Playback Pioneers

Industry veteran James Abraham (exec producer & audience strategist) joins host Lawrence Boyd to trace a decade of breakthroughs in digital sport. They go inside Red Bull Stratos, Channel 4’s game-changing Paralympics coverage, the birth of BT Sport’s social-first playbook, Rugby Tonight’s “clubhouse” tone, innovations at World Rugby (including data-led speed graphics and Japan 2019), and building FIFA+ - from commissioning Captains (with Netflix) to that Messi ending. They also unpack Brazil’s digital rights pivot with R9’s Twitch co-stream, the Goalhanger stakeholder model, and what AI, personalization, and XR mean for the next 10 years. Lawrence Hodgson returns for a rapid-fire round that spans George Smiley to Sleaford Mods—and a wild post-final Messi moment.

What to expect

The messy, magical reality behind “made-for-internet TV” moments

How tone of voice, access, and modular formats supercharge reach

Talent as stakeholders (not just endorsements) and why it works

Practical federation vs. broadcaster dynamics (and how to still innovate)

Episode Time Stamps 

00:00 Red Bull Stratos: making a web-first spectacle

00:29 Why Captains was a “FIFA-only” story

00:56 Messi’s fairytale ending (S2)

01:25 Talent as stakeholders, not hires

02:03 Show intro + relay format

13:10 BT Sport’s social-first growth play

17:30 Rugby Tonight: clubhouse tone, clippable by design

25:10 World Rugby: new voice + simple data (speed graphics)

27:31 Japan 2019: producing a Japanese World Cup

31:53 FIFA+ launch; 33:22–34:48 Captains x Netflix access

36:42–38:36 Brazil digital rights + R9 Twitch co-stream

41:30–46:58 The next decade: highlights, AI, XR, athlete-owned IP

57:57 Wild moment: Messi on shoulders, trophy in hand

59:55 Pass-the-mic Q + report plug

In this episode of Playback Pioneers, Patrick Costello (Senior Director of Business Development at Qualcomm) steps in as host to interview Laurence Boyd, Chief Content & Product Officer at E1 Series – the world’s first all-electric, foiling powerboat racing league.

They explore how storytelling, real-time data, AI and immersive tech are shaping the next wave of sports content. From racing around icebergs to showcasing iconic global locations, the E1 Series is rewriting what it means to experience sport — both on and off the water.

This one’s got adrenaline, innovation, and a whole lot of honesty about what it takes to build something new from scratch.

Expect:

Time stamps:

00:00 – Preview Trailer: What to Expect

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube. https://youtu.be/rjFBlZmKuu8🔁

In Episode 4 of Playback Pioneers, Bleuenn Le Goffic (VP Business Transformation at Accedo) takes the mic to grill Patrick Costello (Senior Director, Business Development at Qualcomm) on what it really takes to push media forward in a tech-first but trust-starved world.

This one dives deep into:

Why XR is more than a gimmick

Where AI is changing the rules for sports and video

The value of audience trust in a hype-filled industry

And the personal stuff too: including what Patrick would call the reality TV show based on his career (you’ll either cringe or clap)

00:00 – Introduction to Playback Pioneers

🎙️ Ben Schwarz Hosts Bleuenn Le Goffic – Transforming Media from the Inside Out

In this episode of Playback Pioneers, President of Greening of Streaming Ben Schwarz jumps into the host seat to lead a bold, honest conversation with Bleuenn Le Goffic, VP of Business Transformation at Accedo.

Bleuenn brings over a decade of experience leading change at Accedo, where she’s been instrumental in driving sustainability, business strategy, and inclusive leadership across the organisation. In this wide-ranging discussion, she and Ben dig into what real transformation looks like in the media space—touching on AI, immersive tech, user behaviour, and the frameworks needed to build a more responsible and effective industry.

If you're in streaming, digital media, or anywhere near the future of content—this is one you don’t want to miss.

🎯 What to expect

📍 Chapters:

🎙️ Playback Pioneers – Episode 2

In this episode of Playback Pioneers, Thierry Fautier (Former VP of Video Strategy at Harmonic and MD of Your Media Transformation) takes the host seat to sit down with Ben Schwarz, President of Greening of Streaming, for a candid conversation about sustainability in streaming.

From what’s really driving energy consumption to why “bitrate reduction” isn’t the silver bullet it’s made out to be, Thierry and Ben dig deep into the challenges, contradictions, and future of greener streaming. Expect a smart, nuanced take on how the industry can (and must) evolve—along with some surprising personal insights along the way.

This is not a greenwashing pitch—it's a reality check for the media tech world.

Expect:

Timestamps:

01:49 – Sustainability in Streaming: A New Era

08:52 – The Role of Greening of Streaming

13:02 – Understanding Key Sustainability Concepts

19:05 – Current Energy Consumption Insights

22:38 – Comparing Device Power Consumption

27:47 – Impact of Bitrate on Power Consumption

33:15 – Sustainability in RFPs and Industry Standards

34:30 – Government Initiatives in Streaming Sustainability

35:36 – The Green Button vs. Gold Button Debate

37:52 – Key Initiatives for 2025

41:11 – Technical Innovations for Energy Measurement

43:19 – Personal Insights and Advice

48:07 – Streaming Preferences and Trends

50:21 – Final Thoughts and Party Tricks

In this episode of Playback Pioneers, host Tommy Flanagan sits down with industry heavyweight Thierry Fautier, (Former VP of Video Strategy at Harmonic, and MD of Your Media Transformation) for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about the state of streaming. From reflections on two decades of transformation in video tech to sharp takes on AI, UHD, and the messy middle of CDN evolution, nothing is off the table. Together, they break down the real blockers to progress in the streaming world - and what needs to change. With a healthy dose of insight, honesty, and humour, this episode offers a front-row seat to the minds shaping the future of media.

00:00 – Welcome to Playback Pioneers

08:48 – 20 Years in the Stream: Thierry’s Journey

15:36 – Compression Tech: The Unsung Hero

20:43 – Live Sports: Why It’s Still a Tech Headache

27:04 – UHD, AI & the Road Ahead

32:36 – Advertising in 2025: Smarter or Creepier?

39:12 – CDNs & Live: What Needs to Change?

44:25 – Time to Let Go: Tech Trends That Need Retiring

51:16 – Quickfire Qs & Lighter Moments

Behind every breakthrough in video, there’s messy, honest and unfiltered stories. So, we’re going to help tell them.