The Varsity

Latest Episodes:

Up Front With Jeremy Carey May 11, 2025

Show notes

Jeremy Carey, Optimum Sports’ chief investment officer, joins John for a look ahead at New York’s upfronts week. Jeremy shares the overarching themes he’s watching out for, discusses the health of the TV business, and examines whether recession fears are affecting advertisers who’ve spent years falling over themselves to buy into sports.

Jeff Passan’s MLB Forecast May 07, 2025

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ESPN’s MLB insider Jeff Passan joins John for a sweeping conversation about the state of the league a few months into the 2025 season. Jeff discusses MLB’s biggest red flags, the forthcoming labor and media rights negotiations, and the parity between high-payroll teams and small market teams. Then, as the specter of a new salary cap looms, Jeff warns why a 2027 lockout may be all but inevitable.

Connor Schell on the Sports Doc Gold Rush May 04, 2025

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Connor Schell, the visionary co-creator behind ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, joins John for a deep dive into the golden era of sports storytelling. From the evolution of prestige documentaries at HBO and ESPN to the streaming revolution led by the likes of Netflix and Apple, Connor unpacks how the landscape has shifted—and why these are the golden days for sports content. He also offers an inside look at his production company, Words + Pictures, and discusses what’s next.

The NHL’s Thin Ice Apr 30, 2025

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ESPN’s senior NHL guru Greg Wyshynski joins John Ourand to take stock of professional hockey amid the league's labor negotiations, big media deals, and its innovation mindset. Then Greg explains why the tumultuous economy threatens the NHL in ways it doesn’t the NBA or NFL. With a new labor deal expected to be announced during the forthcoming Stanley Cup Finals, what does the future really look like for hockey?

Kornacki After MSNBC Apr 27, 2025

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NBC’s data guru Steve Kornacki drops by the pod to talk about his new deal with the network, expanding his footprint across both NBC News and Sports—while also allowing flexibility to pursue other avenues, à la Stephen A. and Pat McAfee. Then he previews his coverage plans for the Kentucky Derby, riffs on the rise of sports betting, explains how he brings numbers to life, and more.

The NFL's Trust Issues Apr 23, 2025

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NBC Sports’ Mike Florio revisits the pod to shed light on the shifting sands of the NFL Draft’s media rights—and the league’s continued international push with next year’s season opener in Brazil. Then, Mike drills into the NFL’s antitrust challenges and the league’s 18-game-fantasy, before assessing the freshly-filed $50 million civil lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe. Plus, John pores over Adam Silver’s candid worries about legacy media’s grip on the NBA.

The Varsity Live From SF! Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

In a special live taping of The Varsity, Giants C.E.O. Larry Baer and Fox Sports exec Ben Valenta join John for a rollicking convo on the art of community-building in sports. They discuss the Giants’ hands-on approach, Fox Sports’ data-fueled fan strategy, the ripple effects of chord-cutting, and more. Then, the trio dig into the delicate balance between spending and success in baseball—before fielding questions from the audience.

Everyone Watches Women’s Sports Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

Axios’s Sara Fischer returns to the pod to discuss the meteoric rise of women’s sports. From the emergence of the new LOVB volleyball league and the Professional Women’s Hockey League, to Willow Bay and Bob Iger’s bold investment in Angel City FC, Sara breaks down why women’s sports rights are being viewed as a huge asset in today’s sports media climate. Plus, John digs into the looming battle over UFC rights as its negotiating window with ESPN ended at midnight.

Sports TV in the McAfee Era Apr 13, 2025

Show notes

Jerry Silbowitz, UTA's co-head of sports media, joins John to discuss how next-gen talent are following the McAfee playbook—leveraging platforms like YouTube and TikTok to skip the corporate development ladder and connect directly with younger audiences—and how broadcasters like ESPN are reinventing themselves to get a piece of the action.

The ESPN Migration Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Beloved sportscaster Peter Schrager drops by the pod to chat about his decision to jump from NFL Network to ESPN and the evolving business of professional sports analysis. Then Peter and John weigh into what’s next for the NFL and ESPN in the streaming era and the impact that Netflix and Amazon will have on the media rights market in 2029.

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