The Varsity

By Puck | Audacy

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.

24 episodes

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Media Empires Shed Local Roots for National Ambition, Eroding Journalism

Media Empires Shed Local Roots for National Ambition, Eroding Journalism

Jan 28, 2026

*The Washington Post* pivots from local roots to national ambition, shedding its renowned sports desk and risking community connection for broader reach.

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Sportsbooks Push Casino Gambling Amid Integrity and Consumer Protection Concerns

Sportsbooks Push Casino Gambling Amid Integrity and Consumer Protection Concerns

Jan 25, 2026

Sportsbooks prioritize high-margin casino games over sports betting, courting "whales" while media normalizes gambling, creating integrity risks and pushing for tighter regulations.

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NFL Dominance Reshapes Sports Media Valuations and Streaming Integration

NFL Dominance Reshapes Sports Media Valuations and Streaming Integration

Jan 21, 2026

The NFL's market dominance commands escalating media rights fees, reshaping valuations for other leagues and pushing traditional broadcasters to compete with streamers for premium sports content.

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Dodgers' Tucker Deal Fuels Salary Cap Debate Amidst Media Rights Uncertainty

Dodgers' Tucker Deal Fuels Salary Cap Debate Amidst Media Rights Uncertainty

Jan 18, 2026

The Dodgers' $240 million Kyle Tucker deal reignites the salary cap debate, highlighting payroll disparities and potentially reshaping MLB's economic future and fan engagement.

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Fanatics Studios Leverages Relationships to Integrate Content, Commerce, and Community

Fanatics Studios Leverages Relationships to Integrate Content, Commerce, and Community

Jan 14, 2026

Fanatics Studios merges content, commerce, and community, leveraging athlete relationships to create a 360-degree flywheel that drives sales and engagement.

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NCAA Navigates Professionalization, Athlete Mobility, and Regulatory Challenges

NCAA Navigates Professionalization, Athlete Mobility, and Regulatory Challenges

Jan 11, 2026

College sports face chaos, but the system is sound. Professionalization drives athlete mobility and demands federal guidelines for stability and fairness.

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Integrated Ad Sales Drive Reach and Performance Across Platforms

Integrated Ad Sales Drive Reach and Performance Across Platforms

Jan 07, 2026

Bundling Super Bowl and Olympics ads creates a powerful "monolith" for advertisers, extending reach and value beyond individual events.

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Financialization of Youth Sports Creates Costly, High-Pressure Ecosystem

Financialization of Youth Sports Creates Costly, High-Pressure Ecosystem

Jan 04, 2026

Youth sports are now a $40 billion industry driven by private equity, transforming fun into a high-stakes pursuit of scholarships and financial payoffs, risking burnout and inequity.

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Tech Giants Reshape Sports Media Through Bundles and Rights Acquisition

Tech Giants Reshape Sports Media Through Bundles and Rights Acquisition

Dec 31, 2025

Sports rights are migrating to streaming, creating a consumer demand for lean, sports-focused bundles and challenging legacy media to adapt or become obsolete.

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Streamers Solidify Sports Rights Amidst Evolving Viewership and Metrics

Streamers Solidify Sports Rights Amidst Evolving Viewership and Metrics

Dec 28, 2025

Streamers are now the primary destination for sports, driving viewership away from cable. Understand how inflated ratings and strategic media deals shape sports' future value.

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College Football Playoff Expansion Stalled by Conference Disputes

College Football Playoff Expansion Stalled by Conference Disputes

Dec 24, 2025

College Football Playoff expansion stalls due to conference power struggles, while uncompetitive early games and NFL scheduling conflicts diminish fan engagement and playoff value.

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Netflix's Event-First Strategy for Global Live Sports

Netflix's Event-First Strategy for Global Live Sports

Dec 21, 2025

Netflix transforms live sports into global conversation-starting events, curating tentpole spectacles over high-volume programming to engage its 300 million+ members.

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NBA Faces Fan Engagement, Global Expansion, and Talent Connection Challenges

NBA Faces Fan Engagement, Global Expansion, and Talent Connection Challenges

Dec 17, 2025

The NBA must refine the NBA Cup and integrate it with All-Star Weekend to boost fan engagement, while international expansion serves as a defense against rival leagues.

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USA Sports Leverages Linear TV for Digital Business Growth

USA Sports Leverages Linear TV for Digital Business Growth

Dec 14, 2025

USA Sports leverages robust linear TV revenue to fund digital ventures, building new fan engagement beyond traditional viewing and strategically investing in high-growth properties like women's sports.

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Capital Infusion and Talent Drive Sports Media Restructuring

Capital Infusion and Talent Drive Sports Media Restructuring

Dec 10, 2025

Capital infusion and personality-driven content are reshaping sports media, driving competition for rights and redefining how audiences engage with live events and talent.

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MLS 3.0: Global Streaming, Calendar Shift, and Sustainable Growth

MLS 3.0: Global Streaming, Calendar Shift, and Sustainable Growth

Dec 07, 2025

MLS transforms into a global soccer powerhouse with a direct-to-consumer streaming model, strategic calendar shifts, and a focus on player development, defying traditional models for sustainable growth.

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How a Cult TV Show Achieved Lasting Cultural Impact

How a Cult TV Show Achieved Lasting Cultural Impact

Dec 06, 2025

Discover the "long game" and creative risks behind a cult TV hit, revealing how strategic decisions transform niche ideas into enduring cultural phenomena.

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Sports Media's Streaming Shift and Betting's Mainstreamification

Sports Media's Streaming Shift and Betting's Mainstreamification

Dec 03, 2025

Sports media is undergoing a revolution as streaming giants like YouTube and Netflix aggressively acquire rights, transforming how fans engage with live sports and driving new revenue streams.

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College Football Faces Financial Reckoning and Structural Overhaul

College Football Faces Financial Reckoning and Structural Overhaul

Nov 30, 2025

College football faces seismic shifts: unsustainable NIL costs, potential collective bargaining, and the looming threat of a "super league" as wealthy conferences forge ahead.

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NFL Masters Streaming Wars, Driving Prime Membership Growth

NFL Masters Streaming Wars, Driving Prime Membership Growth

Nov 26, 2025

Leagues strategically offer premium content to streamers, fueling a bidding war for future media rights and reshaping sports broadcasting by hiring top talent and diversifying platforms.

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Sports Media Disrupted: AI, Streaming, and Valued Talent

Sports Media Disrupted: AI, Streaming, and Valued Talent

Nov 23, 2025

AI threatens editorial talent, while audience-moving stars command top dollar amidst a fractured media landscape and escalating sports rights fees.

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MLS-Apple Deal Unlocks Casual Fans, Reshapes Sports Media

MLS-Apple Deal Unlocks Casual Fans, Reshapes Sports Media

Nov 19, 2025

MLS makes games free, YouTube TV bundles sports, broadcasters consolidate, WBD might sell, and podcasts boom in this media rights revolution.

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NWSL's Ubiquitous Media Strategy Fuels Record Growth

NWSL's Ubiquitous Media Strategy Fuels Record Growth

Nov 16, 2025

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman reveals the league's accessible media strategy, expansion secrets, and player promotion tactics driving unprecedented growth and fan engagement.

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NFL Media Dominance, Consolidation, and Future Frontiers

NFL Media Dominance, Consolidation, and Future Frontiers

Nov 12, 2025

NFL media rights soar, consolidation reshapes the landscape, and AI/nuclear energy offer future career paths. Discover the evolving business of sports and media.

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