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The Varsity

Puck | Audacy
ESPN
NFL
Streaming Services
NBA
NIL
Netflix
College Sports
NASCAR
MLB
Major League Baseball
NBC
Disney
Media Rights
Sports Media
Women's Sports
College Basketball
Baseball
WNBA
NCAA
CBS Sports

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes187Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Sports NewsBusiness NewsNews

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Latest Episodes

Jason Stein, the sports investor and indefatigable pickleball advocate, joins John to discuss the flow of private equity into sports at all levels, the commercialization of the NCAA, the future of youth sports…. and Apollo’s $225 million investment i... more

Business Insider’s Peter Kafka joins John for a deep dive into ESPN’s effect on Disney’s bottom line. Kafka explains why Disney chief Josh D’Amaro ultimately decided against spinning ESPN into a separate company and looks into what needs to happen fo... more

Paul Rabil, co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, joins John for a candid chat about the challenges of carving out space in today’s overcrowded sports media landscape. They dig into the essential changes the league is implementing this upcoming ... more

Joe House and Nathan Hubbard, hosts of The Ringer’s Fairway Rollin podcast, join John to weigh in on LIV Golf’s strategic misfires, from its combative marketing to its Saudi entanglements, which they suggest ultimately undercut the golf startup’s lof... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Joe House
Co-host of Fairway Rollin, golf industry observer
The Ringer
Episode: LIV to Die?
Nathan Hubbard
Executive with sports/entertainment industry background
Formerly at Spotify; involved in media rights discussions
Episode: LIV to Die?
Wendy Poppin
Oldest Poppin sister, childhood recollections
Poppin family
Episode: Introducing Family Lore
Julie Poppin
Sister, childhood recollections
Poppin family
Episode: Introducing Family Lore
Joe Maloney
President and CEO of the Sports Betting Alliance
Sports Betting Alliance
Episode: The NFL’s Media Monopoly
Jon Miller
President of Acquisitions at NBC Sports
NBC Sports (NBC)
Episode: NBC Sports’ Survival Strategy
Michael Nathanson
Top equity analyst covering the media business
MoffettNathanson
Episode: The NFL’s Cracked Shield
Jamal Mashburn
Former NBA star, Kentucky Wildcat, and businessman
Self / Various ventures in sports, media, and investment
Episode: Mashburn’s N.I.L. Market Theory
Susie Piotrkowski
Executive at ESPN overseeing ESPNW and Women's Sports Programming
ESPN
Episode: ESPNW’s Growth Engine

Host

John Ourand
Host and Puck's sports correspondent, with a focus on the business side of sports and media negotiations.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 100 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 States5 months 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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.

Overall, the show is recognized for its engaging hosts and informative content that appeals to sports enthusiasts.
Listeners praise the quality of interviews and the depth of analysis regarding sports business topics.
Some feedback indicates concerns about political content, suggesting a desire for a more neutral stance.
Reviewers frequently mention the strong insights from industry insiders, highlighting the relevancy of discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#14
United States/News/Sports News
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/News/Sports News
Apple Podcasts
#44
Canada/News/Sports News
Apple Podcasts
#43
Italy/News/Sports News
Apple Podcasts
#105
Germany/News/Sports News
Apple Podcasts
#131
Australia/News/Sports News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The NFL’s Media Monopoly
Q: Where are we in the current NFL media rights cycle, and is a new deal likely before kickoff?
The guest says he'll be surprised if deals are completed before the start of the 26th season; more likely a continuation or extension of existing rights with revised terms, and potential one-year options to align bundles with new structure.
Who Won NFL Draft Weekend?
Q: What were Andrew Marchand's impressions of the NFL Draft coverage this year?
Marchand provided a broad, insider take on how ESPN, NFL Network, and ABC/ESPN+ differed in presentation, the value of shared interviews, and the ongoing evolution of talent and formats, with emphasis on TV drama and insider access.
The NFL’s Cracked Shield
Q: What role does production quality play in the move to streaming platforms?
Production capabilities and the willingness of networks to produce content for streamers will be a key determinant of whether traditional sports content moves to platforms like Netflix or Amazon, affecting long-term rights pricing.
The NFL’s Cracked Shield
Q: Could ESPN or other networks reallocate retrans funds to non-NFL properties, like college sports?
Yes, if the NFL rights costs rise too much, networks might divert funds toward other major properties such as college football or basketball, potentially changing the overall rights landscape.
The NFL’s Cracked Shield
Q: What is the state of the NFL rights market as of now?
Rights are under pressure from regulatory scrutiny and evolving distribution models, with broadcasters reconsidering how to monetize live games; there is a sense that the value of rights could shift toward more event-driven or college properties if bigger leagues restructure deals.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Varsity

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

This podcast provides an engaging exploration of the sports business landscape, featuring in-depth conversations with a variety of industry insiders, including journalists, executives, and athletes. Key topics frequently discussed include media rights negotiations, the evolving dynamics of sports broadcasting, and the impact of political and social issues on sports. Notably, the podcast also features a rotating cast of guests, ensuring diverse viewpoints and expertise are represented, which likely enriches the discussions significantly. The combination of seasoned hosts and a broad range of expert guests makes it a compelling listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports and business.

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

How many episodes of The Varsity are there?

The Varsity launched 2 years ago and published 187 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Varsity?

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. Joe House
2. Nathan Hubbard
3. Wendy Poppin
4. Julie Poppin
5. Joe Maloney
6. Jon Miller
7. Michael Nathanson
8. Jamal Mashburn

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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