Podcast

The Evolution of Fandom

Episode 1: Social media in sports

Social media has fundamentally changed how fans discover, consume, and interact with sports; yet many teams and leagues still treat it like a broadcast channel instead of a relationship-driven ecosystem. 

 

In Episode 1 of The Evolution of Fandom, Kyle Eichman sits down with Ekkobar CEO and co-founder Rhys Ryan to explore how the role of social media is evolving and why the real opportunity isn’t in more content, but in understanding the conversation.

 

As fan behavior shifts and digital noise grows louder, this episode breaks down how organizations can cut through that noise, uncover authentic fan signals, and turn insight into smarter engagement, stronger strategy, and real business impact.

“Social media isn’t just an opportunity engine—it’s a revenue engine.”

— Rhys Ryan

CEO, Ekkobar

 

What you'll learn

  • Why social media has outgrown the marketing department and now plays a role across the entire organization, from sponsorships to fan engagement
  • The difference between social analytics and true social intelligence, and why surface-level metrics fall short
  • How to identify authentic fan signals in a landscape increasingly dominated by AI-generated and low-value content
  • What it takes to turn social conversation into action, from content strategy to sponsorship alignment
  • How teams, leagues, and brands can unlock social as a revenue engine, not just a reporting channel

 

Watch on demand

Catch Episode 1 now to learn how leading organizations are rethinking social media, not as a channel, but as a strategic advantage. Fill out the form to get notified when new episodes of The Evolution of Fandom go live.
 
Please note that the views and opinions expressed by the panelists are their own and do not reflect any official policy or position of Comcast.