SBJ Spotlight

This episode looks at the hottest news in the industry, including upheaval in the collegiate space, with Texas and Oklahoma looking to join the SEC and what four super conferences might look like; how relatively smooth sailing at the Tokyo Olympics is defying the naysayers; and whether the NFL hit the right notes with its veiled threats to unvaccinated players. Plus, a conversation with '21 SBJ Champion Larry Lucchino. In addition, our roundtable of experts talk about whether the NBC Olympics digital buffet offers too many choices, and gives predictions and people of the week.

SBJ debuts the latest episode of its video news series, "SBJ Spotlight." This episode looks at the hottest news in the industry, including ESPN dealing with personnel drama even as it enjoys great ratings for several properties, how a Game 7 in the NBA Finals would erase talk about low ratings and make ABC happy, whether ESPN and Turner will be successful with their NHL studio shows, and the latest news around the Olympics. In addition, our experts look at the athlete rights movement and the first few weeks of the NIL era in collegiate sports. The episode concludes with our Insiders Roundtable offering predictions and people of the week.

In the 'Spotlight': Softball's stellar ratings, prospects for CFP expansion, and MLB's sticky problem SBJ debuts the latest episode of its video news series, "SBJ Spotlight." This episode looks at the hottest news in the industry, including impressive ratings for softball and what that may mean for women's sports, the pros and cons of expanding the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, why MLB felt pressure to issue new rules in mid-season to address the problem of illegal substances on balls, and a look at Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith's plan to build a small-market team into a worldwide powerhouse. In addition, our experts look into the prospects for Sinclair's plan to launch a streaming sports network, and why IndyCar is circling back to NBC after kicking the tires on other networks. The episode concludes with our Insiders Roundtable offering predictions and people of the week. Our guests this week: Bruce Schoenfeld -- SBJ contributor Kevin Griffin -- AdCom SBJ writers in this episode: Abe Madkour John Ourand Eric Prisbell Adam Stern

SBJ debuts the latest episode of "SBJ Spotlight." This episode looks at the hottest news in the industry, including the US Soccer's decision to bring its media rights in-house, the fan behavior and player safety issues arising as spectators return to arenas, pressures on campus contributing to the exodus of large numbers of athletic directors, and top 49ers exec Paraag Marathe on his successful career in the sports industry. Also in the episode: Diverse candidates are getting more opportunities to become athletic directors, ESPN promotes Burke Magnus after a year of unprecedented deals, and will more coaches join Stanford's David Shaw in criticizing television partners for early kickoff times?The episode concludes with our Insiders Roundtable offering predictions and people of the week.

In the 'Spotlight': 76ers' Scott O'Neil loves the play-in format, the value of sports management programs and the career of industry Champion Tom Wilson

This episode looks at the quarter-century of challenges and growth for the WNBA; a media veteran's new push into the youth sports market, and what he sees as the challenges of getting young people involved in sports; and the ways that technology around NFTs could transform the sports industry. It concludes with our Insiders Roundtable offering predictions and people of the week.

Fallout from MLB's quick move to relocate the All-Star Game, the state of MLS and professional soccer, the NFL's next marketing moves, and grading the NCAA basketball tournaments.