In the 32-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Jon Meterparel say why and potentially how MLB could grow the WBC as a TV event.

The duo decides if the recent Netflix, NBC and MLB Networks hires were strong, what to think of Thanksgiving Eve NFL, a potential March Madness “What’s Up,” a comparison of Pat McAfee’s free agency frenzy numbers, a Double Eagle and more.

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

THE RUNDOWN …

* In the WBC, MLB has a spectacle that it can sell for more TV money

* Do you want more money or not?

* What do we make of Matt Vasgersian being hired by everyone

* Barry Bonds not agreeing to work for Netflix, a win or a loss?

* Netflix looked into hiring …

* The Brendan Burke, Noah Eagle examples and should MLB broadcasters take a shot at younger broadcasters?

* Does Netflix need to hire a versatile full-time play-by-player?

* Bob Costas picking a convenient time to say local announcers should do national MLB playoff games

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* Is the NFL Thanksgiving Eve game idea a good one or gluttonous

* Pat McAfee’s NFL TV free agent frenzy dissected

* On TV, ESPN’s NFL special and NFL Live outrated McAfee’s free agent shows … McAfee’s show is also on YouTube

* The college hoop team to watch on the NCAA TV coverage that could be a what’s up

* How Grant Hill has improved with Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery

* Grant Hill used to have Rudy Martzke review his games

* The Double Eagle for the SGA Wilt Chamberlain record

* The great families of sportscasting …

* Eddy Cue’s ridiculous comments

* The emotional Chris Carrino story that Marchand wrote in The Athletic

* Consider Marty Glickman’s mantra

* Honoring a legend of statistics

* What’s Up, What’s Down (at the start)

* Eric Hosmer going to MLB TV is a good deal

* NBC’s Smylie Kaufman is on the rise

* The Dread Glitch Award goes to Prime Video’s mic issue on NBA

* NBA media jumping on Bam Adebayo’s accomplishment

* On Deck: Jon Rothstein is The Main Event

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

In the 33-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Puck’s John Ourand go deep into if there is a breaking point for networks with the NFL looking to strike new, even more expensive deals for this upcoming season, despite the fact the league’s opt-outs are not until the end of the decade.

Why Paramount will go first, the potential billions in play, the extra bidders involved, the FCC angle, the network budget factor, does the NFL ask for double, the setting the market angle, Sunday Night as the pressure point, YouTube lurking, Amazon maybe wanting more, NFL creating leverage, the minimum networks could spend, how it impacts other leagues’ deals, examining the MLB local streaming dreams, NHL’s position and the biggest story from CBS-TNT Sports confab.

It’s The Monthly, Marchand & Ourand.

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

In the 32-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Jon Meterparel discuss the NFL, YouTube and what distribution dominance means.

The duo goes into if college football pooling its TV rights together could work, the standout out college basketball regular season TV story, the upgrade of an ESPN booth, NBC’s old and new moves and Gorilla Monsoon.

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

The RUNDOWN …

* What YouTube’s desire to be an even bigger part of the NFL distribution strategy means

* Why winning distribution historically leads to domination in media

* Nets’ radio play-by-player Chris Carrino going into the Hall of Fame is well deserved

* Breaking news: Meterparel’s take on John Smoltz, Fox & the WBC

* The NFL wanting deals before next season is bad news for networks

* TMZ’s story on Momma Kelce was ridiculous

* Why YouTube’s strategy feels unbeatable

* YouTube TV is on pace to be the No. 1 cable-like distributor

* Can college sports bundle all of its rights for TV

* TNT Sports’ Jamal Mashburn has been the standout newcomer on regular season college

* Evaluating the Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler team

* The NBC Bob Costas led throwback game

* The potential of the WBC as a TV event

* Tyler Kepner’s strong column

* Judging Jason Benetti’s move from Fox to NBC

* NBC going with local announcers

* The pod controversy of using the word “misnomer” wrong

* Papa Clicker Review of the Gorilla Monsoon book by Brian R. Solomon

* Meterparel’s Larry Bird book recommendation for Papa Clicker

In the 48-minute sports media podcast, YouTube VP of Subscriptions, Christian Oestlien, is the guest on “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.” Oestlien is quickly becoming one of the most important executives in all of sports as YouTube and YouTube TV grow as dominant platforms in sports viewing.

Oestlien explains what YouTube is trying to accomplish in sports, its interest in the NFL and other rights, how it syncs with YouTube TV, its network partners and leagues. And much more.

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

Previous guests have included Jimmy Pitaro, Rick Cordella, Gary Bettman, Jay Marine, Mark Shapiro and Hans Schroeder.

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

The Rundown …

* Oestlien had 16 interviews for his first job at Google and any of them had veto power

* His childhood gives him unique experience for YouTube’s global goals

* What should people understand about YouTube & YouTube TV & sports

* The 2015 mission to become the home of clips & highlights

* 40 billion hours of sports content were watched on YouTube last year

* YouTube wants to become great partners for leagues, broadcast and media companies and for the fan experience

* How creator partnerships with leagues work

* Should leagues be scared that young fans may want to watch creators more than the game

* The Brazil example of creator Casimiro Miguel, who turbocharged soccer viewership more than the league channels … and this could be next in the United States

* What was the biggest milestone over the past decade … MLB is one

* Sunday Ticket was a wake-up call to everyone about the seriousness of YouTube with sports

* Cristiano Ronaldo got to how many subs in a week …

* YouTube has the upcoming World Cup rights in Brazil, which feels like another testing ground

* What were the reasons behind completing the seven-year, $14 billion Sunday Ticket deal with the NFL that began in 2023

* Oestlien’s father played for Norway’s national soccer team

* How good was Oestlien

* YouTube wanted to evolve Sunday Ticket

* How many subscriptions does Sunday Ticket have

* How YouTube TV melds with Sunday Ticket

* How did YouTube’s first NFL game last year go in Oestlien’s opinion

* The 100 day sprint to produce the Chiefs-Chargers game

* YouTube is confident it can drive even bigger numbers on NFL

* Repetition is the key and “whole household” events

* The idea that live sports are going toward the creators

* Why is YouTube interested in the four NFL regular season games up for auction for this upcoming season

* Does YouTube want to have a full NFL package

* The relationship for YouTube is to attempt to be the best partners with networks, leagues and all platforms

* YouTube was involved in the NBA’s last negotiation in a big way, but didn’t get one of the three packages

* Do live global sports really work

* How YouTube looks at it

* The NBC Olympic example is a potential global model

* How can YouTube solve the local problem for MLB, the NBA and the NHL

* YouTube could eliminate artificial boundaries

* How does YouTube and YouTube TV make it simpler for the consumer

* Oestlien apologized for the YouTube TV-ESPN blackout

* The positive results of the NBC and ESPN negotiations

* Oestlien turns the tables and asks Marchand how he views the aggregation

* Spectrum has brought the apps into its service

* The price point for YouTube TV new sports package

* What are the chances of adding local sports games to YouTube, which the RSNs used to provide

* When will ESPN Unlimited be available for YouTube TV customers

* How “Ask YouTube” uses AI

* The many and varied ways AI will impact YouTube

* AI will solve the discovery issue

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

* On Deck: Marchand & Meterparel

In the 41-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand is joined by Frank Isola, who is in for the vacationing Jon Meterparel.

Isola — the SiriusXM/ESPN/YES star — joins Marchand to analyze the new NBA deals and how they are shadowing the upcoming NFL TV rights negotiations. Plus, a deep dive into what Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.-Discovery means. And more.

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

The Rundown …

* How to assess the new NBA TV deals with NBC/Peacock, Amazon Prime Video & ESPN so far

* Netflix’s Ted Sarandos is now in even a better position in sports

* The Apple MLS deal is improved this year

* Who is going to fill all these NFL TV studio openings …

* The unfairness to Charles Barkley and company for “not celebrating the game”

* Judging the Prime Video and NBC/Peacock’s NBA hires

* Tony Dungy is out as a regular on an NBC’s pregame … his last hurrah was not good

* Judging the Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit’s booth

* The NFL is the biggest winner of the Paramount-Warner Bros.-Discovery deal

* The NFL deals could impact the rest of TV and there are some intriguing players

* The NFL should be greedy, but not too greedy with the networks

* Isola is concerned if Paramount’s Champions League will be impacted by the Warner Bros.-Discovery deal

* What is Isola’s take on the insiders game

* You want to hear the “why” of situations

* How Fox’s World Cup coverage will be impacted by politics

* Isola likes Alexi Lalas

* The parking for the World Cup is going to cost, “What?”

* Isola paid for World Cup tickets

* Apple’s MLS adjustments

* Why the World Cup may not give MLS an uptick

* How the Premier League is planting seeds with kids

* Big Papa Clicker Book Review for Paul Knepper’s Moses Malone: The Life of Basketball Prophet

* Isola’s classic stories on Malone

* On Deck: YouTube VP of Subscriptions, Christian Oestlien, is The Main Event

* Frank Isola’s trip from New York sports media institution to the national spotlight

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

In the 42-minute sports media podcast, ESPN/Omaha Productions’ Kevin Clark, 37, explains how he quickly made it to the top of the sports media industry and what it is like to work for Bill Simmons, Peyton Manning and ESPN. Plus, his wife has a Pulitzer.

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

THE RUNDOWN …

* Clark’s self-effacing stories about how his wife, the Wall Street Journal’s Emily Glazer, has a Pulitzer for her coverage that has included Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gates & Elon Musk scoops

* The reaction to her WSJ’s stories and Clark’s Kobe Bryant story

* What’s it like when Musk goes after your wife

* How Clark grew up in a newspaper newsroom

* Why sports writing is one of the best jobs in the world

* The Orlando Sentinel featured young writers — Jeff Darlington, Charles Robinson, Jemele Hill, Rick Maese and Joe Schad — which inspired Clark

* Clark met Bill Simmons when he was 16 years old and was more starstruck than seeing Tom Brady or Rodney Harrison

* Simmons made him feel like a million bucks with a simple question

* How he got his big breaks, while in college

* Clark took a semester off from college to cover the Miami Dolphins

* He got hired as a sports writer by the Wall Street Journal at 22

* What editor Sam Walker taught Clark about being different

* A story Clark has never told before about his fear of being fired

* The Andrew Luck complimenting defensive linemen story that got Clark on the national map

* What he learned from Sun Sentinel columnist Dave Hyde about reporting

* He had many offers to leave WSJ before deciding on The Ringer

* Simmons is Clark’s hero

* How his job went from writing to audio and video

* How sports writing can be applied to podcasting

* John Mulaney and “Slow News Day” and the New York Post

* Clark had great chemistry with Phil Simms, and then CBS called

* What it is like to work for Peyton Manning & Omaha Productions

* His advice on where sports media is going

* What Burke Magnus told him about ESPN

* The difference between six-figures and 7-figures in the media

* What content Clark pays for

* On Deck: Marchand & Meterparel

* One-time 60-second setup so all episodes go to your pod player

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

In the 38-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand & Jon Meterparel dissect NBC’s gold medal winning presentation and what is next for Los Angeles ‘28.

Plus, MLB’s streaming ideas, coaches and managers making fools of themselves, the Final Four TV slot that could be up for grabs soon, Adam Schefter-Ian Rapoport as “The Avengers” and the excellence of Kate Scott.

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

THE RUNDOWN …

* Rick Cordella, Molly Solomon, Mike Tirico, Amy Rosenfeld and NBC have the Olympic formula down

* Kate Scott shines on Paramount+

* Kenny Albert wins a gold for hockey calls

* UCLA coach Mick Cronin’s embarrassment and good questions

* Broadcasters, stop using the word, “right”

* NBC’s Men’s Hockey coverage hit from pre-to-post

* Olympic Broadcasting productions had some difficulties on game winners

* Behind the scenes at NBC’s facilities

* Is hockey the hardest for play-by-play

* Fox is on the clock for the World Cup

* LA Olympics will be different

* Rob Manfred’s comments on his full streaming plan

* Assessing Ian Rapoport’s “The Avengers” idea, pairing with Adam Schefter

* How Schefter ended up teaming with Chris Mortensen

* The “controversy” over Marchand’s tweet simply stating ESPN will broadcast women’s sports games with Sunday Night Baseball gone

* NBC is putting together a fine team with SNB if you are missing ESPN

* Giants manager Tony Vitello sounded amateurish

* The significance of Nate Burleson filling in for Ernie Johnson on NCAA Men’s Tournament

* The difficulties of working the NCAA tourney

* Sign-up for “Off The Record” on Feb. 26 with YouTube’s VP of subscriptions Christian Oestlien

* On Deck: Kevin Clark is The Main Event

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

In the 43-minute sports media podcast, Ian Rapoport joins Andrew Marchand to discuss his future with NFL Network moving to ESPN and his contract being up in May. Plus, what Rapoport thinks about possibly teaming with Adam Schefter. And more.

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

THE RUNDOWN …

* Rapoport on how he became a diehard Mets’ fan and 1986

* How many texts per day for Rapoport

* Rapoport went to Columbia and wanted to be a lawyer

* What interning on ESPN’s '“SportsCentury” was like

* A few gutsy moves that led him to football

* The tremendous story how he landed at the Boston Herald

* The unplanned way he ended up at NFL Network and then an insider

* How NFLN helped Rapoport with his lack of experience

* The stories Rapoport broke that he is most proud of

* The stories Rapoport wishes he had a do-over on

* The big scoop this year that friends were asking if he were hacked

* The Manscape suspension was funny, but really a great lesson

* How does Rapoport feel about the ESPN-NFL deal

* Marchand said that he was told that Rapoport’s contract is up in May, which Rapoport confirmed

* How Rapoport thinks he and Schefter could be like ‘The Avengers’

* His relationship with Schefter

* How far along is he in the process in talking with the Jimmy Pitaro and Burke Mangnus-types at ESPN

* What was it like working for Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football

* How did the Pat McAfee relationship happen

* What happened with the Jordan Schultz incident last year at Starbucks

* How Mike Florio had the story right away and how his good buddy, Mike Garafolo, was on the photo

* Have Rapoport and Schultz made up

* Why the insider game is important ….

* Rapoport on where the scoops come from

Some Relate Pods … Adam Schefter … Adrian Wojnarowski…. Peter King … Jay Glazer … Peter Schrager … Adam Schein … Ramona Shelburne… Tyler Dunne

* Sign-up for Off The Record on Feb. 26 with guest YouTube’s VP of subscriptions Christian Oestlien

* On Deck: Marchand & Meterparel

* One-time 60-second setup so all episodes go to your pod player

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

In the 40-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand & Jon Meterparel dissect how a streaming Super Bowl will be in the NFL opt-out negotiations, Adam Silver’s comments on the future of watching games, Barry Bonds possibly to Netflix and Sam Darnold’s SportsCenter dreams.

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

THE RUNDOWN …

* Why a streaming Super Bowl will be discussed in the NFL opt-out negotiations

* Sam Darnold wanted to be a SportsCenter anchor, but had to settle for winning a Super Bowl

* The Prime Video ABA documentary hit

* Silver’s AI comments sounded like alt-casts

* Meterparel musings mentions John Fanta and not doing radio on TV

* Why the ESPN Super Bowl is monumental

* The conference championships seem like a potential new bargaining chip

* Netflix does well internationally with major boxing matches

* Japan and MLB is a perfect match for the streamers

* What do we think of the Weds kickoff for the NFL season

* How should NBC’s Super Bowl 124.9 million viewers be looked at

* Assessing NBC’s Ilia Malinin’s coverage

* What have we thought of the NBA’s new TV packages at the All-Star Break

* What could eventually be Amazon Prime Video’s No. 1 big name NBA crew

* Meterparel’s Valentine Day or All-Star skills competition and then Marchand’s

* Listening and commenting to Silver’s AI impact on personalization in viewing

* Where could Chris Paul end up in TV and what’s his potential

* What do we make of the possible Barry Bonds and CC Sabathia Netflix hirings

* Will Stephen A. run for president

* Smith could do well on a debate stage, but …

* Next year’s Super Bowl is on Valentine’s Day

* Sign-up for Off The Record on Feb. 26 with guest YouTube’s VP of subscriptions Christian Oestlien

* On Deck: Ian Rapoport is the Main Event

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

In the 45-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and John Ourand project where the NFL TV rights will end up, for how much and how long the deals will be. This is after spending Super Bowl week talking to scores of executives.

They delve into the potential pivotal pressure-point package, Netflix and YouTube’s real interest … and will Amazon Prime Video pick up a Super Bowl and/or a Conference Championship. And what impact will all this have on leagues like MLB, the NHL and others.

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

THE RUNDOWN …

* The opening salvo about the cost of the NFL and the fallout

* One prime time package may be the linchpin

* The dilemma of a lame-duck broadcaster for four years

* Their views on if Netflix will want a weekly package

* Why Prime Video seems most likely for a streaming Super Bowl

* The likely length of the new deals

* How many extra Super Bowls will the NFL put out there

* Marchand & Ourand disagree over the significance of an ESPN Super Bowl

* ESPN’s portfolio is at its zenith

* The naivety both Marchand & Ourand felt when they separately found out the new NFL deals probably won’t be longer than the old ones

* What type of money could the NFL pick up

* Looking at ESPN’s cards

* Should ESPN/ABC be in on Sunday Night Football

* Could the same platforms be in, but nights and packages change

* Where is Amazon Prime Video shopping

* The YouTube wild card

* How David Berson is now like the “Benjamins” commercial

* Lachlan Murdoch’s comments saying how Fox will “rebalance” around NFL opt-out negotiations

* How will the current Fox and CBS packages look

* What does NFL Projection 1.0 look like

* Gary Bettman and Brian Rolapp wanted to go early in their negotiations

* The networks have to find money

* Why Marchand still thinks MLB has a potentially good hand for 2029

* The NFL and NHL are not in the same conversation

* Sign-up for Off The Record on Feb. 26 with guest YouTube’s VP of subscriptions Christian Oestlien

* On Deck: Marchand & Meterparel

* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com