SportsPro’s Steve McCaskill sits down with Miles Jacobson, the studio director at Sports Interactive, the UK-based video game developer known for Football Manager to discuss the most significant evolution in the series history. Jacobson explains the studio’s move to the Unity engine, why the team delayed the game’s release, and how they overhauled the user interface and match engine for the 2026 edition. The conversation explores the addition of women’s football, new licensing deals including the Premier League, data-driven game design, partnerships with platforms like Netflix and Apple Arcade, and the emergence of Football Manager as an esports title.
The SportsPro Podcast returns with Ed Dixon, Sam Carp, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim turning their attention to the US. From the NFL’s rising franchise valuations to the NBA’s record-breaking domestic media deal, the team explores why more money than ever is flowing into the major leagues.
They also get stuck into other big talking points stateside, including the sales of the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, the broadcast state of play across the leagues and why US sports properties are looking overseas for growth.
Recorded live from Spotify Studios in London.
SportsPro's Head of Editorial Sam Carp explores the evolving business of stadium naming rights with Al Guido, president of the San Francisco 49ers and chairman and CEO of Elevate.
The pair unpack why venue sponsorships have historically been a harder sell in Europe than in North America and consider whether attitudes are softening amid landmark deals for the likes of Everton.
Guido offers insight on the nuances of identifying a stadium naming rights partner, how to balance fan sentiment with commercial ambition, and why the next era of venue sponsorships will be defined by authentic storytelling, cultural relevance, and year-round engagement.
The SportsPro Podcast goes on the road to London Stadium for SportsPro AI 2025, where Sam Carp, Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim take the pulse of a rapidly shifting tech landscape. From the battle for AI leadership to the challenges of stitching together multi-technology partnerships with major leagues, the team reflect on the biggest talking points from the day.
Recorded on-site, the episode also features perspectives from some of the event’s headline speakers, including the IOC’s head of AI, Microsoft’s worldwide strategy director, and the Premier League’s director of digital media and audience development.
And stick around until the end to see the moment the SportsBizBlitz crowns a new winner - and the old title holder’s reaction to being dethroned in dramatic fashion.
The SportsPro Podcast is back, and this time Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill and Sam Carp dive into the boom – and possible bust – of sports documentaries. From the pandemic-era surge that delivered global hits like The Last Dance and Drive to Survive, to the wave of imitators that followed, the team debate whether the magic of sports docs is starting to fade.
So, is it the end? Not quite but the golden boom has definitely passed. Sports docs are settling into a new phase, moving past the copycat era into smarter, more niche storytelling that still knows how to hook an audience.
Tune in for a lively discussion on the fine line between entertainment and authenticity in sports docuseries. And yes, the quiz no one asked for makes another appearance!
Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.
For more information on the SportsPro Media Summit, visit https://media.sportspro.com/.
The SportsPro Podcast returns with a motorsport special as resident expert Cian Brittle breaks down the key narratives shaping the 2025 Formula 1 season.
From the sport’s rapidly evolving commercial landscape and a surge in global sponsorships to McLaren’s impressive resurgence and the budding Norris-Piastri rivalry, there’s no shortage of storylines to explore.
The team also explore the shifting dynamics under Liberty Media’s leadership and assess the potential impact of Apple’s growing interest in F1’s US broadcast rights.
It’s a deep dive into the forces driving the future of motorsport – and yes, the quiz no one asked for makes a return. Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.
The SportsPro Podcast returns, and this time the team takes a deep dive into SportsPro’s inaugural Investment Summit, held in Central London last month.
Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill, Sam Carp and Josh Sim reflect on a landmark event that brought together more than 200 industry leaders, investors and key stakeholders to explore where new capital is flowing into sport.
Alongside their highlights from the day – including the £500 million sales of The Hundred teams, the growing influence of private equity, and the global executives entering the market – the team also revisit four key interviews conducted on-site with leading investors and decision-makers. Plus, the team looks ahead as the Investment Summit prepares to go stateside in 2026 as part of SportsPro New York.
Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.
The SportsPro Podcast is back - and it's back with a fresh new look.
As a landmark summer of women’s sport continues, Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill, Sam Carp and Josh Sim get behind the mic to reflect on Women’s Euro 2025 and preview the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Steve kicks off proceedings by reminiscing about his trip to Basel for the Women's Euro final before the panel discuss the potential commercial impact of England’s second consecutive title.
They also dig into the sponsorship strategy for the Women's Rugby World Cup, pick out the potential stars of the tournament and consider what it will take for rugby to have its Lionesses moment.
Plus: Some Premier League predictions, the all-new Sports Biz Blitz and a rugby-themed quiz no one asked for.
Recorded at Spotify UK Headquaters
Launched in June, Impact X is a bold new initiative from SportsPro and SportQuake which spotlights the most impactful, creative and effective partnerships in sport.
Featuring unique collaborations and original ideas that are redefining the landscape of sports marketing, Impact X showcases 50 of the best partnerships and activations from the past five years – spanning innovative uses of technology and compelling athlete-led content campaigns, to social impact initiatives and award-winning cultural crossovers.
On this episode, SportQuake CMO Olivia Gillibrand joins SportsPro’s Michael Long and fellow Impact X advisory panel member Steve Martin, the founding partner of MSQ Sport + Entertainment, to discuss the project and the standout work featured within it.
Key talking points:
To find out more about Impact X and download the full casebook, click here.
The Covid hiatus led to promises of major reforms in the sports industry, but has anything really changed?
Five (and a bit) years on from the coronavirus pandemic, SportsPro's Cian Brittle, Elena Kouyoufa, Michael Long and Sam Carp reflect on how the sports industry has (and hasn’t) transformed since.
From the rising tide of private equity and the emergence of newfangled fan engagement tools like NFTs to bubble tournaments and fake crowd noise, the team discuss what ideas have tested positive and what would be better left in lockdown.
With the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season in full swing, Subhayu Roy, director of CricViz in India, joins the podcast to lift the lid on how the Ellipse Data-owned cricket data and analytics provider is powering teams to success, delivering insights across everything from fan engagement to performance analysis.
Talking points:
Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry is the first woman and first African to be elected as president of the International Olympic Committee in its 130-year history. At 41, the former swimmer turned politician is also set to become the youngest person ever to hold perhaps the most influential position in global sport.
In this episode, SportsPro’s Michael Long, Sam Carp and Ed Dixon reflect on the vote that saw Coventry, a former Olympic gold medallist in the pool, make history by defeating her rivals in a landslide. The trio also discuss the state of the IOC she inherits in the wake of Thomas Bach’s departure and what the future holds for the ever-evolving Olympic movement.
Key talking points:
• How the presidential vote went down
• What skills and experience Coventry brings to the presidency
• Bach’s tenure and the commercial health of the Olympic brand
• Where Coventry stands on the big issues, such as athlete compensation and gender eligibility
• What comes next for the IOC and wider Olympic movement
To mark International Women's Day and shine a light on the barriers facing young girls in sport, SportsPro's Katie Preston and Elena Kouyoufa – co-hosts of the newly launched NEW ERA podcast – sit down with Stacie June, Global Head of Education & Advocacy at Dove, to explore how the personal care brand is tackling the dropout crisis.
Last year, Dove was among 11 brands inducted into the Laureus Sport for Good Index, recognised for its efforts in driving positive impact through sport. Central to this is the Body Confident Sport initiative, a partnership with Nike aimed at redefining body confidence and keeping more girls engaged in sport.
On this episode, we discuss:
Find out more about NEW ERA here
One year ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup and in what could be Lionel Messi’s final year in the league, the 2025 MLS season is now underway.
As the competition celebrates its 30th year, Michael Long, Sam Carp and Josh Sim assess the commercial growth of the league, including its sponsorship portfolio, global following and broadcast partnership with Apple.
Then, the trio reflect on the success of the NHL’s inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which was a huge television hit in North America.
There’s also time to ponder potential lessons from Cristiano Ronaldo streaming the Premier Padel P1 event on his YouTube channel, as well as what’s next for DAZN after it announced a long-rumoured investment from Saudi Arabia’s SURJ Sports Investments.
Content we mentioned:
2. The Health Check: Why MLS sponsorship growth is about more than just Messi
3. Canada v USA 4 Nations Face-Off final draws 16.2m viewers across North America
4. Cristiano Ronaldo’s YouTube channel becomes Premier Padel broadcaster
On this special episode recorded for SportsPro’s Impact Week, editorial director Michael Long is joined by Wayne Mumford, sports and leisure director at RSK Group.
As one of the world’s leading sustainable engineering companies, RSK has built its sprawling business implementing sustainable solutions across a range of sectors, from water to energy - and now it’s turning its attention to sport.
Mumford, a former commercial director in soccer, joins the show to discuss his personal experience of operating in the industry and why sports organisations need to get serious about environmental sustainability – not only for the good of the planet, but for the benefit of their balance sheet. He also lifts the lid on RSK’s business model and how it’s helping clubs and venue operators achieve both short and long-term savings through investments in sustainable infrastructure.
Key talking points:
This episode forms part of SportsPro’s Impact Week, a five-day run of exclusive content profiling sport’s social and environmental impact. Click here to find out more and access every piece of content for free.
SportsPro’s annual 20 ideas to invest in now spotlights the most noteworthy sports technology startups in the industry. In this tech special Sam Carp, Ed Dixon and Steve McCaskill break down this year’s list, discuss the findings from the tech investor roundtable, and there’s another quiz.
The team also discuss why Football Manager 2025 has been cancelled and how the soccer management game is now directly influencing on-field performance and fan engagement, and there’s a bit of time to reflect on Super Bowl LIX.
In part two, we speak to Trickshot, a member of this year’s ideas to invest in now class of 2025, about its technology, its business and development journey, and how it's already working with the likes of the NBA and Australian Open.
Content we mentioned:
As anticipation builds for Super Bowl LIX, Sam Carp, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim discuss what they’ll be looking out for when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans this weekend.
After a quickfire quiz to determine which of the two teams is winning the commercial battle off the field, the trio talk through the big business around the NFL’s championship game, what to expect from the broadcast on Fox, and the commercials already catching their eye.
In part two of the show, Steve is joined by Marissa Daly, the vice president and general manager of media for the Los Angeles Rams, to hear how the franchise is using real-time data to generate immersive highlights for the infinity screen at SoFi Stadium.
Content we mentioned:
With the Six Nations back on our screens this weekend, Ed Dixon, Michael Long and Sam Carp sit down to preview the tournament.
The trio discuss the rumours around the tournament potentially switching to a pay-TV broadcaster in the UK, if a culture shift in rugby would mean more growth, and whether the sport can really crack the US market.
There’s also time to unpick the latest goings on at Ineos amid continued unrest at Manchester United and an acrimonious split with sailing legend Ben Ainslie, before taking a look at the NBA’s plans in Europe after commissioner Adam Silver talked up the potential for a new league on the continent.
Articles we mentioned…
Six Nations likely to stay on FTA in UK as TNT Sports distances itself from bid
Six Nations TV rights soon to be up for grabs
Ilona Maher: Rugby union needs culture shift to create stars and grow
Rugby must ‘do things differently’ to break into US, says Roc Nation president
Ainslie ‘astounded’ at Ineos America’s Cup split
Manchester United get government backing for Old Trafford regeneration project
Adam Silver: NBA looking “very closely” at European league launch
After seeing Donald Trump sworn in for a second term as president of the United States, Sam Carp, Michael Long and Ed Dixon consider what impact his return to the White House will have on sport.
The trio reflect on the role team owners and other sporting personalities played in helping the 78-year-old win November's election before looking ahead to some of the major events set to take place under his watch, including the 2026 Fifa World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
As the PGA Tour and LIV Golf continue to hammer out a peace deal, there's also time to discuss what Trump's warm relationship with Saudi Arabia could mean for the future of golf and the wider industry.
Articles we mentioned...
New year, new leagues... Reviewing the TGL's debut and what to expect from Unrivaled
There have barely been three weeks of 2025 but several new sports leagues have already been making their debut.
In this episode, Sam Carp, Ed Dixon and Josh Sim discuss what they liked and what they didn't about the TGL's inaugural match and look ahead to the highly anticipated tip-off of three-on-three women's basketball league Unrivaled this weekend.
Meanwhile, Josh shares the key takeaways from his interview with League One Volleyball chief operating officer Rosie Spaulding before the trio hedge their bets on which of the three sports properties are best placed for success.
There's also time to hear from our friends on the StreamTime Sports podcast, as Chris Stone and Steve McCaskill break down the demise of US sports streaming joint venture Venu Sports.