Meadowlark Media
Meadowlark Media is a private sports media studio producing podcasts, docuseries, and documentary content for major streaming platforms. Founded by Dan Le Batard and John Skipper, it distributes personality-driven sports shows to global audiences via Netflix, MAX, and Amazon Prime Video.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Meadowlark Media does
Meadowlark Media is a privately held sports media content studio headquartered in New York City with offices in Miami and Los Angeles. Founded by Dan Le Batard and John Skipper after their departure from ESPN, the company produces premium podcasts, docuseries, and documentary content centered on personality-driven sports storytelling. Its portfolio includes flagship audio shows The Dan Le Batard Show, Pablo Torre Finds Out, Football America!, South Beach Sessions, and Nothing Personal with David Samson, alongside scripted and unscripted docuseries such as The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox (Netflix), Good Rivals (Amazon Prime Video), Sport's Strangest Crimes (BBC Sounds), and upcoming titles including Chasing Basketball Heaven, Taurasi, and Game of Throws (Sky). The company also operates the Le Batard & Friends Network, a community and merchandise platform consolidating audience touchpoints across its shows.
The company's revenue model rests on three pillars: content licensing to streaming platforms (Netflix, MAX, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, Peacock, BBC) and podcast networks (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, The Athletic/NY Times, DraftKings Network, Wondery); sponsorship and endorsement deals, most prominently with DraftKings; and live podcast touring. Distribution reach spans more than a dozen named platforms, providing unusual platform diversification for an 11–50 person studio. Pricing terms are not publicly disclosed.
Meadowlark has earned significant industry recognition, including the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting awarded to Pablo Torre Finds Out for its investigation into alleged NBA salary cap violations, a 2023 Sports EMMY nomination for Good Rivals, a BAFTA longlist, and multiple Gold and Silver awards at the New York Festivals Radio Awards. Leadership transitioned in 2025 when co-founder and CEO John Skipper exited and was succeeded in October 2025 by former COO Bimal Kapadia. The company also experienced notable talent attrition in May 2025 with Jon "Stugotz" Weiner departing following a DraftKings licensing agreement that excluded his solo shows.
Meadowlark Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Meadowlark Media
- Legal name
- Meadowlark Media
- Website
- https://meadowlark-media.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Meadowlark Media is a private sports media studio producing podcasts, docuseries, and documentary content for major streaming platforms. Founded by Dan Le Batard and John Skipper, it distributes personality-driven sports shows to global audiences via Netflix, MAX, and Amazon Prime Video.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Meadowlark Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Media Production
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports Digital Audio Broadcasts (Live Radio, Play-by-Play, Podcasts) (MPAKAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sports Documentaries (MPADADAH)
Keywords
Where Meadowlark Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Meadowlark Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Licensing and Content Deals: Meadowlark Media licenses its content to platforms including DraftKings Network, The Athletic (NY Times), streaming services like Netflix, MAX, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV Plus. The company signs licensing agreements that generate revenue from content distribution.
- Live Podcast Touring: Creators and networks engage in live podcast touring which has emerged as a highly profitable revenue stream, with industry examples showing tours generating around $2 million across multiple cities.
- Endorsement and Sponsorship: The company engages in sponsorship deals, as evidenced by the DraftKings licensing agreement. Talent also secures personal endorsement deals.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels12 records
Marketing channels6 records
Meadowlark Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Meadowlark Media is a creative studio that develops and produces premium sports media content, including personality-driven podcasts (such as The Dan Le Batard Show, Pablo Torre Finds Out, Football America!, South Beach Sessions, and Nothing Personal with David Samson) and scripted/unscripted documentary series (such as The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox on Netflix, Good Rivals on Amazon Prime Video, and Sport's Strangest Crimes with BBC). The company licenses and distributes this content across major streaming platforms, podcast networks, and broadcast partners including MAX, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, DraftKings Network, The Athletic, BBC, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Apple TV Plus, and Peacock.
Product overview
Meadowlark Media is a creative studio producing premium sports media content across multiple formats. The company operates a portfolio of podcast shows (The Dan Le Batard Show, Pablo Torre Finds Out, Football America!, South Beach Sessions, Nothing Personal with David Samson) and scripted/unscripted documentary content (The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox, Good Rivals, GoalLess, Sports Explains the World, After The Whistle, Sport's Strangest Crimes, The Mayor of Maple Avenue). Content is distributed across major platforms including MAX, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, and various podcast networks. The company notably produced the Pulitzer Prize-winning Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast investigation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Dan Le Batard Show The legacy flagship sports and pop-culture show hosted by Dan Le Batard from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, featuring daily 'Local Hour' content focused on the South Florida scene, distributed on MAX, DraftKings Network, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
- Pablo Torre Finds Out (PTFO) Award-winning investigative podcast where journalist Pablo Torre answers urgent sports questions through docu-style reporting, one-on-one interviews, and intimate group conversations. Won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. Distributed on Apple Podcasts, The Athletic (NY Times), and YouTube.
- Football America! Weekly football-focused podcast hosted by Dave Dameshek featuring celebrity guests, players, and experts discussing NFL news with comedic analysis and debate. Distributed on YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
- South Beach Sessions Critically acclaimed flagship podcast in the LeBatard and Friends Podcast Network featuring long-form one-on-one conversations between Dan Le Batard and prominent personalities from sports, music, comedy, and entertainment. Distributed on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
- Nothing Personal with David Samson Daily sports podcast hosted by former MLB team executive David Samson decoding the perspectives of players, owners, and sports figures with concise, articulate analysis. Distributed on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
- The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox Definitive docuseries chronicling the Boston Red Sox's journey to their first World Series title in 86 years, featuring interviews with star players and personnel. Distributed via Netflix.
- GoalLess Weekly soccer podcast hosted by British comedian Russell Howard and MLS commentator Chris Wittyngham featuring analysis, games, and guest discussions about the Champions League.
- Good Rivals Three-part docuseries exploring the rivalry between Mexican and American national men's soccer teams, nominated for a 2023 Sports EMMY. Features stars like Landon Donovan and Rafa Marquez. Distributed via Amazon Prime Video.
- Sports Explains the World Podcast series revealing untold sports stories from award-winning global journalists, exploring unusual and provocative narratives from the world of sports. Distributed via Wondery.
- After The Whistle World Cup-focused podcast hosted by Brendan Hunt (Coach Beard on Ted Lasso) and NBC Sports presenter Rebecca Lowe, covering dramatic moments, favorites, and special guests.
- Sport's Strangest Crimes Podcast series in partnership with BBC telling bizarre sports crime stories. Features 'Friday Night Heists' about Anthony Curcio's journey from football star to felon. Distributed via BBC Sounds.
- The Mayor of Maple Avenue True crime podcast investigating the story of Shawn Sinisi, the first known victim of Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse to die, exploring his connection to the scandal.
Quantifiable outcome
- Pulitzer Prize win for Audio Reporting in 2026
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Meadowlark Media
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Meadowlark Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Meadowlark Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.
- DraftKingscoreDraftKings serves as a distribution partner through the DraftKings Network (DKN), hosting The Dan Le Batard Show and other Meadowlark content. A licensing agreement was signed in 2025 that excluded Stugotz's solo shows.
- The Athletic / New York TimescoreThe Athletic (owned by The New York Times) serves as a licensed distribution platform for Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, providing subscriber access to the award-winning investigative series.
- BBCkeyBBC partners with Meadowlark on content including the Sport's Strangest Crimes series (Friday Night Heists) distributed through BBC Sounds, and Volley and Serve podcast.
- NetflixcoreNetflix distributes Meadowlark's The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox docuseries, a definitive chronicle of the Red Sox's first World Series title in 86 years.
- Amazon Prime VideocoreAmazon Prime Video distributes Meadowlark's Good Rivals docuseries about the US-Mexico soccer rivalry, which was nominated for a 2023 Sports EMMY.
- MAXcoreMAX streaming platform hosts The Dan Le Batard Show, distributing the legacy sports commentary show to subscribers.
- WonderysupportingWondery serves as a distribution platform for Sports Explains the World podcast.
- PeacocksupportingPeacock streaming platform serves as a distribution partner for Meadowlark content.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Meadowlark Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- The Athletic: NYT-owned subscription sports media outlet hosting Pablo Torre Finds Out. Directly comparable as a sports journalism brand and is also a current licensing/distribution partner — making it both competitor and channel.
- Wondery: Amazon-owned premium podcast studio and distributor hosting Meadowlark's Sports Explains the World. Comparable as a premium narrative/sports podcast production house and a current distribution partner.
Direct peers
- The Ringer: Bill Simmons-founded, Spotify-owned sports and pop-culture podcast network producing personality-driven shows (The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Rewatchables) and long-form video content. Closely comparable to Meadowlark in talent-led model, premium positioning, and audio/video cross-format strategy.
- Barstool Sports: Personality-driven sports and pop-culture media company producing podcasts, video, and written content with a similar irreverent editorial voice. Directly comparable to Meadowlark's sports commentary and comedy-analysis formats.
- Religion of Sports: Tom Brady-, Michael Strahan-, and Gotham Chopra-founded sports storytelling studio producing premium documentary content (Tom vs Time, Greatness Code). Directly comparable as a talent-anchored sports documentary production company.
- Blue Wire: Sports podcast network aggregating and producing team- and sport-specific shows with a similar talent-led, multi-show studio model. Comparable as a competing sports podcast studio targeting overlapping advertiser and listener bases.
- Stadium: Multi-channel sports media network producing video shows, podcasts, and social content around college and pro sports. Comparable in operating a sports-only content network across multiple platforms with limited headcount.
Broad incumbents
- ESPN: Dominant U.S. sports broadcaster and content company. Founders Dan Le Batard and John Skipper came from ESPN, and several Meadowlark shows explicitly target ESPN's audience — making it the principal incumbent benchmark for reach, talent, and rights deals.
- iHeartMedia: Largest U.S. radio broadcaster and major podcast publisher/distributor (iHeartPodcasts). Comparable as a scaled podcast distribution and monetization platform that competes for the same advertiser dollars as Meadowlark's shows.
- Audacy: Major U.S. radio and podcast operator (CBS Sports Radio parent). Comparable as a scaled audio content owner/distributor whose sports programming overlaps with Meadowlark's podcast portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Meadowlark Media social profiles
Digital presenceMeadowlark Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Meadowlark Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Meadowlark Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Meadowlark Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Meadowlark Media
What does Meadowlark Media do?
Meadowlark Media is a creative studio that develops and produces premium sports media content, including personality-driven podcasts (such as The Dan Le Batard Show, Pablo Torre Finds Out, Football America!, South Beach Sessions, and Nothing Personal with David Samson) and scripted/unscripted documentary series (such as The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox on Netflix, Good Rivals on Amazon Prime Video, and Sport's Strangest Crimes with BBC). The company licenses and distributes this content across major streaming platforms, podcast networks, and broadcast partners including MAX, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, DraftKings Network, The Athletic, BBC, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Apple TV Plus, and Peacock.
Is Meadowlark Media a public or private company?
Meadowlark Media is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Meadowlark Media founded?
Meadowlark Media was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Meadowlark Media based?
Meadowlark Media is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Meadowlark Media make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Licensing and Content Deals are the primary driver. The others are live Podcast Touring and endorsement and Sponsorship.
Who are Meadowlark Media's main competitors?
Others on record are The Athletic and Wondery. Direct peers are The Ringer, Barstool Sports, Religion of Sports, Blue Wire and Stadium. Broad incumbents are ESPN, iHeartMedia and Audacy.
Does Meadowlark Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Meadowlark Media.
What industry is Meadowlark Media in?
Meadowlark Media's product category is Sports Media Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAOAG, Sports Digital Audio Broadcasts (Live Radio, Play-by-Play, Podcasts), with a secondary code of MPADADAH, Sports Documentaries. Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 7812.