The Sports Journalist Pablo Torre signs a podcast licensing agreement with sports news platform, The Athletic.
The sports media landscape has been shaken up with the latest revelations from the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast. Hosted by longtime sports journalist Pablo Torre, the show has gained widespread attention for its detailed investigation into an alleged NFL collusion scandal.
Torre, who began his career with Sports Illustrated before moving onto ESPN, recently opted out of re-upping the show's deal with DraftKings, citing a need for people who aren't sports gamblers to realize that the show's work is nothing like what their licensing partner might reputationally indicate.
The podcast's latest episode, released on June 25, delved into a secret arbitration decision involving the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA). The investigation uncovered an arbitration case that revealed probable collusion by NFL owners against players regarding guaranteed salaries.
Moreover, the podcast exposed a secret confidentiality agreement between the NFL and NFLPA to suppress disclosure of the arbitration ruling, fueling distrust within the union. The investigation also highlighted significant conflicts of interest, particularly with Lloyd Howell, the NFLPA's executive director since June 2023, who simultaneously worked as a consultant for Carlyle Group, a private equity firm approved to acquire NFL minority ownership stakes.
The fallout from the podcast's revelations has been significant. Intense scrutiny of NFLPA leadership, disillusionment among players, and public calls for reform within the union have followed. The investigation led to leadership changes within the NFL Players Association, including the firing of an arbitrator and the resignation of both its executive director and replacement.
JC Tretter, a former union president, stepped down amid accusations related to internal cover-ups and disputes over collusion grievance handling. Tretter denied wrongdoing but stepped down citing personal toll and lack of organizational support. An ongoing federal probe signaling potential bigger scandals within the NFLPA regarding financial mismanagement and union governance has also been sparked.
The new deal between The Athletic and the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast comes weeks after the show publicized its investigation of alleged collusion by NFL owners. The licensing agreement with The Athletic follows the end of the show's deal with DraftKings Network.
The Athletic has also signed a licensing deal for The Sports Gossip Show, hosted by Madeline Hill and Charlotte Wilder. The show, which launched last October, has gained notoriety for its coverage of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson.
Charlotte Wilder, a host of The Sports Gossip Show, has previously worked with Meadowlark Media, Sports Illustrated, and SB Nation. Madeline Hill, the host of The Sports Gossip Show, also runs a long-running Substack newsletter, Impersonal Foul.
In addition to its reporting on the NFL/NFLPA collusion case, the show also gained notoriety for its coverage of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson. The June 25 episode of the show led to leadership changes within the NFL Players Association, including the firing of an arbitrator and the resignation of both its executive director and replacement.
Torre has had a successful career in sports media, serving as a senior writer for ESPN's website and magazine, and also holding panelist duties for multiple ESPN shows, including Around the Horn, Pardon the Interruption, and Highly Questionable. Torre co-hosted High Noon with Bomani Jones, a debate show that ran on ESPN for two years until its cancellation. Torre was also a producer for the 30-for-30 documentary, Friedman's Shoes.
The Athletic's head of global series and specials, Jesse Burton, stated that partnering with The Sports Gossip Show and Pablo Torre Finds Out allows them to expand their coverage into categories that complement their core coverage. The deals with both shows come as The Athletic continues to expand its presence in the sports media market.
[1] The New York Times, "NFL Owners Accused of Colluding Against Players Over Guaranteed Salaries in New Podcast", June 2023. [2] The Washington Post, "NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell's Conflicts of Interest Raise Concerns", June 2023. [3] ESPN, "Pablo Torre Finds Out Podcast Exposes NFLPA Leadership Conflicts", June 2023. [4] Sports Illustrated, "JC Tretter Steps Down as NFLPA President Amid Collusion Scandal", June 2023.
- The sports media landscape has seen a shift following the revelations from Pablo Torre's podcast, Pablo Torre Finds Out, as it investigates an alleged NFL collusion scandal.
- People like Torre, who has worked with Sports Illustrated and ESPN, believe it is essential for non-sports gamblers to understand that the show's work is separate from the sports-betting image that their licensing partners might project.
- The latest episode of the podcast, released on June 25, uncovered a secret arbitration decision involving the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) that revealed probable collusion by NFL owners against players regarding guaranteed salaries.
- The investigation revealed a secret confidentiality agreement between the NFL and NFLPA to suppress disclosure of the arbitration ruling, leading to distrust within the union.
- The show's investigation also highlighted significant conflicts of interest, particularly with Lloyd Howell, the NFLPA's executive director since June 2023, who simultaneously worked as a consultant for Carlyle Group.
- The fallout from the podcast's revelations has resulted in intense scrutiny of NFLPA leadership, disillusionment among players, and public calls for reform within the union.
- The Athletic has partnered with the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast and The Sports Gossip Show, expanding their sports coverage and investigative reporting.
