SBJ Executive Insight: Cast Iron Media · 8:40

In this SBJ Executive Insight, Dave Clark, CEO of Cast Iron Media, chats with SBJ Publisher & Executive Editor Abe Madkour from the CAA World Congress of Sports in Los Angeles to break down how Cast Iron Media is solving one of the biggest challenges in today’s sports media landscape: helping local advertisers reach fans as live sports rapidly shift from linear TV to streaming. Clark explains how Cast Iron Media enables local and regional brands to buy live sports at scale across streaming platforms, filling the gap left by struggling RSNs and national-first ad models. The discussion covers the evolution of direct-to-consumer sports streaming, the importance of local advertisers as the economic engine of sports, and how richer streaming data is reshaping audience targeting and campaign performance. The interview also looks ahead to industry trends, including accelerated streaming rights shifts, the growing role of platforms like Amazon and Netflix, MLB’s innovation at the local level, and Cast Iron Media’s recent partnership with Disney. A must-watch conversation for sports executives, media leaders, advertisers, and anyone navigating the future of sports business. Key Topics • Local advertising in live sports streaming • The shift from linear TV to direct-to-consumer sports platforms • Challenges and opportunities following RSN disruption • How Cast Iron Media supports local and regional brands at scale • Data-driven targeting for community-based sports audiences • Streaming sell-through rates, CPMs, and technology gaps • MLB, Amazon, Netflix, and the evolving sports media ecosystem • Why local advertisers remain the backbone of sports revenue • Cast Iron Media’s growth strategy and Disney partnership Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and context from Sports Business Journal 00:32 What Cast Iron Media does and who it serves 01:05 The impact of streaming on local sports advertisers 02:00 Solving scale and execution challenges in streaming ads 02:45 Dave Clark on joining Cast Iron Media as CEO 03:30 National vs local advertising demand in sports 04:05 Serving both national brands and local businesses 04:50 Technology gaps between live and on-demand streaming 05:35 Using richer streaming data to support local advertisers 06:10 Trends shaping sports media in 2025 and beyond 06:45 MLB, Amazon, Netflix, and the future of streaming rights 07:20 Cast Iron Media growth, innovation, and Disney partnership 08:00 Why local advertisers will always matter in sports #SportsBusiness #StreamingSports #SportsAdvertising #LocalAdvertising #CastIronMedia #SportsMedia #SBJ #DirectToConsumer #LiveSports #MediaInnovation

April 30, 2026