Disruptive Play

No more talking about Drive to Survive in 2025. It’s time to break the cycle: ✅ Innovation (Drive to Survive shook up sports storytelling) ✅ Imitation (leagues rushed to copy the playbook) ❌ Saturation (a glut of forgettable, formulaic sports docs chasing cheap drama). We’ve seen this before with Top Chef and the explosion of food TV. What started as a celebration of culinary artistry turned into over-the-top challenges and conflict-heavy gimmicks. Audiences burned out. But food TV didn’t die—it evolved. ✨ Chef’s Table brought cinematic storytelling. ✨ Great British Baking Show charmed with its wholesomeness. ✨ Niche shows leaned into cultural authenticity and underserved audiences. Sports documentaries can evolve too. Here’s how we break through the noise: - Focus on emotional connection—ditch the manufactured drama. - Explore overlooked perspectives: coaches, superfans, emerging subcultures. - Innovate formats for a digital-native audience. - Lean into authenticity and respect the sport. The next Drive to Survive won’t come from copying the formula. It’ll come from rediscovering what makes a story worth telling and finding new ways to tell it. At Disruptive Play, we’re not chasing the last big success—we’re looking at what’s next. Let’s rewrite the rulebook. https://lnkd.in/evuAJAHu #SportsMedia #Storytelling #DisruptivePlay #Innovation #SportsDocs

Think Today’s Generation Won’t Pay for Content? At Disruptive Play, we’ve long argued that bloated subscriptions and outdated distribution strategies fail younger audiences. Today’s audiences are drowning in subscriptions. Younger fans in particular crave flexibility, rejecting rigid packages in favor of pay-as-you-go options. Why Now? The Micropayment Revolution - Micropayments are surging. Forrester predicts that demand for micro-consumption will push micropayments into the mainstream by 2024. -$288 billion by 2027. That’s the projected size of the microtransaction market, growing 15-20% annually. -Cancel culture is real. 39% of consumers plan to cancel at least one subscription this year, and 37% of Gen Z say they’ll drop TV services that don’t deliver on expectations. Remember Vessel and Buzzer? The failures of platforms like Vessel and Buzzer loom large Vessel: The Problem Was Exclusivity Vessel offered early access to content that would hit YouTube for free days later. It didn’t solve a real pain point, lacked true exclusivity, and failed to incentivize creators to prioritize the platform. Buzzer: The Problem Was Alternatives Buzzer’s microtransaction model sold key live sports moments—but fans could watch highlights for free on Twitter or elsewhere. Catering to a mainstream sports audience with abundant alternatives meant the value proposition wasn’t strong enough. ENTER RECAST Enter Recast Andy Meikle, a platform reimagining how fans access content. By letting media owners and rights holders sell directly to consumers at fair, affordable prices—and with zero upfront costs—it might just crack the code on sports monetization Recast is perfectly positioned for this shift. Fans can purchase live or on-demand content starting at just $0.01 (average is $0.64) while earning credits through gamified interactions. It’s a model that feels natural to younger audiences raised in digital ecosystems. DISRUPTIVE PLAY - Has Recast learned from the failures of platforms like Vessel and Buzzer, focusing on niche sports, hybrid D2C models, and empowering athletes to drive sales? Or are we overhyping the potential ? Check it out at --> https://lnkd.in/g2xX-UDs

The The Premier League YouTube Channel Originally Launched by Social Platform Savant Jeff Nathenson Disruptive Play continues to define best in class...

Looking forward iSportConnect discussions in Dubai!

RODEO: THE NEXT GREAT WHITE SPACE IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS While legacy leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB dominate in tradition and scale, new opportunities are emerging in underserved, culturally resonant spaces. Enter rodeo. With its deep ties to Western heritage, fast-paced action, and unparalleled authenticity, rodeo stands ready to become the next big thing in professional sports. Teton Ridge recent acquisition of The Cowboy Channel - https://lnkd.in/eyDdRD84 highlights a strategic bet on this frontier. This strategic move by Deirdre Lester not only expands the footprint of Western sports but underscores the untapped potential to deepen fandom with endemics and expand the sport to new fans by making Rodeo more accessible and relatable through owned IP and fresh approaches to content, distribution and partnerships. WHY RODEO?   AUTHENTICITY IN AN ERA OF OVERPRODUCTION - Fans are increasingly drawn to sports that feel real, raw, and grounded. Rodeo embodies this ethos, with athletes battling against nature, timing, and their own limits. There are no gimmicks—just heart-pounding competition rooted in grit and tradition. A BUILT-IN, PASSIONATE FANBASE - Rodeo already has a rabid fanbase, particularly in the heartland of America, but it’s been largely overlooked by mainstream sports media. With better distribution and storytelling, this audience can be amplified and expanded globally. FAST-PACED, HIGH-IMPACT FORMAT - From bull riding to barrel racing, rodeo events are short, intense, and perfectly suited for modern viewing habits. Whether consumed on TV, TikTok, or YouTube, or Creator Sports Network the format is inherently social-first, ready for digital platforms to embrace. CROSSROADS OF CULTURE AND COMMERCE - Western lifestyle isn’t just a niche—it’s a multibillion-dollar industry. Rodeo sits at the intersection of sports, fashion, and entertainment, making it ripe for partnerships with global brands looking to align with rugged Americana and aspirational values. A PATH FOR GENDER EQUALITY - With male and female athletes both competing at the highest levels, rodeo is uniquely positioned to tell inclusive stories. The rise of the Cowgirl Channel reflects an opportunity to elevate female athletes and grow the sport through diverse representation. A VISION FOR THE FUTURE: Teton Ridge’s investment reflects a broader trend: the rise of specialized sports ecosystems. By consolidating media rights, elevating production quality, and integrating creator-driven storytelling, rodeo can become more than just a sport—it can be a cultural movement. Rodeo has all the ingredients to thrive in this new sports landscape. It’s time to move beyond the tired stereotypes and recognize it for what it is: a dynamic, community-driven sport with global appeal. The wild west isn’t just history—it’s the future. Let’s rodeo.

For the sports world, there’s a powerful takeaway here: old playbooks won’t capture the next generation of fans. And if you ignore them, you too will lose.

Is the Campbell's and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment deal a precursor to redefining the future of sports sponsorships? - This deal is unique because it spans multiple major sports franchises—the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Commanders, New Jersey Devils, and Joe Gibbs Racing—allowing Campbell's to activate its brands across top markets through exclusive and authentic fan engagements.   - It highlights Campbell’s new initiative, "Kitchen 1869," designed to drive growth by leveraging high-profile collaborations and innovative marketing opportunities in the sports and entertainment industries. - The partnership includes exclusive branding opportunities and in-stadium experiences, marking a significant cross-sport collaboration aimed at broadening Campbell’s presence across multiple fan bases. Disruptive Play - LOOKING AHEAD - Sports sponsorships have been stuck in the past… What if emerging sports properties combined forces—creating super-sponsorship deals across leagues? Could this help early-stage properties fund their products faster, grow their collective fanbases?

QVC + USA Pickleball: An Unlikely Blueprint for Sports IP Monetization In the race for sports IP monetization, billion-dollar media rights often dominate the conversation. However, the recent partnership between QVC and USA Pickleball may offer an unexpected blueprint for sports IP looking to create revenue streams outside of “traditional” monetization. QVC’s partnership with USA Pickleball presents a compelling case for blending live sports and commerce (and we applaud the creativity), it remains largely rooted in a traditional broadcast structure—where one platform reaches a broad audience. In today's social / digital landscape, sports fans are increasingly seeking deeper, more interactive experiences. This is where creator-driven communities come into play, offering a more dynamic and participatory model that could push this blueprint even further. DISRUPTIVE PLAY - How to think about unlocking The Power of Creator-Driven Communities

Last week we shared our thoughts on the future of sport at the Thinking Football Summit - Debunking notion that younger audiences don't watch live sports

Disruptive Play is very excited to take the Thinking Football Summit stage with some of the industry's biggest change makers. 9/12 - Participating in Empowering Amateur Football: Reinventing the Game Michael Broughton Felix Starck Spencer Carmichael-Brown Michael Cohen 9/13 - Hosting From Pitch to Screens: Evolving trends in sports content Sébastien Audoux Julian Bird Roy Thomas Michael Cohen Key Themes: - Traditional Broadcasting vs Digital Broadcasting - The power of new types of content – Macro and Micro Creators short and mid form, Documentaries mid and long form, Creators Network, Short Form ops Athletes and Creators impact - The Democratization of Content Creation – Everyone can be a creator - New sports created by a new wave of content creation, new storytelling and new audiences - New business models