Murray Barnett

There’s been some confusion* around FIFA’s new, non-exclusive “Preffered Platform” program — due to both the 🆕 newness of the programme and the 📣 PR spin added by the involved parties: It’s a simple mean for FIFA to capture downstream revenues which they historically missed out on: ❌ FIFA disintermediated: When a rights-holding FIFA broadcaster (= media partners) decided to publish live, highlights, or off-field video footage related to FIFA tournaments on their social media channels, FIFA didn’t participate in any of the value exchange (except for the upfront, mostly flat-fee licensing costs paid by the rights-holding broadcasters). Most such value was captured by the platforms (for free and without risk), while broadcasters could often not afford to not use these mass-reach vehicles provided by the Googles, Bytedances and Facebooks of the digital world. 💰 FIFA’s ransom demand: What’s happening now is that each platform (such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram), which wants to remain eligible/whitelisted to be used by rights-holding broadcasters for FIFA - licensed content must pay FIFA directly for that privilege going forward. In exchange, platforms get some miscellaneous, low-value content directly from FIFA (e.g. press conferences), and the stamp of approval that rights-holding broadcasters can keep publishing the higher-value content such as post-match highlights and even live streams on their respective operated channels on these platforms. 🧐 Why it doesn’t matter much: Once paid to play, the platform’s eligibility has been kept. However, any content published on “social media” remains subject to any conversations between TikTok (or any other whitelisted platform) and the local rights-holding broadcasters — FIFA can just not unreasonably object anymore. FIFA could have decided to capture lost value either way, it decided to go after the tech platforms (instead of letting its media partners paying extra), which is probably a shrewd decision, both short- and long-term. Plus: Everyone got a nice press release out of this, more “Preferred Platforms” to follow between now and the start of the #FIFAWorldCup2026. *The headline from @SBJ is (one of) the most accurate ones, which is why it’s used here.

Each month @YannickRamcke and @MurrayBarnett share their prep notes for The Bundle. Subscribe to get them direct. open.substack.com/pub/unofficial…

Vamos, @RafaelNadal!   As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.   Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.   I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.   And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.    OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.   We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.   I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.   I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.   And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.   Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.   Rafa that!   Best always, your fan, 
 Roger

We're saddened to report the passing of the charismatic racer Rupert Keegan, known best for winning the 1976 British Formula 3 Championship, which propelled him into F1. Here is a full interview with Keegan that we published earlier this year. octane-magazine.com/articles/featu…

Each month I get a PhD seminar in sports media from @YannickRamcke and @MurrayBarnett The fun thing is, you're welcome to join. #sportsbiz Hear here...podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uno…