Broadcasters join the Broadcast Sport Podcast to speak about their new Crowd Network-produced podcast
Becoming a media owner is a growing part of presenters’ careers, according to Dan Walker and Iona Stephen, who have just launched podcast For The Love Of Golf.
Walker fronts Channel 5’s news coverage, while former professional golfer Stephen regularly features in Sky Sports and CBS Sports golf coverage, and the pair have come together with production company Crowd Network to create the show.
Walker and Stephen joined the latest episode of the Broadcast Sport Podcast to discuss why they’ve made the plunge, what it’s like going from presenters to media owners, and the future of content on TV, digital platforms and beyond. You can listen to the full conversation below.
Walker believes that moving into owning media is now becoming a normal part of being a presenter, and a good opportunity. He said, “For me, it’s a very modern media career. We’re both in a position where we work for broadcasters and we are somewhere at a certain time. I work in the news space as well, so I’m a bit more restricted in the sort of brand partnerships I can have.
“What we are both excited about, is that this is something that we’re not only working on, but it’s us. This is something we can put our time into, we can put our effort into, and we can bring our experience and our expertise. Also, bring our contacts, because as as the podcast grows, it’s something that we are partners in.”
However, that doesn’t mean broadcasters will be left behind, according to Stephen. She added, “The landscape media is changing really quickly and people consume media in different ways. Nothing will ever replace someone with a four foot putt to win a golf tournament on a Sunday. The jeopardy on the line and the intensity and excitement around that closing moment of a tournament.”
“Outside of that, we see a lot of broadcasters trying to get to know their audiences a bit more. That’s beneficial for everyone because the viewer wants to know who’s behind the voice. They’re letting me into their living room every Saturday and Sunday.”
In terms of their show, the pair are hoping to bring something different other golf and sport shows, which can be male dominated. Walker said, “There are some brilliant channels which I watch, or Iona watches. We dip into them on social media or might watch some of the longer format stuff.
“What we are offering that’s different to that is there aren’t many that are, firstly, a man and a woman. There’s a lot of very good lad content out there, which lots of people very much enjoy. We will not be going down that road.
“We’ll talk about some of the news that’s going on in the world of golf, but also if you are a casual golfer or you watch the Ryder Cup or the Solheim Cup, and you think, ‘Well, I quite like that,” we hopefully will cater for you as well.”
Stephen continued, “It’s nice to have a podcast because from a production point of view, it’s quite lightweight. You can just get into the meat straight away, and have a really good conversation.
“We will talk about the big players, the big tournaments and have great guests, but some of the best stories in golf happen nowhere near the pro game and we will touch touch on that.”
You can listen to the rest of the conversation below, in which Walker and Stephen expand on how the show was created, their plans for it, and how the wider media ecosystem is changing. You can also subscribe to the Broadcast Sport Podcast on all major podcast platforms so you don’t miss the next one.
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