Business of Sport

• Rufus Hack, Sony Sports CEO: ‘From The Makers of VAR; Is Tech Making Sport Better? (Ep73)

  This week we’re delighted to welcome Sony Sports CEO Rufus Hack to the show. Strap in, this is a reveal on how technology is changing sport, from the man that brings us Goal Line Technology, VAR, TMO, DRS and much more. Sony have been elevating their proposition, developing on the established Music, Entertainment and Playstation divisions to influence sport and deliver crossover value as sport converges with the modern entertainment industry. Through their ownership of Hawkeye, Rufus oversees the company that is implementing some of the most important changes in sport; the decision review systems aimed at increasing accuracy and elevating sporting products. As you know, this doesn’t come without its challenges. What this conversation reveals is a fascinating perspective on how this tech is created and then implemented by the various sports with varying degrees of success. How do we ensure the tech delivers what we need it to via ensuring it is properly applied, because it’s rarely a fault of the tech; normally a fault of the operator. On top of this, leveraging Toy Story IP in an NFL environment and an assessment of the crazy golfing landscape completes a truly unique and different show. On today’s show we discuss: Sony’s Role in Sport: How Sony’s global footprint, spanning India, the UK, and South Asia, gives it a unique vantage point in the sports broadcasting world. The strategic importance of local relevance in international rights and how Sony tailors its offering to cricket, football, and combat sports fans. How Sony’s sports business sits within the broader Sony Group and the advantages (and limitations) of operating within one of the world’s most diversified media companies. What is the acqusition strategy of the company looking to make moves in a new environment? VAR & Decision Review: How VAR is implemented differently across sports and the importance of education supporting accurate usage. The global standardisation of officiating technology and what federations need to get right before adopting tools like Hawk-Eye. The importance of a move to fully automated offside and broader decision making, removing the chance of human error. Is 95+% VAR accuarcy reliable enough when the cost is so great on fan emotion and experience? The evolution of decision review systems (DRS) in cricket and the growing fan expectation for accuracy, transparency, and speed in officiating. Changing World of Sport: How fans’ media habits are fragmenting, and why that makes sports content more valuable, not less. The tension between global streaming consolidation and the regional nuance required to serve true fanbases. Why leagues and federations need to rethink rights packaging, data usage, and storytelling in a world of short attention spans and instant feedback. The role of AI and automated production in driving cost-effective coverage, and how Sony is investing in next-gen workflows. What Rufus sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities for sports media businesses over the next 5–10 years, and why the traditional broadcaster vs. streamer narrative is missing the bigger picture. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC    

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• Ryan Sparks, Bradford City CEO: ‘We’re a Big Club But We Haven’t had Enough Big Success’ (Ep72)

  Today we’re delighted to welcome Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks to the show. Promotions don’t come much more dramatic than Bradford City’s 96th minute winner on the final day of the season to seal promotion to league one. We know how important it is to move through the leagues for both the business and performance side of clubs.  Bradford is a team with immense support, Premier League history, a 25,000 seater stadium…but it’s been a chaotic 25 years since leaving the premier league. Administration, relegations, England's 4th tier, cup finals; moments of real lows with a sprinkling of hope. That’s football to most.  We primarily think of the extreme pressure and scrutiny in football falling on the players, but executives shoulder a huge portion of that too. Once the youngest CEO in the EFL at 29, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Ryan. But with the first major steps achieved, this is the man in charge of restoring a great club’s successes with the platform now to build from.  On today’s show we discuss: How Promotion was Achieved: The story (from the boardroom) and that crazy final day which saw Bradford promoted with almost the last kick of the season. How does the performance and business sides of the club differ when it comes to handling the pressures of results. What needs to be in place to achieve promotion, and how well are the club set up to perform in League One? How do the finances of Bradford compare to other teams in League Two and does success correlate with financial capabilities? Recovering from previous relegations and the impact past failures had on being able to bounce back. Business of Bradford: How to create a stable £8-9m business in League Two. What areas of the business and most influential in generating revenue for the club and how does it compare to other teams in the division? Being careful not to fall into the major problem in football finances today; sustainability defined as ‘sustainable losses’. What is the economic impact of promotion? Does having a 25,000 seater stadium significantly increase the earning potential of Bradford, or is there a downside? EFL Opportunities and Challenges: How have Wrexham and Birmingham (among others) impacted the financial demands on clubs in lower league football? How the new media deal actually did not favour Bradford…why did they still vote for it? ‘The English Pyramid’ is the greatest footballing institution in football; how do you protect its financial capabilities while continuing to celebrate Premier League success? Can a football club really protect itself from overspending? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC  

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• Patrice Evra & Tommy Fish: ‘From Elite Player to Businessman; The Value of the Athlete Investor’ (Ep71)

  I love this game! To anyone who has an interest in sport and finds themselves regularly on social media, this catchphrase is likely to mean something to you, as is the person who coined it. Patrice Evra is one of the most decorated and stand out footballers of the last 20 years. Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues, his success on the pitch most famously with Manchester United is no secret. But as his media profile has shown, there is more to the man than football. There’s a drive, focus, and application that runs deep, now being leveraged to build a career in business both in and out of the sport. The value of the athlete investor has never been more topical, and in this special show we explore it in a new way, as we welcome Tommy Fish, his business partner at emerging football tech start-up ‘PLAYER’, for a unique insight to how a top athlete can help create a business. PLAYER is tackling one of the biggest challenges in football; the provision of access and opportunity for the sport’s brightest young players. Based on Tommy’s vision and Patrice’s crazy stories, this chat is full of education and entertainment! On today’s show we discuss: The Value of the Athlete Investor: Why are more athletes looking to develop their exposure to business opportunities away from the pitch? A deepdive into Pat and Tommy’s business ‘PLAYER’: The Linkedin for Footballers How can a business best leverage the experiences of someone like Patrice to develop their product and audience? Did players are Manchester United look to invest in businesses and how did Sir Alex Ferguson react to players having a focus away form football? The danger of players never been taught how to manage the vast amount of money they make during their careers. Opportunities to Disrupt Football: Social Media: how the creation of an online presence and personality has provided Patrice with a whole new method of engagement. “Football has changed”...how? What is different now from the days Patrice was playing and is it a good thing? While there is lots good about the football industry, there are many ways the game needs to improve. What is PLAYER doing to be a part of the tech movement disrupting sport? Why the age of social media has created a new kind of footballer. Is there an issue with the emergence of ‘player as brand’ and taking influence and control away from management? Creating the Right Mentality: “If you are a lazy person you are in big trouble”. The mentality that makes for the best players also makes for the best business people! Why in the year Manchester United won the Champions League and Premier League, losing the FA Cup is his resounding memory. What does a winning mentality look like and how can you build one? How was the culture of win at all costs instilled at Manchester United and what happened when Ferguson eventually left? When David Moyes was sacked, did the players look at themselves to take responsibility? A huge thank you to our partners RUNNA. Whether you're an existing user or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access: BOSRUNNA https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA You can also get more exclusive Business of Sport content from our newly launched Patreon. Come and see what we have for you! https://patreon.com/BusinessofSport

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• Guy Kinnings, DP World Tour & Ryder Cup Europe CEO, ‘Why This is Golf’s Moment’ (Ep70)

  Today we’re delighted to welcome Guy Kinnings to the show. Guy is the CEO of European (DP World) Tour and Ryder Cup Europe. Our first venture into golf and it couldn’t be better timed. An Incredible Rory McIlroy Masters win to kick off the season followed by a summer of elite culminating in the Ryder Cup in New York in September.  The business or politics of golf have been hotly debated since the inception of Saudi backed LIV Golf a few years ago. Big cheques attracting some of the world’s top players put huge pressure on the DP World Tour & PGA Tour to retain talent and continue to create elite sporting events. As Guy talks through today, this should be viewed as a development of the game; an opportunity to build on the successes of what have gone before while elevating the global product of golf. Naturally, with responsibility falling on his shoulders (behind the scenes at least) to deliver a rare Ryder Cup away win, there is plenty of conversation around what makes one of the most special events in sport tick. In a sport of genuine global icons and unparalleled moments of drama, we take a look at how the game develops behind the glamour of the 18th green. On today’s show we discuss: What is the DP World Tour: There are many tours and competitions taking place around the world. What is the DP World Tour responsible for? Who gets to play on the Tour? How the reference to ‘European’ is a misnomer; this is a sporting organisation with global reach. The finances associated with golf. From major sponsorship and broadcast deals to the cost of creating elite sporting events. With many of the key European players going and playing their golf on the PGA Tour in America, how do they retain value and participation at the top of the DP Tour? What does the strategic alliance with the PGA Tour look like and how have they been impacted by the arrival of LIV Golf? Athletes as Icons: Golf has produced some of sport’s most famous names; the rise of Jack Nicklas, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and now Rory McIlroy. The Rory McIlory effect: from completing the grand slam winning the Masters to driving the European game forward, how important is individual stardom in the sport? How the commercial value of talent can drive a tournament forward or undermine its credibility. Where do the opportunities lie for golfers to really write their name in the history books: a Ryder Cup special! If golfers were on the stock market, which player would Guy invest in? The Future of Golf: The arrival of LIV has brought in private equity investment and a new set of eyeballs. Should this be viewed as an opportunity to grow the game at all levels? Building value in new markets can create additional opportunities for organisations like the DP World Tour to develop. How influential is something like the Ryder Cup in shaking off some negative perceptions of the sport? Is golf genuinely accessible and if not, can more be done to bring the game to areas of the world with the least access? A huge thank you to our partners RUNNA. Whether you're an existing user or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access: BOSRUNNA https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA You can also get more exclusive Business of Sport content from our newly launched Patreon. Come and see what we have for you! https://patreon.com/BusinessofSport  

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• Spencer Owen, Hashtag United Owner: ‘From YouTube To Building The Most Unique Club In Football’ (Ep69)

  Today we’re delighted to welcome Spencer Owen, Founder & Owner of the iconic Hashtag United, to the show. This is one of the most unique organisations in football. Why? Well it was founded on the internet before becoming a successful men’s and women’s team competing in English football. Spencer, or Spencer FC as many of his fans know him, built one of the strongest online brands in football, with over 2m YouTube subscribers regularly engaging with his channel.  When he decided to take Hashtag from online concept to physical sports asset, unsurprisingly it was met with confusion and ridicule by an industry not known for it’s acceptance and embrace of change. As a result, this show is one of most interesting assessments of both what makes football so great, and where there are major opportunities for change. It’s a very different take on the football owner and executive shows we’re used to, and that’s why we love it.  This is sport for a modern age, packaged in a conversation explaining how a club that has more subscribers than many Premier League clubs has created a new blueprint for team ownership and management. On today’s show we discuss: SpencerFC to Club Owner: What was the first step in becoming one of the most famous football ‘influencer/streamer’ and how did that lay the foundations for Hashtag United? This is a club born on the internet; from creating a community online to turning those fans into active sports goers. Influencer driven sport has become a far more recognised phenomenon, but what was it like in the early days taking creators into real life football matches? This is reverse engineering a football club; why building a fanbase before they had an on-field product has given Hashtag a unique opportunity  Business of Hashtag “We are at our heart an advertising business when you think about how we make money” Playing in the 7th tier of English football does not deliver big revenue, so what have Hashtag done to make themselves so commercially attractive. How not owning their own stadium is an issue they are looking to resolve and why a physical home for their broad fanbase will elevate the team’s identity. Raising money is next on the agenda but what type of people is Spencer looking to bring into the ownership group? “We are the opposite of Wrexham” Dealing with Criticism… How naming the team Hashtag United created an unforeseen issue yet remains one of the most important things about the club. Is there a problem with creating a model dependent on views more than results? The story of how the club has used broader issues and opportunities in women’s football to create a really successful team. The 3pm blackout and the issues that it hides…? It doesn’t make financial sense to be promoted in non-league football! What does Spencer mean by this? CLICK HERE to check out our newly released Patreon account for bonus content and exclusive giveaways! https://patreon.com/BusinessofSport

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