The Varsity cover art
Podcast · 140 episodes

The Varsity, page 4

by Puck | Audacy · English

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 Sunday.

All episodes, page 4

Belichick’s H.O.F. Snub & Jerry Jones Succession QuestionsBelichick’s H.O.F. Snub & Jerry Jones Succession Questions1 Feb 2026 · 47 min · 14 chapters
The WaPo Reckoning & TikTok’s Next ActThe WaPo Reckoning & TikTok’s Next Act28 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 15 chapters
When Sports Media Marries the SportsbookDanny Funt, Washington Post contributor25 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 14 chapters
Marchand on the NFL’s Media ChessboardJohn Ourand, Puck Sports Correspondent21 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 17 chapters
MLB’s Dodger EconomicsBusiness of baseball and upcoming labor/media negotiations, sparked by the Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker signing and renewed salary-cap talk.18 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 14 chapters
Inside Ratner and Rubin’s Fanatics Content FactoryMichael Ratner (OBB Media) discusses OBB Media’s joint venture with Fanatics to launch Fanatics Studios, Fanatics’ push into sports production/content.14 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 19 chapters
Inside the NCAA’s Moneyball EraNCAA “Moneyball era” and college sports’ current state—professionalization effects, transfer/eligibility rules, NIL/revenue sharing, Congress involvement, and tournament expansion; plus a brief aside…11 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 16 chapters
Inside NBC’s Sports-Ad OlympicsNBCUniversal’s sports advertising strategy for the Winter Olympics, Super Bowl, and NBA All-Star—how NBC sold out linear and digital inventory early, why it bundled Olympics and Super Bowl ad sales,…7 Jan 2026 · 47 min · 19 chapters
How Youth Sports Went ProYouth sports “professionalization” driven by big money, media, and private-equity-style consolidation—leading to burnout, mental-health concerns, social-media pressure, and rising costs that reduce…4 Jan 2026 · 48 min · 17 chapters
YouTube’s Sports Takeover & More ’26 PredictionsMichael Nathanson (Media Analyst, Moffett Nathanson)31 Dec 2025 · 47 min · 15 chapters
The Varsities: Sports Media’s 2025 SuperlativesSports media’s 2025 “Superlatives” (The Varsities), covering streaming/viewership trends, media-rights deals, and top NFL announcers/analysts, plus an executive award.28 Dec 2025 · 47 min · 21 chapters
The CFP Expansion That Wasn’tNicole Auerbach, NBC Sports College Football Insider24 Dec 2025 · 47 min
Netflix’s Anti-ESPN ThesisNetflix’s “anti-ESPN” thesis for live sports—Netflix won’t chase volume like legacy broadcasters; it will “eventize” big moments to drive global conversation and clicks.21 Dec 2025 · 48 min · 21 chapters
Windhorst’s NBA State of PlayNBA “state of play” with Brian Windhorst—NBA Cup value and scheduling, All-Star Game format problems, NBA Europe ambitions, and broader concerns about sustaining star power and fan connection.17 Dec 2025 · 47 min · 13 chapters
USA Sports’ Digital Glow-UpUSA Sports’ “digital glow-up” strategy at Versant/USA Network and Golf Channel, plus sports-rights and programming plans (WNBA, Love Volleyball, NASCAR, PGA Tour, Premier League).14 Dec 2025 · 47 min · 17 chapters
Sports Media’s Winners (and Losers) of 2025Sports media’s “winners and losers” of 2025, focused on sports-business personalities and major industry shifts (streaming/talent, sports rights spending, and college sports legal chaos).10 Dec 2025 · 47 min · 16 chapters
The MLS 3.0 BlueprintMajor League Soccer’s “MLS 3.0 Blueprint” for the next growth phase, centered on global alignment, media strategy, stadium expansion, and youth development.7 Dec 2025 · 47 min · 16 chapters
Introducing How We Made Your Mother Season 2!Hosted by John Ourand with various industry insiders, this podcast explores the inner workings of the sports business through interviews and behind-the-scenes insights.6 Dec 2025 · 5 min
The 2025 Sports Media Year in Review2025 sports media year-in-review focused on streaming’s dominance, major media-company restructuring, and the mainstreaming of sports betting/prediction markets, plus ESPN/Fox direct-to-consumer…3 Dec 2025 · 47 min · 13 chapters
College Football Gone WildCollege sports chaos and money—how NIL, athlete compensation rules (College Sports Commission/NIL Go Clearinghouse), Congress (SCORE Act), conference power brokers, and media rights are reshaping…30 Nov 2025 · 47 min · 11 chapters
Marchand, Round 2!Sports media and streaming rights, focusing on Thanksgiving NFL scheduling/viewership and MLB/Netflix/NBA/streamer strategy.26 Nov 2025 · 47 min · 13 chapters
Matthew Berry’s Sports Media Crystal BallMatthew Berry discusses sports media’s “crystal ball” themes: talent deals, AI’s impact on digital content/SEO, legacy vs digital distribution, sports-rights money pressures (including NBC…23 Nov 2025 · 47 min · 15 chapters
The Vox-Netflix Podquake & ESPN DétenteMajor League Soccer’s Apple TV deal gets renegotiated (ends 3 years early; paywall removed for MLS Season Pass), plus a broader look at how streaming media rights are shifting.19 Nov 2025 · 47 min · 11 chapters
NWSL’s Big-League BreakoutNWSL commissioner Jessica Berman discusses the league’s 2025 growth, media strategy, upcoming media-deal negotiations, scheduling alignment with MLS, expansion criteria, and how the NWSL is…16 Nov 2025 · 47 min · 14 chapters