In this episode of StreamTime Sports, Nick Meacham and Chris Stone sit down with Graeme Smith, commissioner of South Africa’s SA20 league, alongside data and digital specialist Ellie Roach from InCrowd, to unpack what it really takes to launch and scale a modern sports league.

From private investment and broadcast strategy to data foundations, fan experience and the evolving role of franchise cricket, the conversation explores how SA20 has been built at speed and with intent in a changing sports media landscape.

Key Points:

• How and why the SA20 league was created, and what it takes to launch a competition at pace
• The role of broadcast partners, equity structures and long-term media deals in de-risking growth
• Why getting the domestic product right is critical before scaling internationally
• How data, digital infrastructure and first-party fan relationships were prioritised from day one
• What SA20’s approach reveals about the future of cricket, franchise leagues and fan engagement

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, Nick Meacham and Chris Stone return with a wide-ranging conversation on the forces shaping sport and sports media right now. From trust and authenticity, to AI, betting, streaming strategy and the pressure on media rights models, the pair reflect on what feels different as the industry enters its next phase.
Key Points:
- Why trust and authenticity are becoming critical issues for sport
- How AI-generated content is changing how fans engage
- The growing influence of betting and prediction markets
- Where YouTube fits in the current media ecosystem
- Why media rights, pricing and commercial pressure are reaching a tipping point

In this special 200th episode of StreamTime Sports, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone look back on four years of conversations shaping the industry. From standout guests and defining moments to the biggest shifts in media rights, streaming, and direct-to-consumer models, the duo reflect on how the industry — and the podcast — has evolved. They also share behind-the-scenes insights from building the podcast, discuss what’s surprised them most along the way, and look ahead to what the next phase of sports media could bring, including mergers and changing rights values. Key Points:• The most memorable guests and moments from 200 episodes of StreamTime Sports• How media rights, DTC models, and platform strategies have evolved over the past four years• Lessons learned from building a long-running industry podcast• Why personal relationships still matter in an increasingly digital sports media landscape

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Nick Meacham sits down with Rob Pilgrim, Head of Sport for EMEA at Meta, to explore how digital platforms are reshaping the sports media landscape.

Rob reflects on his journey from YouTube to Meta, the shifting dynamics of audience engagement and how platforms like WhatsApp and Threads are becoming central to the sports conversation. 

The duo also examine Instagram’s evolution from a photo-sharing app to a video-first platform, including Meta’s recent move to launch its Instagram for TV app. Rob explains why the company sees a growing opportunity for lean-back, living room consumption, how vertical video and creator-led formats are translating to the big screen, and what Meta has learned from YouTube’s rapid growth on connected TVs.

Key Points:

• Why Instagram’s expansion onto TV signals a new phase in short-form video consumption• The growing influence of individual creators and athletes in the sports ecosystem• The future impact of AI and wearables on fan experiences

• Privacy, responsibility, and trust as Meta introduces new technologies

• The importance of collaboration between sports organisations and Meta to drive innovation

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Nick Meacham continues the Making YouTube Pay series with Angelica Lindeberg, CEO of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL).

Angelica shares how the SDHL executed a full shift from traditional broadcasters to a YouTube-first strategy in under 90 days. She breaks down the early audience insights, how the league is empowering clubs and players to grow their own reach, and what this transformation means for the future visibility of women’s hockey.

 Key Points:

• How the SDHL transitioned to a fully YouTube-led model in less than 90 days
• Early audience data and what it reveals about fan behaviour
• The role of clubs and athletes in driving visibility and engagement
• Why YouTube is central to growing the reach of women’s hockey
• What the shift means for the league’s long-term strategy and commercial potential

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Nick Meacham kicks off the Making YouTube Pay series with Sergio Lopes, CEO and co-founder of LiveMode. They unpack how CazeTV has grown into one of YouTube’s most powerful sports platforms, why YouTube is evolving from a creator hub into a major rights buyer, and how CazeTV is breaking audience records across Brazilian football, the Olympics, and the Club World Cup. Sergio also shares LiveMode’s plans to take the model global—starting with their new expansion in Portugal.

Key Points:

• How CazeTV built one of YouTube’s most engaged sports communities
• Why YouTube is investing heavily in premium live sports
• The audience milestones CazeTV has achieved across major events
• LiveMode’s international expansion strategy, beginning with Portugal
• The rising influence of creator-driven sports coverage

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, SportsPro CEO Nick Meacham and technology editor Steve McCaskill break down Paramount’s acquisition of the majority of UK Uefa Champions League rights and what it means for Sky, TNT Sports, DAZN, and the wider European media market. They explore why rights inflation is accelerating, how domestic leagues are being squeezed, and why carriage and distribution challenges are reshaping broadcaster strategy.

Nick also sits down with Paul Boustead, VP of Product Strategy at Dolby, recorded live at the SportsPro Media Summit, to discuss Dolby’s latest innovations in sports broadcasting, how technology is evolving the viewing experience, and what rights holders should expect next from premium audio-visual products.

Key Points:

• Why Paramount’s Champions League win caught the industry off guard
• How the new rights cycle impacts Sky, TNT Sports, Amazon, and DAZN
• Dolby’s perspective on the future of sports viewing and technology innovation
• The widening gap between Uefa rights growth and domestic league struggles
• Why distribution and carriage issues are reshaping European broadcasters

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, CEO Nick Meacham sits down with Ben Morel, founder of M2C Sports Advisory and former executive at the NBA, Six Nations, and Ligue 1, to break down the shifting dynamics of European sport. They explore the rising commercial volatility within domestic football leagues, the instability of recent media-rights cycles, and why investors remain drawn to football despite revenue pressures. The conversation also delves into the NBA’s expanding ambitions in Europe and what a redesigned league structure could mean for the future of basketball on the continent.

Key Points:

• Why European football is facing unprecedented commercial volatility
• How the French market became a warning sign for fragile media-rights cycles
• What broadcasters need to build long-term stability and confidence
• Why the NBA sees Europe as its most significant growth opportunity
• Could a new European basketball league reshape the competitive landscape?

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, CEO Nick Meacham is joined by Moe Hamdhaidari, Director of Content at Two Circles, to dive into the rapidly evolving ‘For You’ economy. Moe breaks down how algorithm-driven discovery, shifting audience behaviours, and the rise of Gen Z and Gen Alpha are transforming the way sports organisations build content strategies.

The discussion explores why sports continue to outperform entertainment, how rights holders can expand into new genres without inflating budgets, and what data-driven content models look like when executed well.

Key Points:

• Why traditional content consumption is flattening while sports continue to grow.
• What the ‘For You’ economy means for rights holders, and why content now needs to find fans.
• How sports organisations can double content output without increasing production spend.
• What “tripling your genres” looks like as culture, fashion and lifestyle become essential.
• Why YouTube is becoming the new TV, and how to build bespoke strategies for TikTok and other platforms.
• How Gen Z and Gen Alpha behaviours are shaping the next era of content consumption.

In this special scene-setting episode of StreamTime Sports, CEO Nick Meacham breaks down the biggest shifts redefining how sports content is created, distributed and consumed. Drawing on insights shared at last week's SportsPro’s Media Summit in Madrid, Nick explores why YouTube is emerging as a powerhouse for live sports, how AI is transforming production and personalisation, and what these changes mean for rights holders, broadcasters and fans. From evolving audience expectations to the decline of traditional TV models, this episode offers a clear look at the forces shaping the next era of sports media.

Key Points:

• Why YouTube is becoming a primary destination for live sports. 
• How AI is reshaping content creation, production workflows and fan engagement.
• The impact of advertising and brand partnerships in streaming sports. 
• How sports leagues are adjusting their media strategies for a platform-first world.
• What’s ahead for traditional broadcasters as streaming dominance accelerates.