What are the biggest trends in sports programming you’ve seen right now?

There are some obvious ones, whether it be sports betting or short-form video, etc. Beyond that, and probably most interesting to me, is that we’re seeing a wave of new entrants in what I would describe as hyperlocal sports content. There’s enough sustained effort and money to assume that this trend will continue, so the question really becomes whether any of these entrants can develop an effective strategy for significant audience dislocation.  

What are the biggest challenges those working in sports programming have to overcome? 

It’s probably the same for anyone who works in content, where attention spans are dropping while content choices are growing. Which is to say that there’s now more competition for less time. So, the challenge is really about how much you stay committed to your core content mission versus building alternative strategies.  

What is one thing you wish sports programming professionals had a better understanding of?

I will just speak for myself in wanting to get a better understanding of consumer patterns and where to meet our customers on their content journeys.  In a world that is becoming more about specialization and choice, I aspire to be as specific as possible about the details of the market involved.  

What are the top 3 things that attendees should go hunt down on the show floor to expand what they just learned in your sessions?

These are areas that I believe are worth investing time in:

• A.I. – Will it bring down the cost of creativity and level the playing field for content creators? 
• Streaming – The future’s overdue on distribution and the impact it has (and will have) on legacy media. 
• Social media – The defining media of our lifetime, and particularly relevant with consumers eroding views on institutions and increasing trust in individuals over the brands that they represent.