Blinded by the rights: Fifa's TV goldmine

Ekstra Ekstra hear all about it

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, Joseph Perry completes his stand-in duties alongside Jonathan Rest. The pair discuss an upcoming tender in one of European football's challenger leagues, a seismic announcement in Canadian TV and the week’s industry snippets, including a special dispatch from Lions Sport in Cannes. THE NEWSROOM: The Polish Ekstraklasa has hired IMG to lead its upcoming domestic media rights sales process. What will the agency bring to the table, and who may challenge serial incumbents Canal+ and TVP? Plus, a sponsorship agency appointment highlights growing synergies between MotoGP and F1. INSIDE THE DEAL: Catherine Davies returns to the pod to discuss a bombshell decision in Canadian sports media, as CBC calls time on its 75-year run broadcasting primetime Saturday night NHL games. What next for CBC, and Rogers' sublicensing hopes? AOB: Musings from Cannes, previewing Uefa Champions League rights deals to come in the US and South Korea, a tax-friendly NBA mega trade and predicting football's next fashion fad. You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sportbusiness-podcast/id1804579275], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Vsc2tHkTF8hxm4w3UFEEX], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b3420d4a-5387-4e2e-bf43-f88e859c00c2/the-sportbusiness-podcast] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sportbusiness_group]. Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com [http://sportbusiness.com/] subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here [https://www.sportbusiness.com/subscription-options/].   Co-hosts: Jonathan Rest, Joseph Perry Contributors: Catherine Davies, Imran Yusuf Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio 1 CazéTV hails success of World Cup streams | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/cazetv-hails-success-of-world-cup-streams/] 2 IMG to lead Ekstraklasa domestic rights process | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/img-to-lead-ekstraklasa-domestic-rights-process/] 3 Ekstraklasa and Canal Plus sign off on PLN1.3bn, four-year contract | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/ekstraklasa-and-canal-plus-sign-off-on-pzn1-3bn-four-year-contract/?_gl=1*1sfbpbe*_gcl_au*MzE1OTAxNjUyLjE3Nzk3ODA2MjQ.] 4 CAA Sports adds MotoGP to motorsport portfolio | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/caa-sports-adds-motogp-to-motorsport-portfolio/] 5 MotoGP manufacturers in milestone collective deal | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/motogp-manufacturers-in-milestone-collective-deal/] 6 Rogers calls time on CBC’s 75-year NHL run | SportBusiness Media [https://media.sportbusiness.com/2026/06/rogers-calls-time-on-cbcs-75-year-nhl-run/] 7 Rogers ‘to shell out’ $7.7bn for NHL renewal | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/rogers-to-shell-out-7-7bn-for-nhl-renewal/] 8 Korean broadcasters given 10 days to make Uefa bids | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/korean-broadcasters-given-10-days-to-make-uefa-bids/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Offshore accounts: Analysing E1 Series' financial model

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, Joseph Perry steps in as co-host alongside Jonathan Rest, while Martin Ross provides a Fifa World Cup punter's perspective after attending Scotland-Haiti. THE NEWSROOM: Record-setting audiences tune in for the opening games of the World Cup while we debate TV studios and complain of sleep deprivation. Jon returns from Dubrovnik to give the lowdown on E1's investment search, commercial model and why celebrity owners are here to stay. INSIDE THE DEAL: Ben Cronin joins to analyse the sponsorship dollars generated by Fifa for this World Cup. Where are the deals coming from, what new categories have been opened up, and what does it tell us about the next sales cycle? AOB: Previewing what's on the agenda for the IOC's new head of media rights following a double departure, Man Utd finally says yes to All or Nothing, and Capelli's Cape Verde bet pays off. You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sportbusiness-podcast/id1804579275], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Vsc2tHkTF8hxm4w3UFEEX], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b3420d4a-5387-4e2e-bf43-f88e859c00c2/the-sportbusiness-podcast] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sportbusiness_group]. Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com [http://sportbusiness.com/] subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here [https://www.sportbusiness.com/subscription-options/].   Co-hosts: Jonathan Rest, Joseph Perry Contributors: Ben Cronin Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio Sources: 1 World Cup kicks off with record US TV audiences | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/world-cup-kicks-off-with-record-us-tv-audiences/] 2 PIF committed to E1 amid broader sports rethink | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/pif-committed-to-e1-amid-broader-sports-rethink/]  3 E1 nears €20m raise to fund second fleet, US push | SportBusiness On the Money [https://onthemoney.sportbusiness.com/2026/06/e1-nears-e20m-raise-to-fund-second-fleet-us-push/]  4 US brands and Aramco mega-deal drive record Fifa sponsorship income | SportBusiness Sponsorship [https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/2026/06/us-brands-and-aramco-mega-deal-drive-record-fifa-sponsorship-income/] 5 AB InBev extends World Cup rights to 2030 | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/ab-inbev-extends-world-cup-rights-to-2030/] 6 EXCLUSIVE: Rights team exits prompt IOC search | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/exclusive-rights-team-exits-prompt-ioc-search/] 7 Amazon lands Man United for All or Nothing series | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news-in-brief/amazon-lands-man-united-for-all-or-nothing-series/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Blinded by the rights: Fifa's TV goldmine

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, it's a World Cup preview special as Jonathan Rest is joined by Martin Ross, who - with passport and kilt at the ready - prepares to head out to the US with the Tartan Army.  THE NEWSROOM: Two more sponsorship deals in controversial categories close out Fifa's World Cup programme, while there are a few last-minute TV contracts to sort. In non-football news, the PGA Tour makes a move on Australia and there are tax developments in Canada for Netflix, Amazon et al. INSIDE THE DEAL: Frank Dunne joins to share insights on his deep dive into the broadcast revenues driving the World Cup's commercial success. More inventory equals more cash, of course, but new income streams are also unlocked for the first time. AOB: Previewing a major winter sports federation presidential election, E1 racing in picturesque Dubrovnik and Golden Boot winners, past and present. You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sportbusiness-podcast/id1804579275], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Vsc2tHkTF8hxm4w3UFEEX], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b3420d4a-5387-4e2e-bf43-f88e859c00c2/the-sportbusiness-podcast] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sportbusiness_group]. Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com [http://sportbusiness.com/] subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here [https://www.sportbusiness.com/subscription-options/].   Co-hosts: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross Contributors: Frank Dunner Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio Sources: 1. Kraken deal adds to World Cup programme [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/kraken-deal-wraps-up-world-cup-programme/] 2. ExpressVPN joins Fifa’s World Cup sponsor roster [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/expressvpn-joins-fifas-world-cup-sponsor-roster/] 3. PGA Tour enters key LIV market with Australia deal | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/pga-tour-enters-key-liv-market-with-australia-deal/] 4. Jas deal averts World Cup blackout in Thailand [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/jas-deal-averts-world-cup-blackout-in-thailand/] 5. Fifa reels in revenue from YouTube, TikTok firsts [https://media.sportbusiness.com/2026/04/fifa-reels-in-revenue-from-youtube-tiktok-firsts/] 6. Fifa earns China uplift as challenging Asia sales end [https://media.sportbusiness.com/2026/06/fifa-earns-china-uplift-as-challenging-asia-sales-end/] 7. In Focus: Fifa World Cup | SportBusiness Media [https://media.sportbusiness.com/2026/06/in-focus-fifa-world-cup-2/] 8. WPP’s Copas replaces Basso as E1 CEO | SportBusiness [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/wpps-copas-replaces-basso-as-e1-ceo/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Grand Budapest Intel

This week on The SportBusiness Podcast, Jonathan Rest and Joseph Perry return from the Champions League final to pore over big European football topics with Martin Ross. THE NEWSROOM: High stakes for latest Uefa club comps sponsor secured by RFP/UC3, UCL piracy numbers, why now for Uefa’s national teams tender and who’s winning AFC’s agency tender? INSIDE THE DEAL: The ECB’s sponsorship strategy overhaul, aided by Two Circles, and driven by fresh thinking and new inventory opportunities. Matthew Williams has all the details. AOB: Absent World Cup kits, F1 back on German FTA TV and a pawsome return for the Stanley Pup   You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sportbusiness-podcast/id1804579275], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Vsc2tHkTF8hxm4w3UFEEX], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b3420d4a-5387-4e2e-bf43-f88e859c00c2/the-sportbusiness-podcast] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sportbusiness_group]. Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com [http://sportbusiness.com/] subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here [https://www.sportbusiness.com/subscription-options/].   Co-hosts: Jonathan Rest, Martin Ross Contributors: Joseph Perry, Matthew Williams Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio Sources: 1. EXCLUSIVE: Bet365 close, Alibaba signs as Uefa eyes €1bn windfall [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/exclusive-bet365-close-alibaba-signs-as-uefa-eyes-e1bn-windfall/] 2. Epstein: AB InBev and PepsiCo UC3 deals send ‘strong message’ [https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/2026/03/epstein-ab-inbev-and-pepsico-uc3-deals-send-strong-message/] 3. EXCLUSIVE: Uefa invites national team rights bids [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/exclusive-uefa-invites-national-team-rights-bids/] 4. EXCLUSIVE: AFG-Sela preferred AFC bidder [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/exclusive-afg-sela-preferred-afc-bidder/] 5. Centralisation backed despite Benfica resistance [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/centralisation-backed-despite-benfica-resistance/] 6. EXCLUSIVE: Sky retains exclusive ATP Tour rights [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/exclusive-sky-retains-exclusive-atp-tour-rights/] 7. New assets, new approach: inside the ECB’s sponsorship reset [https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/2026/05/new-assets-new-approach-inside-the-ecbs-sponsorship-reset/] 8. Live F1 returns to RTL following Sky takeover [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/live-f1-returns-to-rtl-following-sky-takeover/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

On the Seine at SportGen Summit in Paris

This week, Martin Ross, Maria Kholodova and Matthew Glendinning are in Paris to bring you the lowdown from the inaugural SportGen Summit, plus the usual look at major industry stories. We explore PSG’s brand building targets internationally and commercial approach, and Gucci’s landmark Alpine F1 title deal. Why Roland Garros host broadcaster Whisper rejected a sale to private equity to retain its independence and how co-founder David Coulthard views its approach to live sports production. A snap tender for Uefa club Spanish-language rights in the US also comes under the microscope, along with Fifa’s long-awaited TV deal in India. Plus, a EuroLeague Final Four dispatch from Athens, an Enhanced Games watch-along and tennis headwear tips. You can subscribe to The SportBusiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sportbusiness-podcast/id1804579275], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Vsc2tHkTF8hxm4w3UFEEX], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b3420d4a-5387-4e2e-bf43-f88e859c00c2/the-sportbusiness-podcast] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sportbusiness_group]. Enter SBPODCAST30 at checkout for monthly and annual SportBusiness.com [http://sportbusiness.com/] subscriptions for a 30-per-cent discount here [https://www.sportbusiness.com/subscription-options/].   Co-hosts: Martin Ross, Maria Kholodova Contributor: Matthew Glendinning Editor: Lumi Lehmuskallio Sources: 1. Gucci makes grid history with Alpine title deal [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/gucci-makes-grid-history-with-alpine-title-deal/] 2. Tight Uefa club deadline for Spanish TV rights in US [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/tight-uefa-club-deadline-for-spanish-tv-rights-in-us/] 3. Fifa close to Zee deal for World Cup rights in India [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/fifa-close-to-zee-deal-for-world-cup-rights-in-india/] 4. Private ownership for Whisper as Sony divests [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/private-ownership-for-whisper-as-sony-divests/] 5. PSG eyes commercial income hike from sale of major assets [https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/2026/03/psg-eyes-commercial-income-hike-for-current-season/] 6. Enhanced Games devoid of sponsors, broadcasters [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/enhanced-games-devoid-of-sponsors-broadcasters/] 7. EuroLeague to roll out new distribution model [https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/euroleague-to-roll-out-new-distribution-model/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.