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USA Sports president Matt Hong explains how Versant is playing a “different game.” It already has major relationships with the PGA, Premier League, NASCAR, WWE & more. But it has designs to reconfigure its business, while maintaining a 50 percent stake in broadcasting.

In a fascinating 47-minute discussion, Hong, who rose in the media world at AOL and TNT Sports, is the guest on “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.”

The interview was part of the “Off The Record with Andrew Marchand presented by WSC Sports” series.

For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

RUNDOWN …

* Where is sports going?

* Explaining what Versant is trying to accomplish

* The percentage of live sports and news on Versant tells a story

* Why no NFL or NBA for Versant

* What works for Versant

* Understanding Golf Now and Fandango businesses

* The goal is change the model

* Why MLB & NHL could be something USA Sports pursues

* How the NFL getting more could be good for USA Sports

* Why Versant will be more ROI driven than others

* The reasons NBC and Versant split up the sports rights the way they did when the new company was formed

* The three buckets of USA Sports and NBC

* Why Versant can be more nimble

* Hong’s Mark Lazarus connection

* Why golf is the perfect business for Versant

* How Versant is on the front foot with AI

* How Versant could partner with NBC and others

* How M&A is part of what they do

* What is Versant’s digital strategy

* How did Hong rise through media

* Why the AI age may be similar to the digital age

* The mandate to do something different after NBC spinoff

* The advice from Jeremy Legg

* How David Levy, Lenny Daniels and Jeff Behnke helped Hong

* What is Charles Barkley like

* TNT Sports and wanting to get the NFL back

* How the CBS and TNT Sports worked so hard for the NCAA deal

* Hong was ready to leave the sports television business and then Hong received a call from Mark Lazarus

* It was too good to pass up; especially with the team Lazarus had put together with people like Anandi Kini and David Pietrycha

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