Marchand Sports Media

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At just 32, Shams Charania is ESPN’s top NBA insider — and it feels like he’s been around forever. How did he do it? He tells us.
It’s “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand”
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

* From JV Cuts to Breaking News – How getting cut from his high school team and a life-changing teacher set Shams on his path
* Early Inspirations & Influences – The impact of Lee Jenkins and RealGM
* A Teenager at the Finals – How Shams was just 19 years old when he covered his first NBA Finals in 2013
* No Fear, No Filter – How a young Shams cold-called anyone and everyone without hesitation,
* Why Sources Picked Up For A Teenager – The surprising reasons NBA executives, agents and insiders actually returned calls
* The Story That Put Him On The Map – Shams recalls the jitters of breaking his first big story at just 19 years old
* The Relationship Rules That Built His Reputation – Why honesty builds long-term equity with sources and a golden rule
* Social Network – Shams opens up about missing out on social life and sometimes wondering if it is worth it
* ESPN Almost Hired Him as a Kid – The untold story of how Brian Windhorst email almost landed him at ESPN early in his career
* Idolizing Woj – Shams opens up about idolizing Adrian Wojnarowski and how Woj changed Shams’ life
* Shams vs. Woj – Why Shams didn’t follow Woj to ESPN in 2017, how he felt about the online rivalry that consumed basketball Twitter, and the influence of Jon Krawczynski in leading him to build something special at The Athletic
* Woj’s ESPN Retirement Bomb – From Woj’s shocking retirement to Shams navigating his decision to leave The Athletic for ESPN to succeed Woj
* The American Dream – How Shams' parents emigrating from Pakistan instilled his work ethic, and the family support system that helped make it all happen

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

Who on TV is winning the World Cup and who is losing it.
Why Alexi Lalas and Zlatan Ibrahimović studio hubbub shows soccer viewing has matured. Plus, ESPN’s programming decisions, NBC’s MLB and golf coverage, YouTube dominance, UFC White House ratings, Nolan Ryan and USA Sports’ future.
It is a 33-minute “Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media.”
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

1. ⬆️⬇️ What’s Up, What’s Down: Fox’s World Cup CoverageThe World Cup TV revolution is here in the US. The analyst who has had a monster tournament. Why Lalas is hearing it from all sides. And the day Fox got really right. Plus, the play-by-players up and down.
2. 📺 ESPN & NBC Old SchoolA championship moment sparked some old-school ESPN magic — and a standout PTI fill-ins, while NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball has a lot of pluses, but … Also, Linda Cohn retired after we recorded, but we discussed her phrase, “Master batter.”
3. 📺 Has YouTube Already Won?Netflix. Amazon Prime Video. ESPN. On & On. Everyone’s fighting for your screen — but has YouTube already won. Why it can control the board.
4. ⛳ NBC’s US Open Coverage Reviewed What NBC got right
5. 🥊 UFC at the White House Numbers: What to make of them?A promise of Super Bowl numbers. The ratings are in — and we have thoughts.
6. ⚾️ Everybody Loves Local: The Baltimore Orioles crewMeterparel has high praise.
7. 🏒 USA Sports, Nolan Ryan & ‘Cakes Are Baking’ Could USA Sports be a surprise player for MLB or NHL rights? We dig into their ambitions. Plus, Papa Clicker weighs in on the Nolan Ryan biography you might like and the “Cakes are Baking” game is back with Marchand entering 6-for-24.
Bold Faced Names In The Pod: Marcelo Balboa, Alexi Lalas, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thierry Henry, Rebecca Lowe, Stuart Holden, John Strong, Juergen Sommer, Taylor Twellman, John Ourand, Jason Benetti, Anthony Rizzo, John Kruk, John Franco, Stephen A. Smith, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Frank Isola, Pat McAfee, Peter Schrager, Rich Eisen, Linda Cohn, Norby Williamson, Rece Davis, Matt Hong, Dana White, Ronda Rousey, Michelle Obama, Mike Tirico, Joe Buck, Al Michaels, Jim Nantz, Chris Fowler, Ian Eagle, JP Dellacamera, Jacqui Oatley, Ian Darke, Mark Scott, Dan Hicks, Brad Faxon, Wyndham Clark, Kevin Brown, Ben McDonald, Jim Palmer, Melanie Newman, Josh Lewin, Papa Clicker, Nolan Ryan, Red Murph, Tim Brown, Clyde Drexler, Meryl Streep, Kurt Warner, Richard Deitsch, Phil Sanford, Oliver Kahn, Tom Brady, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth, Adam Schein, Derek Rae, Rob Stone, Marv Albert, Jack Edwards, Keith Jackson & Darren Fletcher
* On Deck by Thursday Morning: ESPN’s Shams Charania

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

USA Sports president Matt Hong explains how Versant is playing a “different game.” It already has major relationships with the PGA, Premier League, NASCAR, WWE & more. But it has designs to reconfigure its business, while maintaining a 50 percent stake in broadcasting.
In a fascinating 47-minute discussion, Hong, who rose in the media world at AOL and TNT Sports, is the guest on “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.”
The interview was part of the “Off The Record with Andrew Marchand presented by WSC Sports” series.
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

RUNDOWN …
* Where is sports going?
* Explaining what Versant is trying to accomplish
* The percentage of live sports and news on Versant tells a story
* Why no NFL or NBA for Versant
* What works for Versant
* Understanding Golf Now and Fandango businesses
* The goal is change the model
* Why MLB & NHL could be something USA Sports pursues
* How the NFL getting more could be good for USA Sports
* Why Versant will be more ROI driven than others
* The reasons NBC and Versant split up the sports rights the way they did when the new company was formed
* The three buckets of USA Sports and NBC
* Why Versant can be more nimble
* Hong’s Mark Lazarus connection
* Why golf is the perfect business for Versant
* How Versant is on the front foot with AI
* How Versant could partner with NBC and others
* How M&A is part of what they do
* What is Versant’s digital strategy
* How did Hong rise through media
* Why the AI age may be similar to the digital age
* The mandate to do something different after NBC spinoff
* The advice from Jeremy Legg
* How David Levy, Lenny Daniels and Jeff Behnke helped Hong
* What is Charles Barkley like
* TNT Sports and wanting to get the NFL back
* How the CBS and TNT Sports worked so hard for the NCAA deal
* Hong was ready to leave the sports television business and then Hong received a call from Mark Lazarus
* It was too good to pass up; especially with the team Lazarus had put together with people like Anandi Kini and David Pietrycha
Some Related Podcasts: Gabe Spitzer, Rick Cordella, Christian Oestlien, Mark Shapiro, Jay Marine, Don Garber, Hans Schroeder

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

Fox’s $22 billion deal for Roku is a game changing acquisition for the future of live sports distribution. Andrew Marchand & Jon Meterparel dissect what it means.
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

Plus, the duo hits on many subjects, including:
* Grading the post-TNT NBA TV deals after one season
* Going deep into how Mike Breen & ABC/ESPN did on the Finals
* The future rights roadmap for the NHL & MLB
* How has Zlatan & Fox’s World Cup coverage been so far
* Assessing ESPN’s plans for its No. 2 NFL team
* What to make of the White House UFC event
It is a 33-minute “Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media.”
Names in the Pod: Howard Cosell, The Murdochs, Pat McAfee, Mike Breen, Joe Buck, Tyler Murray, John Strong, Stu Holden, Lionel Messi, Marv Albert, Burke Magnus, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, Victor Wembanyama, Mike Tirico, Ian Eagle, Stan Van Gundy, Taylor Rooks, Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, Karl Anthony-Towns, Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan, Rod Brind'Amour, Brandon Bussi, Gary Bettman, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alexi Lalas, Rebecca Lowe, Thierry Henry, Taylor Twellman, Dave Pasch, Bob Wischusen, Jason Kelce, Kurt Warner, Louis Riddick, Steve Levy, Joe Tessitore, Dana White, Donald Trump, Bo Nickal & Matt Hong. Cakes Are Baking: Oliver Kahn, Wade Boggs & Andy Pettitte.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

Andrew Marchand reported in The Athletic that ESPN and Pat McAfee are in negotiations for a $60-$65M per year extension.
Marchand & Puck’s John Ourand go deep into why it may be a smart move and why it may be crazy.
Plus, who will broadcast the World Cup in four years, YouTube’s sports future after being shut out of the NFL and President Trump vs. Stephen A.
It is all in the 36-minute podcast.
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

The Rundown …
* Why would ESPN offer McAfee $60-65M per year now
* McAfee has some of the most powerful people in media repping him
* Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro started with a $100M per year proposal
* The value for ESPN of the major commissioners seemingly loving McAfee
* The issues for ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro and Burke Magnus
* What ESPN should really be known for
* What is actually selling ESPN Unlimited
* The reason why you go early if you are McAfee
* How the potential deal could impact other big negotiations
* Who is in the McAfee/Stephen A. tier at ESPN
* In 2030, who will be the broadcast home of the World Cup
* Why Apple may not be counted out of that one, though someone else is Marchand & Ourand’s favorite for the 2030 World Cup
* After failing to pick up more NFL games, what to make of YouTube’s sports future
* Christian Oestlien was The Main Event in Feb. and explained YouTube’s Realignment Vision
* The NFL can’t play bully ball with the big digital companies
* Why there will be no favors later if you give the NFL your milk money now
* Ourand was at Game 3 of The Finals with President Trump
* Larry David’s hand movements during the game
* Trump goes after Stephen A., what happens next