One of the most trusted voices in the sports industry is joining the show today to unpack the seismic shifts reshaping how games are distributed, monetized, and consumed.
Doug Perlman, Founder of Sports Media Advisors and former media executive at the NHL and IMG, is bringing his decades of experience to a wide-ranging conversation on the business of sports in 2025.
Doug and Dave dig into why women’s sports are finally commanding real commercial value, how college sports have become a minefield of media rights, NIL, and transfer portal chaos, and what it means now that tech giants and betting companies are major players in the rights game.
They also explore the complexities AI introduces to rights deals and why younger audiences are “following” sports without actually watching full games.
Whether you work on the property side, media side, or investment side, this episode is packed with hard-earned insight on the trends that matter and the decisions that will shape the next era of the industry.
In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The current chaos in college sports: realignment, NIL, and why coaches are now recruiters and retainers
• Risks and rewards of AI in sports media deals, including who REALLY controls the rights to new content
• Why Gen Z's content habits are pushing properties to rethink full-game broadcasts and prioritize social-first storytelling
• Why women’s sports are now commanding real commercial value (and how that shift is changing negotiations)
• How sports betting has increased audience engagement and transformed how properties pitch value

Resources and Links:

Connect with Doug Perlman on LinkedIn and check out his website, Sports Media Advisors.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.