Hello to one and all, and welcome along to the Leaders Digest, a halftime orange of sports industry insight, delivered to your inbox each Wednesday.
5 Questions, Answered
1.) Are you bored of the Teams vs Zoom vs Google (vs Webex?) small talk yet?
I thought as much. Next time somebody asks you what platform you prefer, pull out this incredibly handy community tools map and make them wish they’d never asked.
2.) What should I think about the Bundesliga’s latest round of TV rights deals?
Much as it became the first major European sports league to return to play, the Bundesliga has gone first – among its football powerhouse peers – on a domestic media rights deal. And if it showed the way with its operational protocols, other major rights holders will surely be hoping it hasn’t with its new deals with Sky and DAZN for the next four-year cycle. It’s a good get for DAZN; but if MLB’s big expected uplift with Turner is a reason for confidence in the traditional rights model in the US, is a dip in revenue for the Bundesliga – from €4.6 billion four years ago to €4.3 billion today – not a reason for worry in Europe?
4.) Is it just me or is there more chatter about private equity in sport lately?
It’s not just you, and there is. And that may well be because there are suddenly a lot of troubled or distressed assets around; assets helmed by leaders who will – in most instances – be eager to find ways to plug Covid-shaped revenue gaps. As Advent Capital become the latest financiers to show interest in Serie A, we discuss the topic on the latest episode of the podcast, which features a conversation with Danny Sillman, a man with what some believe is a radical plan to plug some revenue gaps across European football.
5.) Anything creative, uplifting, and with tangible things to take away you could point me towards?
– Interesting people talking to interesting people who are just as interested in talking to them – you get what I mean; it’s why Lance Armstrong’s podcast was/is so compelling: his guests are just as interested in quizzing him as he is them. Some new examples in the genre: Former inmate of the 10 Downing Street communications office and HMP Belmarsh Andy Coulson has a new podcast on navigating crises; and – shifting gears slightly – former Breeders’ Cup SVP Carter Carnegie has a new series of in-depth interviews with prominent sports executives attached – but not directly in – the racing industry.
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