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The Varsity

Puck | Audacy
ESPN
NBC
NBA
Olympics
NFL
Tom Brady
WNBA
Sports Media
Lacrosse
Paris
Streaming Services
Cable Bundles
Premier Lacrosse League
Leadership Quality
Snoop Dogg
Directv
Warner Brothers Discovery
Tokyo
Youth Sports
Beijing

Puck Sports Correspondent John Ourand and a rotating cast of industry insiders take you deep inside the executive suites and owner boxes that run the entire sports business. You’ll hear interviews with everyone from players to network execs and everyone in between. The Varsity is an extension of John's private email for Puck by the same name. New episodes publish twice-weekly, every Wednesday and ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes149Foundeda year ago
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Sports NewsNewsBusiness News

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Latest Episodes

Mark Marshall, NBCU’s global ads chief, joins John to talk shop about the sports media market. Marshall recounts selling out the Olympics weeks ahead of the opening ceremony (alongside the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Weekend…); what really went down ... more

The New York Times’ Ken Belson joins John to discuss the professionalization—and monetization—of youth sports, and the mental-health toll for kids caught in the middle. He explains how private equity and big money have turned youth athletics into a s... more

Sports media analyst Michael Nathanson swings by the pod to reveal the sports media plotlines insiders are tracking over the coming year. They discuss YouTube’s growing footprint in the sports streaming ecosystem, how legacy players like ESPN can mai... more

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins John to bestow The Varsity’s inaugural Sports Media Awards—from the most overhyped plot line and the sleeper story that flew under the radar, to the best play-by-play announcer, top analyst, and the executive who ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gabe Spitzer
One of the top sports executives at Netflix
Netflix
Episode: Netflix’s Anti-ESPN Thesis
Don Garber
Longtime commissioner of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Episode: The MLS 3.0 Blueprint
Joe Manganiello
Actor known for roles in Magic Mike and True Blood
Episode: Introducing How We Made Your Mother Season 2!
Bryan Cranston
Actor known for his roles in Breaking Bad and How I Met Your Mother
Episode: Introducing How We Made Your Mother Season 2!
Steve Bornstein
Former President of ESPN and NFL Media, key figure in NFL media rights negotiations.
NFL, ESPN
Episode: Steve Bornstein’s NFL Gospel
Hans Schroeder
The NFL's top media executive and a veteran in NFL media deals.
NFL
Episode: Hans Schroeder’s NFL Media Huddle
Michael Rubin
Founder of Fanatics, known for transforming the sports merchandise industry.
Fanatics
Episode: Rubin’s Fanatics Formula
Josh Harris
Founder of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Commanders.
Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment
Episode: The Josh Harris Owner’s Manual
Ken Belson
Longtime sports business reporter for The New York Times and author of "Every Day is Sunday".
The New York Times
Episode: Is the NFL Unstoppable?

Host

John Ourand
Host and sports correspondent known for in-depth analysis and coverage of the sports business industry, engaging with various executives and insiders.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 95 ratings
  • F McAfee

    This is not a slight on the show but more on this episodes content and opinions, mostly that McaHack is the future of sports entertainment. He and his antics represent everything that is WRONG with where sports is going. You DON’t give him more of a platform, you take him off it, because he has no journalistic integrity, his schtick is beyond cliche and he has the most grating voice I’ve ever heard. I don’t watch ESPN anymore because of this direction. Go BACK to the way it was We don’t want to ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    quikoni
    United Statesa month ago
  • Not Interested

    John we aren’t interested in hearing anti- Trump diatribes from your guests. CBS put their thumb on the scale with the KH interview

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SamimSissel
    United States8 months ago
  • Eamon Lynch was great

    I recently enjoyed your podcast with Eamon Lynch. It gave me a better understanding of what is going on with the PGA tour and LIV golf right now. You do a great job as I have enjoyed your podcast going back to the first one. It is one of my favorite ones to listen to each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mattmanfan
    United States10 months ago
  • Netflix

    Didn’t the first game start 2 hours late? 1pm start time pushed to just before 3pm?!

    Great pod.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    LBJ503
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good sports media podcast. I enjoyed John's prior podcast that he did with Andrew Marchand prior to joining Puck. Good long form interviews.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    EricNC
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express a desire for more balance in perspectives.
Engaging discussions that clarify complex industry topics.
"What a rolodex!" Great interviews with high-profile sports figures.
The host has a knack for extracting meaningful answers—superb interviews.
Offers valuable insights into sports media and business trends.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

YouTube’s Sports Takeover & More ’26 Predictions
Q: What happens to TNT Sports if Netflix succeeds in acquiring Warner Brothers Discovery?
TNT Sports will likely be acquired by Versant, which could lead to a rebirth of TNT Sports under new management focused on acquiring smaller sports rights.
YouTube’s Sports Takeover & More ’26 Predictions
Q: How serious should sports leagues take Netflix and their interest in live sports?
Sports leagues should take Netflix seriously as they are showing increased interest in major events and have the potential to disrupt traditional broadcasting models.
The CFP Expansion That Wasn’t
Q: If Notre Dame does go to a conference, what conference it would be?
It would likely be the Big Ten due to cultural fit, but Notre Dame values their independence highly.
The CFP Expansion That Wasn’t
Q: What's the sort of timetable and likelihood that we're going to have this?
The CFP has set a deadline for the end of January to decide on any changes, but there is not much confidence that changes will be made.
The CFP Expansion That Wasn’t
Q: Is expansion certain to happen?
Expansion is not certain to happen next year due to disagreements between the Big Ten and SEC on the format.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Varsity

What is The Varsity about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on the intersection of sports and media, featuring in-depth discussions on the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, business strategies, and key players in the industry. Topics frequently explored include media rights negotiations, the impact of digital platforms on traditional broadcasting, and the dynamics of sports ownership and management. This engaging series stands out for its high-profile interviews with sports executives, former players, and media insiders, providing listeners with insider perspectives and valuable insights into the sports business sector.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Varsity?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Varsity. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Varsity and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Varsity get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Varsity, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Varsity?

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How many subscribers and views does The Varsity have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Varsity has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Varsity?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Varsity:

1. Sports Media with Richard Deitsch
2. SI Media With Jimmy Traina
3. The Grill Room
4. The Powers That Be: Daily
5. The Town with Matthew Belloni

How many episodes of The Varsity are there?

The Varsity launched a year ago and published 149 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Varsity?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Varsity?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Varsity from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Varsity. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Varsity?

Recent guests on The Varsity include:

1. Gabe Spitzer
2. Don Garber
3. Joe Manganiello
4. Bryan Cranston
5. Steve Bornstein
6. Hans Schroeder
7. Michael Rubin
8. Josh Harris

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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