111. Randy Freer - Media Expert & Former Hulu CEO
Release Date: 01/29/2025
117. Jahm Najafi - MSP Sports Capital, McLaren Racing, X Games
Navigating Sports Business
Jahm Najafi - Chairman and Partner at MSP Sports Capital and Head of the Najafi Companies - is an investor in McLaren Racing, the X Games, and other major sports properties. He discusses some of his most significant investments and the philosophies that guide his decision-making. Jahm's Book Recommendation: Details: 1:45 - Being an owner vs. a shareholder 3:25 - Investing in McLaren Racing 21:30 - The X Games investment 26:15 - What’s next? 30:20 - Rapid Fire Questions For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
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Highlight: Lynn Holzman - NCAA
Navigating Sports Business
Lynn Holzman – VP of Women’s Basketball at the NCAA – on the NCAA's new media rights deal with ESPN and the opportunities it creates for fans of women's sports. Embedded in the deal are storytelling opportunities that aim to promote women's basketball utilizing ESPN's platform. While the NCAA men's basketball tournament is sold to network partners as a standalone package, women's basketball remains part of this larger agreement. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
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116. Navigating Sports Media: Jim Cochrane & Jon Heidtke - Texas Rangers
Navigating Sports Business
In the first episode of our new "Navigating Sports Media" series, Navigate's Head of Media, Umar Hussain, hosts two guests who are leading the way in the regional broadcast space. Staring down a new local media rights reality and with just 9 months of prep time, the Texas Rangers launched Rangers Sports Network and DTC offering in partnership with Victory+. With the ongoing disruption in cable and streaming, teams will need to get creative and ensure that their content (especially games) are accessible and attractive in-market for both existing and new fans. Jim Cochrane - Chief...
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Highlight: Matt Dennington - McLaren Racing
Navigating Sports Business
Matt Dennington – Co-Chief Commercial Officer at McLaren Racing – on how the team's 2024 Constructors' Cup Championship ultimately hinged on 0.7 seconds during one critical pit stop. He explains how that difference is reflective of the team's Forever Forward mentality which pushes for high performance at every level of the organization. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
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115. Vincent Pierson & Curtis Walker - Black Sports Business Academy
Navigating Sports Business
Vincent Pierson and Curtis Walker - Co-Founders of The Black Sports Business Academy - highlight how they're engaging with the HBCU family to provide programming and resources with the ultimate goal of improving equity in the sports industry. If you'd like to help support their mission, or if you're a student interested in learning more, visit . Details: 2:15 - The business case for DEI 6:30 - BSBA overview 16:00 - Networking advice 20:05 - The Yard 23:00 - The future of the BSBA For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
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Highlight: Randy Freer - Media Expert & Former Hulu CEO
Navigating Sports Business
Randy Freer - Media Expert, Former Hulu CEO, & CEO of the Freer Company - explains why we need to adopt updated metrics for measuring ratings. He shares the example of the NBA, which seems to be more popular than ever across media platforms, despite ratings concerns early in the season. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
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114. Lynn Holzman - NCAA
Navigating Sports Business
Lynn Holzman - VP of Women's Basketball at the NCAA - breaks down the excitement for this year's March Madness and the record-setting growth metrics surrounding women's basketball. Lynn also discusses her time as a conference commissioner, her background as a student athlete, and addresses the continued inequity we face as an industry despite all of our progress. Details: 1:40 - Lynn’s background as a basketball player 5:05 - The growth of women’s basketball 12:35 - The media value of the Women’s Basketball Championship 16:15 - Challenging issue for the NCAA 18:45 -...
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Highlight: Kimberly Bolt - Washington Nationals
Navigating Sports Business
Kimberly Bolt – CMO at the Washington Nationals – on marketing to fans who have recently moved to D.C. for work or school. They approach new fans with a two-pronged approach of excellent fan experience at Nationals Park, and brand storytelling that builds emotional connections between fans and players. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
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113. Marina Carpenter - Navigate
Navigating Sports Business
Navigate's own Marina Carpenter - Head of Ownership & C-Suite Strategy - talks about her previous roles leading major decisions for properties like the Arizona Coyotes and how she translates that experience when advising clients. Marina worked with three different ownership groups while at the Coyotes, worked on major legal and facilities projects including the sale of the franchise. Details: 1:40 - Working for three different ownership groups 4:55 - Venue challenges 8:40 - Managing league-level relationships 10:30 - What do the best properties do well? 14:25 - Marina’s...
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Highlight: Quentin Paquelier - Club América
Navigating Sports Business
Quentin Paquelier - CMO of Club América - on the differences between the sports industries in Mexico and the United States and why both sides have a lot to learn from each other. He claims that the passion of his fanbase, and Mexican soccer fans in general, is unmatched in the U.S. and elsewhere. For Club América, the passion becomes part of the product they're selling. Still, the success of their marketing waxes and wanes with on-field performance. Listen to the full episode here: For more insights, visit our or learn more about Navigate at .
info_outlineRandy Freer - Media Expert, Former Hulu CEO, & CEO of the Freer Company - shares his unique perspective on streaming, media fragmentation, the new NBA rights deal, and the viability of different models for viewing live sports.
He also discusses the changes he foresees for the next generation of sports fans and media consumers. In the past, it has been the “middle men” who have profited by purchasing live rights and selling advertising. Now, those arbitrage opportunities are becoming increasingly more complicated, and it’s the IP holders who have the most to gain from the changes.
Details:
- 4:10 - The new NBA media deal
- 6:00 - The modern media landscape
- 17:50 - UFC/Expanding property audiences
- 20:30 - Hulu, Venu, and Fubo
- 26:55 - Media fragmentation
- 35:45 - Rapid Fire Questions
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.