SportsPro Podcast

The SportsPro Podcast returns with Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill and Sam Carp as they break down darts’ rapid ascent with PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter. From the World Darts Championship selling out in an hour to the first £1 million winner’s prize, the team explores how the sport has entered a new golden era.They also dig into the PDC’s expanded Sky Sports deal, the global demand reshaping the calendar, and what comes next for Ally Pally as the organisation weighs its future. Plus, a look at Luke Littler’s impact, the push to reach younger audiences, and why Saudi Arabia is the latest stop on darts’ international journey.

SportsPro’s Steve McCaskill sits down with Miles Jacobson, the studio director at Sports Interactive, the UK-based video game developer known for Football Manager to discuss the most significant evolution in the series history. Jacobson explains the studio’s move to the Unity engine, why the team delayed the game’s release, and how they overhauled the user interface and match engine for the 2026 edition. The conversation explores the addition of women’s football, new licensing deals including the Premier League, data-driven game design, partnerships with platforms like Netflix and Apple Arcade, and the emergence of Football Manager as an esports title.

The SportsPro Podcast returns with Ed Dixon, Sam Carp, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim turning their attention to the US. From the NFL’s rising franchise valuations to the NBA’s record-breaking domestic media deal, the team explores why more money than ever is flowing into the major leagues.They also get stuck into other big talking points stateside, including the sales of the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, the broadcast state of play across the leagues and why US sports properties are looking overseas for growth.Recorded live from Spotify Studios in London.

The SportsPro Podcast is back, and this time Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill and Sam Carp dive into the boom – and possible bust – of sports documentaries. From the pandemic-era surge that delivered global hits like The Last Dance and Drive to Survive, to the wave of imitators that followed, the team debate whether the magic of sports docs is starting to fade. So, is it the end? Not quite but the golden boom has definitely passed. Sports docs are settling into a new phase, moving past the copycat era into smarter, more niche storytelling that still knows how to hook an audience. Tune in for a lively discussion on the fine line between entertainment and authenticity in sports docuseries. And yes, the quiz no one asked for makes another appearance! Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.For more information on the SportsPro Media Summit, visit https://media.sportspro.com/.

The SportsPro Podcast returns, and this time the team takes a deep dive into SportsPro’s inaugural Investment Summit, held in Central London last month. Ed Dixon, Steve McCaskill, Sam Carp and Josh Sim reflect on a landmark event that brought together more than 200 industry leaders, investors and key stakeholders to explore where new capital is flowing into sport.Alongside their highlights from the day – including the £500 million sales of The Hundred teams, the growing influence of private equity, and the global executives entering the market – the team also revisit four key interviews conducted on-site with leading investors and decision-makers. Plus, the team looks ahead as the Investment Summit prepares to go stateside in 2026 as part of SportsPro New York.Recorded at Spotify UK Headquarters.

The Covid hiatus led to promises of major reforms in the sports industry, but has anything really changed?Five (and a bit) years on from the coronavirus pandemic, SportsPro's Cian Brittle, Elena Kouyoufa, Michael Long and Sam Carp reflect on how the sports industry has (and hasn’t) transformed since. From the rising tide of private equity and the emergence of newfangled fan engagement tools like NFTs to bubble tournaments and fake crowd noise, the team discuss what ideas have tested positive and what would be better left in lockdown.

Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry is the first woman and first African to be elected as president of the International Olympic Committee in its 130-year history. At 41, the former swimmer turned politician is also set to become the youngest person ever to hold perhaps the most influential position in global sport.In this episode, SportsPro’s Michael Long, Sam Carp and Ed Dixon reflect on the vote that saw Coventry, a former Olympic gold medallist in the pool, make history by defeating her rivals in a landslide. The trio also discuss the state of the IOC she inherits in the wake of Thomas Bach’s departure and what the future holds for the ever-evolving Olympic movement.Key talking points:• How the presidential vote went down• What skills and experience Coventry brings to the presidency• Bach’s tenure and the commercial health of the Olympic brand• Where Coventry stands on the big issues, such as athlete compensation and gender eligibility• What comes next for the IOC and wider Olympic movement

One year ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup and in what could be Lionel Messi’s final year in the league, the 2025 MLS season is now underway.As the competition celebrates its 30th year, Michael Long, Sam Carp and Josh Sim assess the commercial growth of the league, including its sponsorship portfolio, global following and broadcast partnership with Apple.Then, the trio reflect on the success of the NHL’s inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which was a huge television hit in North America. There’s also time to ponder potential lessons from Cristiano Ronaldo streaming the Premier Padel P1 event on his YouTube channel, as well as what’s next for DAZN after it announced a long-rumoured investment from Saudi Arabia’s SURJ Sports Investments.Content we mentioned:1. MLS Commercial Guide2. The Health Check: Why MLS sponsorship growth is about more than just Messi3. Canada v USA 4 Nations Face-Off final draws 16.2m viewers across North America4. Cristiano Ronaldo’s YouTube channel becomes Premier Padel broadcaster5. Saudi Arabia’s SURJ takes ‘US$1bn’ stake in DAZN