Court Chat: Why Every EuroLeague Player Should Start a Podcast

Hook: Fans want more than highlights — they want you

EuroLeague coverage is everywhere and nowhere at once: short highlights on social, inconsistent local broadcasts, and the endless scroll of clips that forgets context, personality and nuance. Fans crave behind-the-scenesplayer podcast is the most direct route to turn casual viewers into loyal supporters, monetize your voice and control your narrative — on your terms.

Why voice matters in 2026: the strategic context

Audio and short-form video now work together as the dominant engagement engine for sports audiences. In early 2026 two developments made that clear: household names Ant & Dec launching a candid new podcast format across their own digital channels, and podcast producer Goalhanger announcing more than 250,000 paying subscribers, generating roughly £15m a year from subscriptions alone. Those moves underline three points every EuroLeague player should care about:

• Audience ownership: Direct subscribers and communities reduce dependence on platforms and fragmented coverage.
• Monetization at scale: Subscription-first models are proven; even niche, loyal sports audiences pay for premium access.
• Cross-platform amplification: Audio episodes become short-form clips and video highlights that live across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and club channels.

Ant & Dec: a lesson in audience-led content

“We asked our audience if we did a podcast what they would like it be about, and they said ‘we just want you guys to hang out’.” — Declan Donnelly

Ant & Dec's approach is textbook modern content strategy: they asked fans what they wanted and delivered an approachable, behind-the-scenes format. For players, the takeaway is simple — authenticity outperforms polish. Fans want to hear stories, training habits, locker-room rhythms and human moments they can't find in highlight reels.

Goalhanger: subscription economics that scale

Goalhanger's milestone — more than 250,000 paying subscribers and an average subscriber spend that equates to about £15m annually across its network — shows that high-quality, consistent audio content can be a real business. A player-level operation won't look identical to Goalhanger, but the core mechanics translate: create exclusive content, offer clear member benefits, and use community tools (Discord, members-only chats, early ticket access) to increase perceived value.

The business case: how a player podcast earns money

There are multiple, complementary revenue paths. You don't need to choose one — combine them.

• Subscriptions / memberships: Exclusive episodes, ad-free listening, early access, behind-the-scenes footage and members-only chats. Platforms: Patreon, Supercast, Substack, Memberful, or platform-integrated solutions. Benchmark: convert a small % of your social audience into subscribers to build reliable recurring revenue.
• Sponsorships & branded segments: Short, relevant sponsors integrated authentically — performance brands, nutrition, local partners or club sponsors (subject to clearance).
• Ad revenue: Dynamic ad insertions in high-download episodes and short-form video ads around clips.
• Merch & ticketing: Special merch drops aligned with episodes or live show tickets promoted through the podcast funnel.
• Live events & meetups: Record live at game nights or fan events, sell premium seats and VIP experiences.
• Affiliate partnerships: Link to training equipment, supplements, and partner streaming services — trackable revenue without long-term commitments.
• Licensing & archive clips: Sell or license distinctive audio/video content to broadcasters and brands.

Realistic revenue scenarios

Use these to plan: conversions are everything. If a player has a social following of 100,000 and converts 1% to paying subscribers at €5/month, that's 1,000 subscribers → €5,000/month → €60,000/year. Scale that up: a star with 500,000 followers converting 1% at €6/month equals 5,000 subs → €30,000/month → €360,000/year. Goalhanger's aggregated scale shows what's possible across a network — do the math for your own audience.

Video highlights, clips and podcast episodes: the content pillar playbook

Think of your podcast as the centrepiece of a content ecosystem where audio episodes feed short-form video and highlight clips. That multiplies reach and funnels viewers back to long-form episodes and subscriptions.

Repurposing workflow (episode → clips) — practical steps

1. Record the full episode (30–60 mins) with separate audio and video tracks.
2. Produce 4–6 short clips (30–90s) that highlight a funny story, training insight, tactical breakdown or controversial moment.
3. Create an audiogram with subtitles, waveform and a visual hook for Reels, Shorts and TikTok.
4. Post clips natively to each platform with platform-optimized captions, then pin links to the full episode and subscription landing page.
5. Use highlights during gameday: cutting a 20–30s mic’d moment into the halftime package or pre-game warmups for extra reach.

Why clips work

• Short clips are discoverable and shareable — they drive new listens.
• They provide micro-commitments: a 30-second moment can convert a fan into a subscriber.
• Clips maintain search visibility and help with SEO for your show notes and player brand.

Step-by-step: launch your player podcast (60-day playbook)

Follow this condensed sprint to go from idea to episode 1 and a growth plan.

Week 1–2: Strategy & format

• Define your core promise: what unique value will you deliver? (e.g., weekly locker-room tactics, guest teammates, training diaries, fan Q&A)
• Survey fans: social polls, team channels, teammates and family. Ant & Dec asked — you can too.
• Decide frequency (weekly bi-weekly) and episode length (20–45 mins for core episodes).

Week 3–4: Production setup

• Hardware: budget mic (Shure MV7), pro mic (Shure SM7B + audio interface), headphones, pop filter.
• Software & platforms: remote recording (Riverside, SquadCast), editing (Descript, Adobe Audition), hosting (Libsyn, Anchor, Acast) and membership tools (Patreon, Supercast).
• Video capture: a multi-camera phone rig or small mirrorless camera for video versions and clips.

Week 5–6: Pilot episodes & distribution

• Record 2–3 pilot episodes with different formats (solo, co-host, guest) and pick the one that resonates most with testers.
• Create artwork, show title, intro/outro music and a short trailer episode — post the trailer across channels.
• Submit to major podcast directories (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts) and enable video distribution to YouTube.

Week 7–8: Launch & growth

• Launch with multiple episodes to increase early listens and retention.
• Use paid social ads for targeted promotion (fans, city, club supporters) and ask teammates to cross-promote.
• Open a members-only tier with one exclusive episode a month, early access to live Q&As, and a private Discord room.

Growth tactics that work in 2026

Combine platform-native growth and community-first tactics:

• Cross-collabs: Invite popular hosts, ex-players, coaches or local celebrities. A high-profile guest multiplies reach.
• Gameday activations: Record pre- or post-game episodes with live crowds or ticketed live recordings to monetise immediate interest.
• Community features: Create members-only chatrooms, AMAs and early ticket access like Goalhanger does.
• Repurpose clips: Use highlights as ads to drive subscriptions — short clips are your best conversion tool.
• Newsletter funnel: Pair episodes with show notes and exclusive writing for subscribers to increase retention.

Tech & tools players should know (2026 edition)

The tech stack has matured — new AI tools speed editing and accessibility but require ethical use.

• Recording & remote: Riverside.fm, SquadCast, Zencastr — high-quality audio + video tracks for editing.
• Editing & AI: Descript for quick edits and transcripts; Auphonic for levelling; careful use of AI for noise reduction and show notes generation.
• Hosting & monetization: Acast, Libsyn, Anchor for distribution; Supercast, Patreon, Substack for subscriptions and members-only feeds.
• Analytics: Chartable, Podtrac and platform-native insights for downloads, retention and conversion metrics.
• Community: Discord, Telegram, or platform-native groups for subscriber interaction and direct feedback.

Legal, team alignment and brand safety

Podcasts by active players intersect with contracts, sponsors and league obligations. Protect yourself with these steps:

• Get written clearance from your club and agent about sponsorship categories and official club sponsors to avoid conflicts.
• Be careful with sensitive teammate or opponent information — maintain locker-room trust.
• Clear music licenses for intros/outros and any clips used; use royalty-free or licensed music to avoid takedowns.
• Declare paid promotions clearly to comply with advertising rules in your markets.
• Talk to your tax advisor about subscription income and merchandise sales; treat the podcast as part of your personal brand business.

Metrics that matter: what to measure from day one

Track the following to turn content into a sustainable business:

• Downloads & listens per episode: baseline reach and growth.
• Retention rate / completion: are fans listening through the episode?
• Subscriber conversion & churn: critical for recurring revenue.
• Clip CTR & conversion: how many clip viewers click to the full episode or subscription page?
• Community engagement: Discord activity, live Q&A attendance, merch sales and comment sentiment.

Player case studies: three actionable archetypes

Choose the blueprint that matches your profile and resources.

The Rookie (building the story)

• Goal: grow a personal fanbase and share candid development stories.
• Format: bi-weekly 20–30m shows, guest teammates, training transparency.
• Monetization: start with sponsorships and affiliate links; layer membership once audience grows.

The Starter (fast follower)

• Goal: double-down on existing social following to create recurring revenue.
• Format: weekly 30–45m episodes + one exclusive members-only episode/month.
• Monetization: subscriptions (€3–€7/month), branded content and gameday live episodes.

The Veteran Star (owned-media strategy)

• Goal: build a long-term media asset and business.
• Format: weekly flagship show, live tours, merch collaborations and cross-promotion with other creators.
• Monetization: memberships, premium events, sponsorships and licensing archive clips for broadcasters.

Future predictions: what to plan for (2026–2028)

Expect the next two years to bring:

• Bundled subscriptions: Teams, leagues and players will form bundles — a player network could join club packages.
• AI-driven personalization: Personalized episode recommendations, dynamic clips and automated localized subtitles to reach pan-European fans.
• Interactive audio: Live Q&As with real-time polls, choose-your-adventure episodes and in-episode purchasing links.
• Higher standards for creator monetization: More players will turn podcasts into businesses; early movers will set the best practices.

Practical checklist: your first 10 actions

1. Ask your fans (social poll) what they want to hear — follow Ant & Dec’s audience-led model.
2. Pick a clear promise: what will every episode deliver?
3. Record a 2–3 episode pilot to test format and chemistry.
4. Set up hosting and distribution to all major platforms.
5. Create 4–6 short clips for the first three episodes to boost discovery.
6. Open a low-cost membership tier with an exclusive episode and a Discord channel.
7. Clear sponsors and content policy with your club and agent.
8. Use AI tools responsibly for transcripts and clip generation; always review output.
9. Measure downloads, retention and conversion weekly; iterate quickly.
10. Plan a live recording at a home game for a high-impact episode and ticketed revenue.

Final take: your voice is an asset — treat it that way

Ant & Dec and Goalhanger show two complementary truths: audiences will follow authentic voices, and subscriptions can scale into meaningful revenue when paired with a clear membership offer. For EuroLeague players, a podcast does more than make money — it builds a durable player brand, deepens fan engagement and gives you editorial control over how your story is told.

Actionable takeaway

• If you’re starting today: record a short trailer, ask your followers what they want, and publish a 20–30 minute pilot within 30 days.
• If you already have content: convert clips into a trailer, set up a members tier and test a paid perk (early access or exclusive episode).
• If you’re an agent or club exec: create a supportive framework — clearance templates, production partners and a revenue-share model for players.

Ready to start? Every episode you release is an asset that compounds: clips drive discovery, episodes build trust and subscriptions create stable income. Don’t wait for a media company to tell your story — take the mic.

Visit euroleague.pro/podcast-playbook to download our free starter kit with templates, episode outlines and a monetization calculator tailored for EuroLeague players. Or email our content team to discuss production partners and cross-promotion opportunities.

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