🏟️ Athlete hosted podcasts are the future of sports media

I can’t believe we’re at the end of August. There are only four more months until 2025, so let’s make each day count!

This week’s edition of Sports Industry Weekly shares insights from the most significant business headlines in the sports industry like:

🎙️ Two football brothers close a $100 million podcast deal.

👟 Three major sneaker brands have announced the signing of college football and basketball star student-athletes.

🏈 The NFL has approved new ownership rules for the first time ever.

📺 A federal judge has stopped the launch of a new sports streaming service.

KELCE BROTHERS SIGN $100 MILLION PODCAST DEAL WITH AMAZON’S WONDERY

Athlete-hosted podcasts are the future of sports media.

This shift towards athlete-owned narratives began a few years ago and is now gaining significant momentum.

With the New Heights Podcast signing a $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery — Travis and Jason Kelce are demonstrating to their peers the monetization opportunities in owning their content and stories.

Here’s a breakdown of Spotify's list of most streamed sports podcasts for 2023. There are already four athlete-hosted shows, and this number is set to rise by the end of 2024:

1. New Heights (hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce)

2. Pardon My Take

3. The Bill Simmons Podcast

4. The Fantasy Footballers

5. The Pat McAfee Show (former NFL player)

6. The Old Man and The Three (hosted by JJ Redick)

7. The Ryen Russillo Podcast

8. Podcast P (hosted by Paul George)

9. The Ringer NBA Show

10. Bussin With The Boys

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👟 This week marked significant NIL milestones for sneaker brands. Nike Football secured a deal with Shadeur Sanders, New Balance Basketball signed top NBA draft prospect Cooper Flagg, and Jordan Brand welcomed their first college football athletes, Zachariah and Zion Branch.

🎾 With the US Open underway, ESPN proudly announced a landmark 12-year media rights agreement with the USTA, solidifying their extended partnership. This year also marks a record-breaking $75M prize pool.

💜 On 8/24, the world united in celebration of Mamba Day, with Los Angeles leading the charge. Nike's annual Mamba League Invitational took over the city, while the Los Angeles Dodgers honored the occasion by inviting the Bryant family to throw the first pitch, supporting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. And let's be honest — this is the coolest trophy ever.

🤑 The NFL has approved new ownership rules allowing private equity firms to buy up to 10% stakes in teams, marking a significant shift from previous rules that only permitted limited partners and not institutional investment.⁠

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🏟️ The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for a big year in 2026, as Levi’s Stadium will host both Super Bowl LX and the 2026 World Cup. The franchise is investing $200 million in upgrading and renovating the property to provide the best viewing experience for sports fans.

❌ A federal judge has stopped the launch of Venu Sports, the new sports streaming joint venture by ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, stating the platform would violate antitrust laws. The $42.99 per month service had plans to launch this fall but will now start its court trial in February.

💰 UConn is rumored to join the Big 12 in 2026 for all sports except football (which will follow in 2031). The men’s and women’s basketball teams have already established themselves as national powerhouses, even without the backing of a power conference. If the speculation is true, the move to the Big 12 would significantly boost the school’s revenue and further enhance the growth of their athletic programs.