From AI-powered dubbing to stripped-back broadcast vans to clever piracy countermeasures, sports streaming is undergoing a major shift. In this episode of StreamTime Sports, co-host Nick Meacham shares his key takeaways from Streaming Tech Sweden, an annual event for streaming tech in the Nordics, as well as a behind the scenes at the Ice Hockey World Championships with Infront to understand what it takes to deliver a global broadcast.

Key Talking Points:

• How modern broadcast supply chains are being rebuilt from the ground up
• DYN Media proving how lean production can still scale with quality
• Infront’s thirty-one camera broadcast of the Ice Hockey Worlds shows innovation in action
• Piracy continues to grow, but smarter deterrents are emerging

What can a week in Sweden can teach us about the future of sports media? StreamTime Sports host Nick Meacham unpacks his recent trip in the Nordics, where he hosted a Two Circles event to uncover the key trends shaping the industry - from the rising value of fandom to the stark realities of media rights and piracy. We also hear from Dugald Macdonald, CEO of Sportable on how real-time performance data is enhancing the fan experience and broadening its media impact.

Key Points:

• Two Circles predicts four billion global sports fans by 2033 - driving a 50% increase in content consumption
• Nearly 50% of all sports fandom is formed before age 14 and why making youth focused content is more vital than ever
• The Nordic region leads in streaming adoption, but also highlights major piracy challenges
• 'Friction is the enemy,' paywalls, user experience, lack of time, and share of wallet are major blockers to lifelong fandom
• Sportable's performance data is key to unlocking serving super fans with knowledge

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, Nick Meacham and Chris Stone break down a jam-packed week of developments in sports media. From ESPN’s long-anticipated streaming launch and Fox’s DTC entry, to YouTube’s first-ever globally streamed NFL game, they explore the major shifts reshaping media rights, monetisation, and fan engagement. Plus, they dive into EA Sports live-streaming MLS matches, the WNBA’s booming momentum, and Premiership Rugby’s £200M comeback deal with TNT Sports.

Talking Points:

• ESPN confirms a $30/month DTC bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and an AI-powered SportsCenter
• Fox Sports finally join the streaming wars - too late or just in time?
• Could YouTube’s free global NFL stream redefine live sports broadcasting?
• Is the NBA helping or hindering the WNBA’s growth by bundling their media rights?
• Premiership Rugby secures a £200M deal with TNT Sports
• MLS and Apple continue diversifying distribution by live streaming via the EA Sports FC app