Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Martin Ross and Jonathan Rest look ahead to the 2026 Commonwealth Games and how new sponsorship and media rights agency deals, plus a new host broadcaster, will shape a scaled-down event in Glasgow next summer.

In a break from our usual format, host Catherine Davies takes the hotseat to answer some hard-hitting questions from Imran Yusuf about LaLiga’s mixed media rights fortunes.

We delve into RTL’s acquisition of Comcast’s Sky Deutschland and what that could mean for the German sports media landscape – and we take a quick look at Uruguayan football, Olympic TV rights in India and cricket in Brazil.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross, Imran Yusuf

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio

Sources: 

1. Sportfive vacates Commonwealth Games JV 

2. EXCLUSIVE: Red Tiger hunts Glasgow 2026 sponsors 

3. EXCLUSIVE: Swiss firm set for Glasgow 2026 host broadcast 

4. In Focus: LaLiga 

5. RTL agrees nine-figure Sky Deutschland takeover 

6. IOC eyes cricket uplift with two-cycle India tender 

7. Sport for good: Brazilian cricket’s feelgood factor

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Welcome to Inside the Deal, the podcast which gets under the hood of the most interesting deals taking place in the global sports industry.

Inside the Deal is the monthly podcast from SportBusiness. Every month we take an in-depth look at one deal from the industry, together with an expert reporter from the SportBusiness team.

It could be a deal for media rights, for sponsorship, distribution, event hosting or sports tech – any sector in the sports industry.

It will be a deal that tells us something interesting about where the industry is today, and where it might be heading in future.

This week, Frank Dunne and Jonathan Rest take a deep dive into the new six-year domestic broadcasting deal between the Saudi Pro League and the Saudi Research and Media Group, asking what the deal means for the league and for the future of the sports-rights market across the Middle East and North Africa.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Frank Dunne

Contributor: Jonathan Rest

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio

Sources:

1. EXCLUSIVE: SPL rights set to switch hands | SportBusiness Media

2. SRMG’s Thmanyah nets SPL exclusivity to 2031 | SportBusiness Media

3. 50-per-cent uplift for Saudi Pro League in surprise rights award | SportBusiness Media

4. International sales push Saudi Pro League towards $100m annual media rights income | SportBusiness Media

5. EXCLUSIVE: IMG to distribute Saudi Pro League international rights following Ronaldo arrival | SportBusiness Media

6. DAZN MENA focal point of $1bn SURJ investment | SportBusiness Media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Martin Ross puts DAZN’s ‘landmark’ US deal under the spotlight: will sublicensed Spanish-language rights to Uefa club competitions help it break through to the mainstream?

Ben Cronin takes us through Mastercard’s new Billie Jean King Cup sponsorship, and then joins Jonathan Rest to dive into SailGP’s expansion plans, its celebrity investors and where the ROI is coming from.

We also look at what’s new at Wimbledon, what to expect from Uefa Women’s Euros viewer interest and unusual twists in Scottish football sponsorship.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies 

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross, Ben Cronin

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio 

Sources:

1. DAZN nets Spanish-language UCL rights in US

2. DAZN seals first CWC sublicence, more coming

3. Mastercard nets ranking sponsorship in BJKC deal

4. SailGP begins search for new teams, investment

5. EXCLUSIVE: SailGP nets Emirates, DRP World as global sponsors

6. Wimbledon targets ‘largest possible’ audience with later finals slot 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, we delve into Netflix’s landmark move – a deal to carry French commercial broadcaster TF1’s linear channels, including its entire sports portfolio. That in the same week streaming surpassed cable and over-the-air viewership in the US for the first time.

Matthew Williams reveals how a new wave of consumer-facing brands sponsoring Formula 1 are providing commercial opportunities at team level, and then Imran Yusuf joins in to explain how the Kings League is disrupting traditional models of media rights distribution.

We also crunch audience and attendance figures at the Fifa Club World Cup, and examine how fans around the world are reacting to it.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross, Imran Yusuf, Matthew Williams

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio

Sources: 

1. Netflix enters channel aggregation with TF1 deal 

2. YouTube gets global free-to-view rights to NFL game 

3. Pressure builds on World Cup Host City Supporter sales 

4. Consumer brands predicted to drive F1 team sponsor growth 

5. EXCLUSIVE: Revolut in advanced Audi F1 talks 

6. Kings League turns tables on football revenue mix 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Jonathan Rest and Martin Ross take a deep dive into Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to separate the company into two divisions – Global Networks and Streaming & Studios – and what that could mean for the business, especially its cable sports channels in the US and a $3bn+ annual outlay on premium sports rights.

Matthew Glendinning takes us through the Fifa World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter programme and how many cities are struggling to reach their targets, and Jon gives us the lowdown on Major League Baseball’s move to team up with – and take an equity stake in – creator-led media company JomBoy Media.

We also look ahead to the Fifa Club World Cup, kicking off this weekend across the US, and tip our hat to our many listeners from 64 countries around the world.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross, Matthew Glendinning

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio

Sources:

1. WBD unbundles cable networks, streaming units

2. Pressure builds on World Cup Host City Supporter sales

3. MLB embraces content creators in Jomboy move

4. NFL, MLB seek influencer marketing hires

5. Fanatics Events unveils $2m pros v fans content

6. YouTube backs PGA Tour’s Creator Classic Series

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Frank Dunne and Martin Ross examine Uefa’s 2024–27 rights sales as UC3 navigates the post-breakaway era, and reflect on Team’s 35-year role in building the Champions League into the success it is today.

Maria Kholodova reports on the Bundesliga’s unusual streaming deal with Okko in Russia, while Faaez Samadi and Jon Rest discuss New Zealand Rugby’s post-Ineos sponsorship sales and finances.

We also cast our eyes over the NBA and NHL finals, the ICC World Test Championship, and an odd addition to the Panini sticker collection.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies 

Contributors: Frank Dunne, Martin Ross, Jon Rest, Maria Kholodova, Faaez Samadi  

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio 

Sources:

1. Team bows out after 35 years with Champions League uplift

2. Team within touching distance of €750m Uefa sponsor target

3. Bundesliga doubles Russia fee as DFL continues donation policy

4. Gallagher rounds out NZR post-Ineos kit deals

5. NZR settles with Ineos over sponsorship exit 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross and Ben Cronin weigh in on how senior hires made by Relevent Sports Group and its newly-created special purpose vehicle will tackle the commercialisation of Uefa club competitions.

Ben sheds light on Everton’s new stadium naming rights deal with local law firm Hill Dickinson, and Jon and Martin explore the issue of international federation finances, shining the spotlight on the International Table Tennis Federation – which has turned its first profit since 2018.

Plus, we take a look at who’s watching Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track as it heads into its third event in Philadelphia and, finally, a toss-up between Pro D2 rugby or a new family car – measuring the price of sports rights in vehicles!

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies 

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross, Ben Cronin  

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio 

Sources:

1. EXCLUSIVE: Leadership team installed for Relevant’s Uefa remit 

2. Relevent to set up devoted Uefa club business arm 

3. Hill Dickinson gets community rights in Everton stadium deal 

4. The Stadium Naming Rights Report: Buy Now 

5. ITTF edges into the black for first time since 2018

6. Sörling nets new ITTF term in hotly disputed election 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Martin Ross expands on exclusive breaking news of Uefa Women’s Champions League rights deals with Disney+ and the EBU.

Jonathan Rest brings us up to speed with another Disney move amid F1’s latest push to broaden – and lower the average age of - its fanbase through new licensing agreements. And we discuss a conflict brewing in Mexico, after a group of second-division clubs took legal action against the Federation and LigaMX in a bid to revive promotion and relegation.

Plus, we contrast the Vancouver Whitecaps’ genteel match atmosphere with the bite of British football and look at the Argentinian FA's bold attempts to sell merchandise in Brazil.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross

Editor: Gwen Gourvellec

Sources:

1. Disney+, EBU land UWCL rights deals in Europe
2. UWCL kicks off new era with Disney+ and free-to-air deals across Europe
3. F1 continues youth drive with Disney deal
4. CAS to wade in on Liga MX promotion-relegation
5. Centralisation nears with Liga MX vote on Apollo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Jonathan Rest and Ben Cronin explore the wider implications of Fifa’s news, released last week, that the Women’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams from 2031 onwards – and what it could mean for broadcasters and sponsors.

Frank Dunne explains how DAZN are defying industry expectations in their sublicensing of Fifa Club World Cup media rights, and Ben sheds further light on the exclusive he broke last month on Jeep and Visit Detroit’s shirt sponsorship of Italian Serie A club Juventus.

We also take a look at a potential TV blackout of one of the biggest club finals in Canadian broadcast history and discuss Euroleague’s decision to move its Final 4 tournament to Abu Dhabi.

You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at the checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Ben Cronin, Frank Dunne

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio

Sources:

1. Women’s World Cup next up for Fifa expansion

2. DAZN’s Club World Cup sublicensing defies industry expectations

3. Juventus locks in Jeep, Visit Detroit shirt deals

4. EXCLUSIVE: Jeep, Visit Detroit mull joint Juventus deal 

5. Canadian watchdog: Rogers carriage stance ‘disadvantages’ OneSoccer

6. Euroleague, IMG seal Abu Dhabi trip for Final Four

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The SportBusiness Podcast, getting you informed on the biggest stories in the global sports industry.

This week, Jonathan Rest and Faaez Samadi discuss Major League Soccer’s ground-breaking new deal with Electronic Arts, which will livestream four matches on its mobile gaming platform, and what that suggests about MLS’ broadcast strategy.

Staying in the US, Matthew Glendinning talks about DEI sponsorships in the Trump era ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, while Faaez sheds light on Verizon’s combined backing of ATP Tour and WTA Tour events and whether that presages progress in the proposed commercial merger.

We give ESPN a helping hand with some suggestions for the name of its new ‘flagship’ streaming service and we drop some Relevent hints about the US-based company’s latest moves.

You can subscribe and listen to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Enter SBPODCAST30 at the checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here.

Host: Catherine Davies

Contributors: Jonathan Rest, Faaez Samadi, Matthew Glendinning

Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio

Sources: 

1. MLS turns to EA in latest broadcast strategy tweak 

2. Can DEI sponsorships survive Trump’s America? 

3. Verizon sponsorship spans ATP, WTA Tours 

4. EXCLUSIVE: ATP and WTA on course for historic merger 

5. ESPN to detail DTC plans, streaming aids Disney Q2 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.