Dan Le Batard And Meadowlark Media Sign New Deal With DraftKings
In a thrilling announcement on his podcast, Dan Le Batard revealed that he has secured a coveted sponsorship deal with DraftKings, a milestone sought after by many in the podcasting realm.
Since their initial collaboration in 2021, DraftKings and Meadowlark have worked together to distribute *The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz*, alongside other programming across various audio, television, and digital platforms. While the original agreement was reported to be valued at $50 million over three years, specific figures regarding the new deal remain undisclosed. Nevertheless, Le Batard expressed his enthusiasm for the extended partnership, stating, “This is the prize everyone in podcasting wants. We’re excited to continue our work with DraftKings, which represents one of the most advantageous agreements in the industry.”
Le Batard praised DraftKings as “the best partner” they’ve ever had, emphasizing the strength of their collaboration: “They genuinely support everything we do here.”
Transition Period for Meadowlark
This development comes amidst significant changes for the Meadowlark team, as Jon “Stugotz” Weiner announced his decision to scale back his hosting duties to focus on personal projects. Weiner recently launched a YouTube channel and hosts his NFL podcast, *God Bless Football*, there.
Compounding this shift is the recent departure of Meadowlark’s co-founder and CEO, John Skipper. Skipper rejoined Le Batard in 2021 with the backing of DraftKings.
Despite these transitions, Le Batard is optimistic about the company’s future, crediting DraftKings for their unwavering support beyond financial backing. “They’ve granted us remarkable freedom and independence in a fragmented media landscape,” he noted. “They let us explore our creativity, which has allowed us to learn and grow together. I believe our trajectory is only going to rise from here.”
DraftKings Sponsorship Landscape
Le Batard’s podcast isn’t the sole recipient of DraftKings’ sponsorship; the company has also thrown its support behind other popular shows like *The Volume*, *Props & Drops*, *New Heights*, and *The Pivot*. Additionally, DraftKings serves as a sponsor for *NFL Red Zone* and Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football, showcasing its extensive reach within the sports media landscape.
DraftKings allocates between $500 and $600 million annually on marketing, with approximately 15% directed toward sponsorship agreements. The company continues to expand its operations in new markets and recently merged user accounts with Jackpocket, enhancing their offerings by allowing users to purchase lottery tickets.
This aggressive marketing strategy has paid off; for Q1 2025, DraftKings reported a remarkable $1.409 billion in revenue—a 20% increase from $1.175 billion in the same period last year. Though the company recorded a loss of $33.8 million, it represents significant improvement compared to the $142.5 million loss in Q1 2024.
This trajectory indicates a potential path to profitability for DraftKings, with the brand’s visibility significantly enhanced through partnerships like Le Batard’s podcast and various other sponsorships, cementing the company’s status as a leader in the U.S. sports betting market.
**Author Bio**: Adam Roarty is a seasoned writer with extensive experience in the gambling industry. Over the past five years, he has contributed as a content writer and editor for platforms such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph, and Gambling Industry News, and has established a strong grasp of the dynamic landscape of sports betting and online gambling. He specializes in emerging trends affecting the U.S. betting market, covering topics like prediction markets, evolving legislation, and innovative sweepstakes.
