What does it take to turn passive viewers into loyal fans? In this episode of The Future of Fandom, YES Network's Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Matthew Duarte, joins host Miheer Walavalkar to unpack how smart product strategy, nimble third-party partnerships, and data-driven decision-making are reshaping the fan experience. Discover how YES Network's innovations in gamification, streaming, and community engagement are setting new standards in sports media.

What you'll learn in this episode

>> How YES Network evolved its streaming platforms to enhance user experience and retention

>> Why fan engagement needs to be treated as a holistic, long-term business strategy

>> Key lessons from building gamified features like Pick & Play and rewards programmes

>> The role of community features in deepening viewer connection and boosting loyalty

>> How YES Network balances innovation, speed, and ROI with lean, cross-functional teams

Meet our guest

Matthew Duarte is Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at YES Network. With a background in finance, corporate strategy, and sports media, he leads strategic initiatives across partnerships, product, and commercial innovation.
Meet our host

Miheer Walavalkar is the CEO and Co-founder of LiveLike, a leading fan engagement tech company powering billions of interactions for major sports and media brands.

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Connect with Miheer Walavalkar on LinkedIn

Connect with Matt Duarte on LinkedIn