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Stephane Schindler, another French industry veteran who has left his mark across the sports world and in particular with CAA Eleven\xa0which changed the face of UEFA\u2019s National Team competitions and commercial structures. Lot\u2019s of great stories and details in our discussion.\xa0 Enjoy. \xa0\n\xa0\nKey Highlights\nStarting as Intern at EUROSPORT, early days of cable TV in Europe\nNext stop Canal+, Head of Sports Acquisition of sports rights, Sport+ and Jerome Valcke connection\nConnecting with all the major rights holders during the role \u2013 early days of Sportel Monaco\nJoining IMG Media in France in 2000,\xa0 Michael Grach and Michel Masquelier roles \xa0\xa0\nGreat six years at IMG from selling rights to dealing with rights holders, lots of learning in the commercialization of sports rights (Golden Age of industry 1990-2010)\nMeeting Arnaud Lagardere and starting the agency in 2006, because Lagardere being a big listed company, organic growth wasn\u2019t an option.\xa0 M&A growth model.\nSetting up Lagardere Sports from scratch as first employee and going on big acquisition spree from Sportfive, World Sport Group, IEC in Sports, etc. Building a portfolio of companies.\nTotal acquisition cost, in the EURO 1 billion range for the above agencies to buy scale in the industry fast \xa0\nRecently, the group was sold for around Euro 110 million (renamed Sportfive), 90% drop in value \u2013 failure in implementation and execution, at peak Euro 60-70 mil in profits\nFounding his own agency, Media Sport System, short 1 year as advisor\nCAA Eleven, how it all started in 2012 with UEFA looking to centralize the National Team rights\xa0 - idea driven by M. Platini, G. Infantino, G. Laurent Epstein, etc\nUEFA was looking for a similar structure to their successful TEAM Marketing partnership for their National Team rights\nFinding the right partner to create a brand new agency which would only focus on UEFA rights, partnering with CAA, big US talent agency\nMultiple rounds of bidding, starting with 15 bidders, final rounds against IMG and Lagardere.\xa0 Advantage of being a start up and brand new company, totally dedicated to the project.\nHow CAA Eleven won the deal?\xa0 UEFA wanted to keep full control and have protection through an agency.\xa0 CAA Eleven\u2019s first block of rights, 2014-18, since then renewed twice, currently till 2028\nUEFA Nations League \u2013 turning friendly matches into something more meaningful for fans and players \u2013 every match counts \u2013 going from 700 official matches to 1,500 on offer\nSuccessful both on and off the field (commercially)\nUEFA EURO 2020 in 2021 \u2013 his experience from the inside. UEFA made an early decision to move up by one year. Renegotiate with everyone from host cities, sponsors, broadcasters, teams, etc\nOverall big success and positive feedback from partners \u2013 now focused on EURO 2024 in Germany (Football is coming home \U0001f60a)\nInsights into UEFA\u2019s and CAA Eleven OTT and media strategy and approach\nHis crystal ball on future growth of media rights for Premium sports properties \u2013 live is rare & rare is gold \xa0\n\xa0\nAbout Stephane Schindler\nSt\xe9phane Schindler started his career in 1996 at Eurosport as Operational Marketing Manager.In 1998, he joined Canal+ and became Head of Sports Acquisitions.In 2000, he became part of IMG as TWI International Vice-President and IMG Head of Business Affairs France.He was in charge of:- the sale of the rights of prestigious sports events (Rugby World Cup, America\u2019s Cup)- the relationships with the French sports governing bodies (24 hours du Mans, French Tennis Open, \u201cTour de France\u201d, \u201cLigue de Football Professionnel\u201d (French Football League))St\xe9phane joined Groupe Lagard\xe8re in September 2006 to launch the Sports Division for Arnaud Lagard\xe8re and became Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Lagard\xe8re Sports, where he managed and supervised:- the strategy, the development and the acquisitions of the whole Lagard\xe8re Sports division (SportFive, IEC in Sports, World Sport Group, Upsolut and PR Event)- all the operational activit