The Backstage Project – Sports & Entertainment Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mark Silver
The Backstage Project podcast with Mark Silver looks across the spectrum of the media and entertainment businesses to discuss the latest developments, opportunities and challenges in tech and content production.
Our latest guest on The Backstage Project podcast comes to us from the world of Canadian television. TBP was thrilled to have a chance to visit and catch up with marblemedia’s Mark Bishop. Mark is an accomplished entrepreneur, brand-builder and trusted media industry advocate. In 2001 Mark and Co-Founder Matt Hornburg founded marblemedia, one of […]
The post The Goldilocks of Canadian Production Companies – Mark Bishop in Conversation with TBP Podcast EP 037 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Many of us – at one time or another – dream of being professional athletes. Most of us realize in high school that we won’t be making it to the big leagues – unfortunately. The lucky among us flirt with the minor leagues in hopes of that big break. But what happens when that big […]
The post Chasing a Dream – Kevin Porter in Conversation with TBP Podcast EP 036 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
You would be given a free pass if you forgot that before the rise of the social media influencer there were already pundits and personalities on TV, radio and print. There’s just been that much exponential change in the media business over the last 15 years. Yet today, those who were formerly the audience are […]
The post Being your Authentic Self – Richard Crouse in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 035 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
The commercialization of streaming audio is not a new phenomenon. Going back 100 years, it was simply known by another name, broadcasting. With the launch, rise and now transition to digital and apps, the business models of audio-preneurs have generally been the same, mostly because of the challenge of measurement, a problem audio’s cousin television […]
The post The Business of Radio – Elliott Hurst in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 034 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Over a 20+ year span, as the Toronto pro sports scene evolved from older venues and stands filled with blue and white (Leafs, Blue Jays, Argonauts) to a more intense red (Raptors, TFC), and grand coliseums that define the city’s skyline, there is one sports executive in particular who ownership looked to. We’re of course […]
The post The Custodian of Toronto Sports – Richard Peddie in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 033 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
In today’s everything-on-demand world, it may be hard for anyone born post-Y2 K to answer a simple question, “where do you watch music videos?” A reasonable answer would be YouTube, Apple Music, or maybe even Tiktok. Prior to the dawn of YouTube in 2005, the answer was easy. MTV if you’re American, and of course […]
The post The Ultimate Backstage Pass – David Kines in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 032 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
People yearn for live experiences that they can share with others. Though fan and crowd-based events such as sports and concerts may be the source of most of our FOMO, movie theatres are even more appealing. Although the film may be the main attraction, movie theatre owners are constantly looking for new ways to maximize […]
The post Gamifying the Movie Theatre Experience – Aaron Silverberg in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 031 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Well behind the scenes in the media business lurks smart folks who really know their way around a spreadsheet. They’re the ones who have charted out and flighted all the commercials, billboards, features and other innovative forms of sponsor integration. We’re of course referring to… revenue management. If you’ve never heard of this career path, […]
The post Revenue Architects… Beyond the : 30-second spot – Derek Myers, Christos Nikitopoulos, Kevin Worsley in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 030 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Sports fans today can watch more games and global competitions than we could have possibly imagined, even 20 years ago. For those of us that can remember, which generally means Boomers and Gen-X, there really weren’t many sports to watch until the advent of pay-TV in the mid-80s, which saw the dawn of specialty channels […]
The post King of the Deal – Phil King in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 029 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
For several years, the legalization of single-event sports betting and the planned provincially controlled roll-out has been a hot topic. During that time, Woodbine Entertainment‘s astute executives have been watching and waiting while investing in the media and digital technologies that will be needed in a Canadian landscape where offshore behemoths are permitted to operate […]
The post Leading the pack in the Sports Betting Race – Jim Lawson in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 028 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
In a world obsessed with digital and mobile engagement, as well as the rise of subscription streaming entertainment services, like Netflix and now Disney+, it’s easy to overlook the going’s on in the broadcast media business. The reality is, the 75-year-old business is having a moment. Perhaps it is due, in part, to a global […]
The post Delivering Reach for the Biggest Brands – Alan Dark in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 027 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
This week’s guest — director James Erskine — joins us from England where he has just released his latest feature-length documentary, The End of The Storm. The documentary follows Liverpool Football Club and their fans as they navigate the covid-interrupted 2019-2020 Premier League winning season. James expertly weaves together the voice of Jürgen Klopp, the […]
The post Making “The End of The Storm” – James Erskine in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 026 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Being a Toronto sports fan hasn’t been easy for many generations of Torontonians. Of course, the Raptors NBA title was kind of a reset for the city, and there were a couple of crazy Blue Jays runs a few years back, but those were more so the Toronto sports awakening for millennials. For Gen X, […]
The post Inside the Toronto Sports Media Scene – Jonah Sigel in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 025 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Dome Productions is a relatively unknown company. Anyone who has walked by Gate 13 at Rogers Centre while attending a Toronto Blue Jays game has likely missed the small Dome Productions office sign, which looks more like a cornerstone time-capsule on the building’s facade. However, there’s a good reason you’ve never heard of Dome. They […]
The post In a League of Her Own – Mary Ellen Carlyle in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 024 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
The penultimate sign of fandom, is a team’s jersey. Over the years, the role of the jersey in a team or league’s business has risen to the point where in some leagues it is by far one of the most valuable assets, at least on the team side. Around the world leagues differ in how […]
The post The Licensing Game – Jim Neish in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 023 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Personality, intelligence, and work ethic can take you a long way in life. In the media business, however, these traits are simply not enough. Not only will you have to sacrifice to make your dreams come true, but those closest to you will have to share that commitment and all that comes with it. Now […]
The post Making an Impact, Together! – Kate McKenna & Donnovan Bennett in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 022 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
From a young hotshot TV producer to one of the world’s top sports executives, Keith Pelley continues to chase his dreams. As Keith puts it, “life is about adventures”, and what an epic one he’s been on, culminating with the European Golf Tour where he’s now CEO and Commissioner. In this episode Keith shares stories […]
The post Chasing a Dream – Keith Pelley in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 021 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Long before the dawn of the internet, fantasy gaming and betting were already wildly popular pastimes for sports fans and gamblers. Fast forward to today, and the internet has more than caught up, it’s the dawn of a new day! We’re seeing explosive growth in the market cap and revenue of dozens of fantasy and […]
The post Who’s Ready for a Monkey Knife Fight? – Nic Sulsky in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 020 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
From being an NCAA football player to becoming a journalist, Morgan Campbell has spent most of his life with an insiders’ view of the sports world. Over his 20+ year career, he’s witnessed the changes and pullback in sports journalism. In this episode, Morgan breaks down the impact of the new realities of sports journalism, […]
The post Tales from the Sports Journalist’s Beat – Morgan Campbell in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 019 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
It is a lot harder to become a paid speaker than you might imagine. While you may think that publishing a book is a surefire way to become sought after, there’s a lot more to it, actually! Sure, there are many authors, politicians and academics that companies pay big bucks to keynote events. There are […]
The post The Speaker Representation Business – Martin Perelmuter in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 018 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
The Easton family has played a vital role in shaping the North American soccer landscape for almost 50 years. In the early 70’s, Jim Easton Sr. uprooted his family from Scotland to take the job as the inaugural head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Over his time in the role, Jim and his family fell […]
The post Born into the Beautiful Game – James Easton in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 017 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Traditional media businesses have long struggled to realize the opportunity with digital. Giving away free ad-supported content has backfired with Facebook and Google now controlling the relationship with the audience and all their associated behavioural data and preferences. What has emerged, thanks to Netflix, is that people will pay for good content, which is really […]
The post In Search of a Digital Media Business Model – Chris Skinner in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 016 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Being a truly great leader is not about title or tenure. Regardless of seniority, natural-born leaders rise above obstacles to influence those around them and rally around a common goal. Eva Havaris has been that kind of leader from a young age, first on the pitch and later in the boardroom. In this episode, Eva […]
The post Leadership Born on the Pitch – Eva Havaris in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 015 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Identical twin brothers Jian and Page Magen have made a name for themselves entertaining audiences over the last 20 years. Think what you want about their unapologetic and sometimes shocking form of entertainment, these guys come by it all honestly. On the surface, their upbringing is a familiar story. Immigrants whose parents are trying to […]
The post Raised in the WWE Spectacle – Jian and Page Magen in Conversation with TBP Podcast EP 014 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
The best live sports executive producers are a blend of genius, in both art and science. Whether we realize it or not, as viewers, we are of course more deeply engaged in cliffhangers. Match outcomes that keep us tuned in until the very end. That is where the executive producer shines. The research and preparation […]
The post The Genius of Live Sports Production – Paul Graham In Conversation with TBP Podcast EP 013 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
No matter the sport, passionate fans and pundits have long debated the goings-on in the clubhouse or on the pitch of every pro sports team. For most of us, this dialogue and discord are limited to Twitter, or perhaps yelling at sports talk radio hosts in our cars. If you were paying slightly more attention, […]
The post Intimate Gatherings of Sports Fans and Media Personalities – Kevin Kennedy in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 012 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Canadians have long heard about Canadian content, aka CanCon. What most outside of the broadcast business don’t generally realize is that much of that content is actually subsidized by the private broadcasters, such as Bell Media and Rogers Media. Many independent producers have made a career, and a lot of money, perfecting the art of […]
The post The Business of Independent Production – Don Young in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 011 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Pushing boundaries and breaking with convention takes more than confidence, especially when you’re working inside a media giant. To do this in an authentic and meaningful way one needs to truly believe that they can make a difference, for the greater good. Laura Mingail has done just that in many of her roles, and as […]
The post Reaching New VR Frontiers – Laura Mingail In Conversation with TBP Podcast EP 010 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Thinking back, pre-covid, did you consider that visit to your local big-box bookstore an entertainment experience? For those lucky enough to attend a book signing or celebrity talk, you’re even more aware of the lasting impact that encounter had on your deep connection to the store’s brand. For Canadian retailer Indigo, at the centre of […]
The post Creating An Entertainment Culture – Jeremy Cammy In Conversation With Tbp Podcast Ep 009 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
As sports fans, we have historically been obsessed with the live match. Call it what you want, “appointment viewing” or “DVR proof”, the truth is, the live broadcast only showcases a portion of the overall story. Regardless of how and why you follow a player, team, match or competition, the stories that emerge both on […]
The post Research is behind every great story – Marc LeBlanc in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 008 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Craig Buntin has spent most of his life on an edge. An Olympian and former 3-time Canadian pairs figure skating champion, Craig has made a name for himself by making bold moves on and off the ice. Fast forward to today, and his AI sports-tech company SportLogiq has already transformed how data is collected and […]
The post AI democratizes sports data insights – Craig Buntin and Émilie Fournelle in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 007 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Glamour and fame usually come to mind when we imagine a career as a tv producer. The truth, however, can be quite different. To reach the top of this field takes decades of sacrifice and commitment. Join us as Don Young shares his story and the lessons he has learned during his career as one […]
The post The Ups and Downs of the Production Business – Don Young in Conversation with TBP Podcast EP 006 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Ask any Canadian sports journalist who they consider one the nicest and forward-thinking minds behind the rise of digital, and chances are they would say, Steve McAllister. As one of the most accomplished and highly regarded leaders in sports journalism over the last 20 years, Steve has provided the mentorship and launchpad for too many […]
The post The Dawn of Digital Sports Journalism at The Globe & Mail and Yahoo Canada – Steve McAllister in Conversation with TBP Podcast ep 005 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Kevin’s award-winning career has spanned four decades, covering the biggest stories from the four corners of the earth and those most important to Canadians. While he’s a household name for his on-camera presence, as you will learn in this episode, Kevin Newman is also an innovator whose energy is fueled by the same startup drive […]
The post Behind the desk of Global and CTV News – Kevin Newman in conversation with TBP podcast ep 004 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Sam Galet is one of the sponsorship industry’s most successful connectors. Over his 20+ year career, he has been directly involved in leading a number of massive sports, entertainment and lifestyle sponsorships, endorsements and naming rights deals. From an early age, Sam knew what he wanted to achieve in his career and he set his […]
The post At the top of the sponsorship world – Sam Galet in conversation with TBP podcast ep 003 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Dave Krikst (aka My Man D) is the creative mind behind many of the most memorable shareable off the court or ice moments in Canadian sports over the last 20 years. Throughout his career, starting early on with theScore television network and Rogers Media’s’ FAN 590, and then with Bell Media’s TSN, Dave has established […]
The post It started with Cabbie playing street hockey – Dave Krikst in conversation with TBP podcast ep 002 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
In our premiere episode we are blessed to sit down with former Vice President of Programming and Production at TSN and Executive VP Broadcasting for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, Rick Chisholm. We chat with Rick about the formation of TSN, the Vancouver and London Olympics and much much more. Have a listen.
The post From the control room of TSN and CTV Olympics – Rick Chisholm in conversation with TBP podcast ep 001 appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.
Welcome to a sneak peek of our new podcast “The Backstage Project with Mark Silver.” On today’s show, by means of an introduction, renowned interviewer, speaker and The Ongoing History of New Music Host, Alan Cross will turn the tables on Mark and interview him about the new show. Take a listen. TRANSCRIPT The Backstage […]
The post TBP Podcast Sneak Peek with Alan Cross appeared first on The Backstage Project - Sports & Entertainment Podcast.