John Ourand

1 week ago | puck.news | John Ourand

Peacock, in many ways, has become a fascinating totem of legacy media’s journey into the streaming age. Launched in the summer of 2020, NBCU appeared keen to make a Goldilocks gamble in the streaming wars. Perhaps befitting its heritage as a cable company and cable systems provider, Peacock defied the pure-play logic of the day and entered the world as an AVOD system, leaning into the parentco’s strength in the advertising industry.

1 week ago | puck.news | John Ourand

Welcome back to The Varsity, our thrice-weekly private email on the money, power, influence, and egos that prop up the sports business. I’m trying to get this to you before tonight’s tip-off. If you listen closely, you can hear Jimmy Pitaro and Rita Ferro cheering that the NBA Finals are guaranteed to go to at least six games. The old saw about ad sales still rings true: Networks only start to make money on Game 6, and Game 7 represents the true ad sales windfall.

1 week ago | puck.news | John Ourand

When NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. took in his first F1 race last month, he was impressed with everything that was going on off the track—from the sponsors’ lavish hospitality areas to concerts and parties thrown by companies that had no connection to the race. To him, the event had the type of festival atmosphere that NASCAR used to do so well but pulled back from during the pandemic.

2 weeks ago | puck.news | John Ourand

Back in December, soon after PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced a plan to hire a C.E.O., the search committee identified Roger Goodell’s number two, Brian Rolapp, as a top candidate. Rolapp has been the NFL’s top business executive for years, and the lead architect of the league’s media playbook. And though he has never been officially identified as the heir apparent to Goodell, Rolapp has unofficially been on the shortlist to succeed him. But who knows when that might happen.

2 weeks ago | puck.news | John Ourand

Back in December, soon after PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced a plan to hire a C.E.O., the search committee identified Roger Goodell’s number two, Brian Rolapp, as a top candidate. Rolapp has been the NFL’s top business executive for years, and the lead architect of the league’s media playbook. And though he has never been officially identified as the heir apparent to Goodell, Rolapp has unofficially been on the shortlist to succeed him. But who knows when that might happen.