Bundesliga CEO Steffen Merkel on German football's €6bn business

In this special episode recorded at SportsInnovation 2026, SportsPro's George Breare returns to the hosting seat for a conversation with Steffen Merkel, chief executive of German soccer's DFL. Shortly after signing a contract extension until 2029, Merkel discusses what's driving the Bundesliga's record €6.33bn revenues and outlines the league's media rights strategy both at home and abroad.  There’s also a deep dive into how the DFL is approaching AI and emerging technologies, the impact of Harry Kane and other international stars, and why maintaining authenticity remains a key priority for the Bundesliga as the game evolves.We'd love to hear what you think. 📩 Got questions for future episodes?Email us at: [email protected]🎧 Don’t forget to check out SportsPro’s other podcasts: StreamTime Sports, Mics Out, and New Era.OUR SOCIALS:Newsletter: https://www.sportspro.com/account/registration/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vDHloCVsAdKJusUtVRnCd?si=TX8jJO6dR7qyzALZfQv2bQInstagram: https://instagram.com/sportspro.mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportspro-media/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportspromediaStreamTime Sports:  @SportsProNick  #SportsPro #Podcast #Bundesliga #DFL

With more than 2 billion daily users and 40 billion hours of sports content watched annually, YouTube has become a major destination for sports highlights, creator watchalongs and, increasingly, live sport.In this episode, we revisit an interview from the SportsPro Media Summit in Madrid, where SportsPro head of editorial Sam Carp sits down with Jonny Keogh, YouTube's head of UK sports, to discuss how leagues, teams and rights holders are using the platform to expand their reach and monetise audiences.Keogh outlines what a "good" YouTube strategy looks like today, how competitions like the Women's Super League have used the platform to build audiences and attract sponsors, and whether some properties should even use it as their primary distribution channel. 📩 Got questions for future episodes?Email us at: [email protected]🎧 Don’t forget to check out SportsPro’s other podcasts: StreamTime Sports, Mics Out, and New Era.OUR SOCIALS:Newsletter: https://www.sportspro.com/account/registration/YouTube: http://youtube.com/@wearesportsproInstagram: https://instagram.com/sportspro.mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportspro-mediaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportspromedia

Recorded live during our recent Global SportsTech Report 2026 launch event held at Meta’s London HQ, this special episode hosted by SportsPro's Steve McCaskill brings together experts from Sportradar, the DP World Tour and Meta to explore how sports technology is moving from hype to measurable impact. Where is AI genuinely creating value? How are rights holders using data to drive fan engagement? Is immersive tech finally reaching its tipping point? And what does the next phase of transformation look like? From computer vision and predictive modelling to second-screen battles, generative AI and the rise of agentic systems, this conversation explores what’s working today and what still needs to prove itself.Access the full report: https://www.sportspro.com/projects/global-sportstech-report/

10 years ago, FIFA was on its knees following a corruption scandal that rocked the sport. Enter Gianni Infantino, who was elected president of soccer's governing body with a remit of restoring faith in the organisation. To mark the anniversary of Infantino's appointment, the SportsPro editorial team unpack the highs and lows of his presidency - from record revenues and tournament expansion to growing tensions over player welfare and the Swiss administrator's increasingly close ties to Donald Trump.  With this summer's World Cup in the US fast approaching, we ask whether Infantino has achieved what he set out to do and look ahead to what the next chapter of his tenure has in store.📩 Got questions for future episodes?Email us at: [email protected]🎧 Don’t forget to check out SportsPro’s other podcasts: StreamTime Sports, Mics Out, and New Era.OUR SOCIALS:Newsletter: https://www.sportspro.com/account/registration/YouTube: http://youtube.com/@wearesportsproInstagram: https://instagram.com/sportspro.mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportspro-mediaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportspromedia

In one of his first interviews since joining Six Nations Rugby, chief executive Tom Harrison joins Sam Carp and Steve McCaskill on this week's episode for an in-depth conversation at a pivotal moment for rugby union. With this season's Six Nations underway, Harrison assesses the health of the competition, discusses whether the tournament going behind a paywall was ever a genuine possibility, and explains why in-game ads have been introduced for the first time. There's also time to look ahead to the inaugural edition of the new Nations Championship and explore the challenges of calendar reform, while Harrison also offers his view on what rugby needs to do to stay relevant and predicts what the sport could look like in ten years. 📩 Got questions for future episodes?Email us at: [email protected]🎧 Don’t forget to check out SportsPro’s other podcasts: StreamTime Sports, Mics Out, and New Era.OUR SOCIALS:Newsletter: https://www.sportspro.com/account/registration/YouTube: http://youtube.com/@wearesportsproInstagram: https://instagram.com/sportspro.mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportspro-mediaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportspromedia

With one week to go until the Winter Olympics, the SportsPro Podcast dives into what Milan-Cortina 2026 means for the future of the Games and discusses whether the event will benefit from the glow of a successful Paris 2024.Hear from Ed Dixon, Sam Carp, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim as they break down the business of the Winter Olympics and explore some of the biggest storylines approaching the Games, including Italy's hosting journey, the return of the NHL and the political backdrop to the event.There's also time to consider some of the more existential questions about the future of the Winter Olympics – and of course the quiz that no one asked for.#SportsPro #Podcast #WinterOlympics

The SportsPro team reveal their ten most influential figures for the year ahead spanning global sport, media, politics and athlete power before locking in a set of bold predictions on media rights, private equity, women’s sport and golf’s fractured future. Hear from Ed Dixon, Sam Carp, Steve McCaskill and Josh Sim as they focus on the people, power and decisions that will shape the industry over the next 12 months.

The SportsPro Podcast signs off for the year with its traditional dose of festive chaos, as Ed Dixon hosts the 2025 SportsPro Christmas Quiz with Josh Sim, Steve McCaskill and Sam Carp. From staggeringly slow quick-fire questions and an ill-conceived bidding round to confusing quotes and a nail-biting finale, the team test how much they actually remember from the past 12 months across the global sports industry. Will they cope under the pressure, which of them suffers the ignominy of the wooden spoon and who walks away with the title? Tune in to find out.

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.

The SportsPro Podcast returns with Josh Sim, Steve McCaskill, Ed Dixon and Sam Carp, alongside a drop-in from BlackBook Motorsport’s Cian Brittle.Fresh from Monaco, Josh shares his insights from the Sportel business conference, including LaLiga president Javier Tebas’ comments on pan-European rights and SURJ Sports Investment chief executive Danny Townsend’s perspective on the firm’s strategy.The team then unpacks Steve’s sit down with Sports Interactive studio director Miles Jacobson, exploring Football Manager’s delayed release, its transition to a new engine, and the task of integrating women’s soccer into the game.The panel also reacts to Formula One’s new US media rights deal with Apple and debates whether the agreement makes sense for both parties.