome to the maiden voyage of The Varsity. On this debut episode, John chats with Peyton Manning about the origins of his post-football career, the rise of the ManningCast, the genesis of Omaha Productions, and so much more—Brady, Bill, Tennessee, NIL, Eli, etcetera. It’s really great!

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Introducing The Varsity with John Ourand Aug 13, 2024

Welcome to “The Varsity,” your new favorite podcast about what’s really happening in the business of sports and the players who run it all. Join Puck sports media correspondent John Ourand and a rotating cast of industry experts for inside-the-room conversations about the money behind the major leagues, the biggest network executive dramas, media rights battles, and so much more.

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