Rob Pilgrim [#58]: Making YouTube the Best Digital Destination for Sports Fans

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Rob Pilgrim, Head of Sport
& Primetime at YouTube EMEA.


Rob has spent the last eight years leading YouTube’s end-to-end
sports business across the region, from commercial deals and
product launches to strategy and societal impact. He’s helped
build a team that’s landed global rights deals, launched paid
products like Primetime Channels, and championed the platform’s
role in accelerating the growth of women’s sport.


In this conversation, we explore what that future looks like —
through the lens of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan’s four big bets: AI,
Creators as Studios, The Living Room, and Protecting the Creator
Economy. If you care about how sport is being reshaped by
platforms and creators, this one’s a must-listen.





Timestamps


02:00 – Rob’s Career Journey


06:00 – YouTube’s Evolution in Sport


09:00 – What Partnerships Really Mean at YouTube


12:00 – Broadcasters as Partners, Not Competitors


15:30 – Sky Sports Case Study


17:00 – DAZN & Women’s Champions League


20:45 – Redefining “Free to Air and Rise of YouTube on smart TVs


25:30 – Fragmentation, Friction & the Future of Viewing


28:20 – Alternative Feeds & Personalised Viewing


32:15 – The Creator Broadcaster Evolution


35:00 – Future of Exclusivity in Sports Rights


38:00 – NFL & Creator Access


41:00 – Rethinking the Media Rights Revenue Model


43:00 – The Role of AI at YouTube


45:00 – Final Thoughts





Additional Links


Connect with Rob on LinkedIn - Here


Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here