Meadowlark Media and Bleacher Report have reached a deal to broadcast a one-hour version of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz on the Max sports tier on weekdays. Le Batard, who departed ESPN to host his program with the media venture in 2021, will see his program debut on the service on Monday, Nov. 27. DraftKings will remain the titular sponsor of the show, which is available to watch on both YouTube and the DraftKings Network’s free ad-supported television (FAST) channel. News of the deal was first reported by John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.
Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled the Bleacher Report-branded sports add-on in early October that grants subscribers the ability to watch live events simulcast on linear television channels. At the moment, the tier is free for all Max subscribers until Feb. 29, after which it will cost $9.99 per month.
The company is leveraging media rights to all of its sports properties, including MLB on TBS, the NBA on TNT and the NHL on TNT. Warner Bros. Discovery served as the broadcast home of the Stanley Cup Final last season, while it also broadcast semifinal-round matchups within the MLB postseason and NBA playoffs.
The platform also includes the expansive digital portfolio from Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, which includes original NFL Draft coverage, Creator League competitions, and podcasts, including those hosted by Mookie Betts, Travis Hunter, Von Miller, and Micah Parsons.
Meadowlark Media produces several programs with Dan Le Batard, and it has also added additional talent to create more content. Former ESPN writer Pablo Torre debuted a new show earlier in the month, and the company is also working with Wondery within a 45-episode podcast series titled Sports Explains the World. The media company also reached a deal with ESPN analyst Mina Kimes to appear on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz once per week.
“We want to be everywhere sports fans are and our unparalleled offering of leading sports, combined with the power of the Bleacher Report brand and content, including the unique way B/R engages with young sports fans, all delivered through the new Max platform will enable us to broaden our audience and delight new fans,” Luis Silberwasser, chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, said in a statement announcing the launch of the B/R Sports Add-On on Max.
“We are uniquely positioned to offer viewers the best selection of premium sports and exciting events and fan-focused additional programming, all within a fantastic multi-sport product that will meet the evolving consumption needs of our viewers – both casual and hardcore sports fans.”
