In the 47-minute podcast, one of the most influential and dynamic executives in the business Mark Shapiro explains what is next in media, how relationships, strategy, timing and luck lead to billion dollar deals, his point of view on Ari Emanuel, Bob Iger, Dana White, Nick Khan and Triple H and some of the best advice a young person trying to break into the business could ever receive
And, does Shapiro want to succeed Iger at the top of Disney?
That and much more as Shapiro, the President and Chief Operating Officer of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. and President and Managing Partner of WME Group, is the guest on “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.”
The pod was filmed in front of a live studio audience last week as part of the “Off The Record with Andrew Marchand presented by WSC Sports” series.
The Rundown …
Where does Shapiro see the opportunity in sports media
Today nothing is more important than live experiences, premium content & live content
How do you make the $7.7B UFC/Paramount+ deal and the $1.625B WWE/ESPN agreement happen
TKO is negotiating 150 properties per year so it needs to know the market everywhere
Shapiro said Fox was “lazy” and wanted to go south on UFC right fees before ESPN+ came in
The importance of strategy, relationships and timing
How the courting goes with Jimmy Pitaro, Bob Iger, Burke Magnus and Kevin Mayer do a deal like the UFC-ESPN+ one
Originally, ESPN+ wasn’t going to have the pay-per-views, but Shapiro and Ari Emanuel were bringing a gift
The gift that Shapiro and Emanuel brought Iger that caused them to sweat
Shapiro, at 30, taking on Dick Ebersol
The PR gurus, Chris LaPlaca, Mike Soltys & Josh Krulewitz, who teamed up with Shapiro, to put ESPN on offense with George Bodenheimer’s blessing
Shapiro offers some of the best advice any 22-year-old out of college wanting to enter the sports business or any business could receive
How did Shapiro’s relationship with Ari Emanuel begin and grow
Shapiro said that Emanuel are like brothers & are brutally honest with each other
How the UFC deal came together for $4B, which Shapiro said is now worth $12-15B
How does Shapiro balance instinct vs. data in decision making
The difference lessons Shapiro learned from Barry Diller and Jeff Zucker
What do we not see about Dana White
Shapiro says White is a “beast” with a human element
What it is like to work with Nick Khan and Triple H on WWE
How WWE is churning out more premium content than anyone
Where does Shapiro see AI going
Shapiro thinks AI will help productivity, but you need soul
What does Shapiro see next in his career
Shapiro’s is betting on the experience economy with Emanuel in their new company called MARI
What was his relationship with Iger when he ran ESPN
Would Shapiro be interested in succeeding Iger to lead Disney
What is Shapiro’s favorite ride at Disney
Some Related Sports Media Podcasts
Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you
On Deck: Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media
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