Recast

Last week, I had the chance to visit Disneyland with my family. Honestly, what a place! Watching my kids light up with excitement too, that alone is unforgettable. But as a business leader, I couldn’t help but look at Disney through a slightly different lens. (Never switch off) What stood out for me was how a vision from a century ago still carries through today. → Walt Disney’s ideas were innovative & transformative. → His vision brought joy to millions, spanning generations & cultures. → And even now, Disney continues to inspire, entertain, and innovate. What I find most impressive is how they engage audiences of all ages. And they’ve built an ecosystem that connects people across the globe. Disney is a reminder to us all that true innovation is about continuously adapting. And yes, while the rides, the characters, and the magic are all incredible… The real magic is in their ability to turn a vision into reality that lasts for generations. It’s something we can all reflect on. Especially when reflecting on the challenges in sports and how we can engage audiences around the world of all ages more effectively. So, the question is: How are you innovating to inspire and engage audiences across all generations?

Arrived in Madrid for SportsPro. Looking forward to a busy couple of days introducing Recast to new connections and reacquainting with old friends. If you’re in town and we’ve not yet made contact, get in touch, I’d love to meet up!

Has Netflix rewritten the rules for live sports? On Friday, I watched Jake Paul take on Iron Mike. Scripted or not and controversy aside, it was a spectacle that had everyone talking. Beyond the headlines and debates, one question stood out: What does this mean for the sports industry? For most, probably nothing. Netflix’s selective approach to live sports won’t change the landscape and direction of travel for the industry. But as Greg Peters said at the FT Live event that I attended in September: “Netflix plans to "Netflixify" any sports they do get involved in, investing heavily in storytelling and unique productions”. It’s not about scaling to broadcast every major sport. Their focus remains narrow, impactful, and highly selective. So, rights owners, don’t expect Netflix to fill the void of broadcaster cheques, and as cheques decreasingly come your way... What can be learned from this? 1. Product: → Leverage your talent to tell great stories and build hype about your product. → Create anticipation and engage fans through social media storytelling. 2. Model: → Remove barriers to access, minimise friction to maximise conversion. → You’re not Netflix, so focus on flexibility over subscriptions. Value exchange is key. 3. Promotion: → Let your stars shine. Use their reach and influence to promote. → Align incentives, give talent a share of revenue based on viewership they generate. 4. Distribution: → Meet your audience where they are, don’t wait for them to find you. → Fragmentation and walled gardens limit reach, target distribution widely and syndicate to where your target audiences are. Combining the above will deliver results. Fact. In short, Netflix isn’t the saviour of sports... But their adoption of an ad model and everything they have done (+ are doing in sport) tells one overarching message and lesson… Live drama is valuable, but the landscape is shifting rapidly. So, move fast, be bold and be flexible. P.S. What’s your biggest takeaway from Netflix’s move into live sports?

Today, I am heading back to LA! This time, Karen and the kids are coming with me! (I'm not sure who is more excited.) It was a hugely successful trip to LA back in September. And the opportunity to build Recast in the States couldn’t be clearer. → The market is calling for change. → Recast is resonating massively with US audiences. → US audiences are already embracing change. However, frequent travel back and forth, and being away from the family from long periods of time, is hard. So I'm grateful that this time, we're all going together. And if we all love it... well, you never know. We could end up here more often. First stop, London. Next stop, LA!

Over the years, I've seen many voices shape our industry. Here’s what I have experienced: → Some bring fresh, impactful ideas. → Some are innovators who understand the pulse of an evolving market. → Some recognise the need for change and drive it forward with conviction. These are the leaders who inspire me. But I’ll admit, I sometimes wonder: 1. Who deserves the power to make decisions that impact us all? 2. Does a title or brand affiliation alone qualify someone to lead? 3. Does long tenure in a large organisation guarantee the insight and courage needed to navigate a changing landscape? 4. Who decides the people who should shape the future of sports media? And what if there’s an unspoken expectation for leaders to uphold traditional models rather than push for change? It’s why I ask these questions, because right now the industry needs leaders who have: → Adaptability to see what’s next, not just what’s now. → Courage to question outdated practices. → Bravery to lead by example in creating and driving impactful change I’m sharing these thoughts to: Encourage reflection. Encourage bravery. Encourage change. As an industry, we’re only as strong as the voices that lead us forward. And right now, I can’t encourage you enough to stand up, speak up, and be the leader that the industry now needs. Without it, the harsh the reality is that there is greater risk to the organisation you serve and the people you serve.

Yesterday, I celebrated my 40th Birthday. I know what you‘re all thinking… “He doesn’t look a day older than 39!” As I hit 40, it’s been a bit surreal taking a breath and looking back on the journey so far. It’s been an incredible ride filled with highs, lows, successes, failures, many lessons, and many phenomenal connections and memories made. So here’s a bit about me and what I stand for: → Founder & CEO of Recast. → Dedicated to giving media owners new ways to monetise the modern consumer. → Passionate about making content accessible to every fan. → Proud to have built Sportlobster, my first sports tech venture. → Living in Scotland, creating global change in the sports and media landscape. But beyond the business side, there are things that shaped who I am: 1. An appreciation and respect for different cultures, growing up in various countries. 2. Earned a soccer scholarship in the US. 3. A knee injury ended my dream of playing professional football. 4. Built my first company from scratch in Dubai. 5. Scaled Sportlobster to reach millions globally from London. 6. Partnered with global icons and brands like Cristiano Ronaldo and the NBA. 7. Nearly lost everything with Recast last year, only to rebuild with even more purpose. Over the years, I’ve also learned a few things I want to share with you: Resilience is everything. → If you can rise after a setback, you can keep moving forward, no matter what. Innovation requires boldness. → The media landscape isn’t going to change itself, and someone has to push the envelope. Sport needs that change more than most. Balance keeps you grounded. → For me, that’s Pilates, mindfulness, and time with my family. Looking forward, I’m more driven than ever to make a lasting difference: Recast 2.0 is redefining the media landscape. It's not disruptive, it's a solution to the disruption. I am committed to helping media owners unlock new revenue streams without friction. Most importantly, I’m building a future that my family and I can be proud of. Lastly… I’ve mentioned this before, but it feels right to share it again. Everything I work towards would not be possible without the incredible support from family and friends, especially my wife, Karen, and my kids, who inspire me enormously and are my daily motivation. Although I have now joined the four zero club… It’s funny… As it feels like this is still only the beginning. And I am abundantly grateful for what life has to offer throughout the next decade. P.S. This is where I switched off the last 48 hours. Taymouth Marina in Perthshire, Scotland 😍🧘♂️

We're delighted to have JOE Media Group (Ireland) on board as an affiliate, offering our clients the opportunity to distribute content to the vast audience on www.sportsjoe.ie, whilst allowing Joe Media to bring live and (on-demand) sport directly to their readers.

Scottish Rugby won 57-17 on Saturday. But they were actually the losers. Saturday night, I checked my phone and saw that Scotland was winning 29-10 against Fiji at half time. I'd forgotten the match was on. So, I thought I'd tune in for the second half. This should be fun. Not just for me, but as a family of four. We’re known to sit and watch rugby together. Quick Google search, only to find it was exclusively on TNT, behind a subscription paywall. Gone! → TNT lost me. → Scottish rugby lost me. → Rugby lost me. → Sport lost me. What’s worse, they didn’t just lose me They lost four of us. An opportunity missed to spark the interest and passion of a 7 year old and 9 year old… The next generation of rugby fans. Instead, we went straight to Amazon Prime. We’d watched Men in Black last week (the first movie was free - clever) and now MIB II was available to rent on Prime for £2.79. We paid it and watched the movie. Now, MIB III is £4.99. Clever. We’ll pay it. But you know where that £2.79 could have gone just 2 minutes earlier? (I would have paid more…I was right there!) It could’ve gone to TNT, Scottish Rugby, Rugby, and Sport. (And using Recast, earnings could’ve been split and distributed instantly to everyone involved - just saying 😉 ) The thing is, my household already has it’s go-to subscriptions which serve the dynamic of 4 people. When they don’t serve our interest, we don’t just subscribe for something else. Instead: → We turn to what’s convenient. → We pay for what is going to serve our interests there and then. As a result, Prime Video put another point (or £2.79!) on the board… And TNT, Scottish Rugby, Rugby and Sport? A big fat ZERO! In gaming terms, these players all just lost a life, and they’re losing them at scale, fast! - How many other stories are there like this from Saturday? - How many individuals or families across the country, or the world, stopped and bounced elsewhere? - How many of them would have paid £3, or £5, to watch the Rugby? From speaking with others, from browsing social media and by applying logic… The answer is… A LOT! Scottish Rugby might have won on Saturday, but at what cost? The truth is that Scottish Rugby and Rugby itself lost, and they’re losing on a huge scale, every time they play. The model needs to change, and it needs to change now.

🇧🇷 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨’𝐬 𝐗𝐈 𝐯 𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥’𝐬 𝐗𝐈  🇦🇺 We’re thrilled to be working with Jimmy Smith, Glenroy Media Pty Ltd and INCASA.DM to distribute the next event in Ronaldinho’s Joga Bonito Tour - Ronaldinho XI v Tim Cahill XI tomorrow (Fri 7.30pm AEDT / 8:30am GMT). Here’s how the promoters are using Recast to 𝐦𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: ⚽ They’re hosting the stream on the event website using a 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 embed widget, which is free to use and can be set up in no time (link below). ⚽ Fans can watch on a pay-per-view basis via a 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 - no subscriptions needed! ⚽ Recast’s geo-blocking feature is in place to honour the broadcast arrangement in AUS, whilst making the match available to the rest of the world. ⚽ 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 allows Affiliates to host or share the event in exchange for a pre-agreed revenue split. ⚽ As such, global football stars, celebrities and creators like Ronaldinho, Douglas Costa, Jamie Zhu and Thais Ramonie will be using Share & Earn links to promote the event to their millions of followers, earning a percentage for every view generated. ⚽ And JOE Media Group (Ireland) are using an Affiliate Embed Widget to host the event on their their site and promote to their vast audience of sports fans: https://lnkd.in/ehBFRwET Colin McDonnell This event showcases the power of Recast for rights holders, giving fans quick, flexible, and affordable access to content, whilst leveraging the vast reach of athletes, influencers and media outlets as Affiliates. 𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐎! 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/ek8Nv5gy 𝘑𝘰𝘨𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰! 🇧🇷 #Contentowners #Rightsholders #contentmonetisation #contentmonetization #Livesports #VOD #controlyourearnings #PPV #Sports #Sportsbroadcasting

Reflecting on the whirlwind trip to Monaco. Here’s two big highlights from two fantastic days. First… Friendships! Our industry has opened the doors to many fantastic friendships, both old and new. I'm particularly grateful for how supportive and encouraging everyone has been. Following a challenging 18 months, having old friends and people I had just met for the first time praising and commenting on our resilience (without any obligation to do so) is incredibly motivating. And to have many gunning for our success means a great deal to me. Honestly… It’s humbling and inspiring. → Your encouragement pushes my team and I to continue raising the bar. → Your shared belief pushes my team and I forward. Thank you! Second… The Industry is ready for change. Everyone I met agreed that the time for a different and more flexible approach to monetising their fans, while giving their fans more flexible and affordable access to their content, is now. And I am pleased and proud that many see Recast as the solution. We've worked so hard to build something that will support the future of media, and I'm delighted that this was recognised from almost every single person both Toni Blackhurst and I spoke to. → Flexible access is now essential for growth. → The right solution unlocks the full potential of content. The future of media is here, and alongside so many genuinely good people from across the industry, I’m pumped to be part of it. Let's go! P.S. I only captured a few pictures over the two days, but this picture sums up the two days perfectly: Relaxed, having fun, but all the while getting shit done! Steffan Piolet And cheers 🍻 to the friendships and partnerships formed this week at SPORTEL.