The Varsity

Latest Episodes:

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

The Golf Revolution Will Be Televised! Jan 12, 2025

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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.

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

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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…

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

Show notes

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.

Introducing: Office Ladies 6.0 Jan 03, 2025

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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.

PGA of Arabia Jan 01, 2025

Show notes

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.

SVP! Dec 29, 2024

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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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