A premium Hollywood content studio is looking for the next big sports podcast! This is your chance to introduce listeners to sensational untold stories, unique new perspectives, wildly original analyses, or really anything that feels exciting in the world of athletes and sports.

Inspired by popular sports podcasts like Pardon My Take and ESPN’s 30-for-30, a new breed of sports programming is rapidly replacing the traditional AM radio shows that fans always turned to for post-game gossip and analysis. Now, fans are gravitating towards podcasts, and they're tuning in to hear controversial viewpoints, hot topics, and up-to-the-minute news about the off-the-court drama of today’s athletes, whether it's NFL, NASCAR, or the World Cricket League. So, Tongal's teaming up with one of Hollywood’s premium content studios - we're talking A-list here - and we're looking to you for the next great big sports podcast! 

The studio is open to any concept with a healthy dose of sports and entertainment. It could be sensational unreported stories, insightful new perspectives, novel storytelling formats, or some kind of truly exceptional hook. There's even the option for you to look at a widely reported stories that audiences think they already know, but come up with an entirely new spin on them.

Do you produce podcasts? Or are you just an obsessive listener? It doesn't matter. This ask is wide open for anyone - and the studio can help develop a budding podcast if you've already been working on something relevant here. In that case, you have the option to include additional info with your concept submission, and we'll reach out if the Sponsor responds and wants to pursue it beyond the scope of this project.

DELIVERABLES: 500 character concepts for a new sports podcast.

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets section.

EXPOSURE: The studio may develop a podcast for any audio platform.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Sports podcasts lean male, but the studio is open to podcasts aimed at any adult audience, so you can target a broad demographic.

TONE: The studio is open to a wide range of tonal executions, so this can be dramatic, irreverent, insightful, emotional, weird, quirky, or exciting, intense,  - or any mix of these. It can be educational and conversational too, so long as it's a compelling format that will hook a listener. 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Avoid podcasts that star or revolve around personalities that are currently active as TV broadcasters or commentators, especially if they wouldn't be offering any kind of different analysis than they do on their TV program.

In terms of subject matter, there are the obvious options - you can focus on a specific sport such as football, MMA or tennis, and discuss stats, records and upcoming matches, and provide insights fans normally wouldn’t have access to - but you'll need a unique angle if you take that path, so you should consider what perspective you'd bring. For example, you might consider whether it'd be interesting or entertaining for audiences to hear from someone with a speciality or profession that might be completely unrelated to sports. Would that bring unexpected but illuminating insights? That's the kind of question you should be asking yourself.

Outside of the obvious, you can look at any sport, individual or team sports, even eSports. You can cover players, coaches, refs, fans, or owners, and contemporary or historical games. You can look at athletes on the field or off the field, and document how they became a professional, and the unbelievable journeys they took through their careers... or reveal how they crashed and burned after being given a shot at stardom.

Any framework is appropriate, and in terms of structure, you should put thought into whether your podcast concept works as a regular weekly podcast, a daily on-going series, or as a multi-part narrative. Each lends itself to certain types of subject,

Finally, if you are already developing a podcast or a story for a podcast, you may also include additional information about individuals or sources you have access to, intellectual property you control, or other reporting that may be relevant, as well as any podcast production capabilities you bring to the table. If the Sponsor responds and wants to pursue it beyond the scope of this project, we'll reach out.

REFERENCE PODCASTS FOR INSPIRATION OR TONE: 

• Pardon My Take
• 30 for 30
• The Bill Simmons Podcast
• Gladiator
• Fantasy Footballers
• Fall of a Titan
• The Lead

TONGAL ORIGINALS INCUBATOR & THE SPONSOR:

• This project is part of the Tongal Originals Incubator program, and we're partnering with a premium content studio to make it happen. You can learn more about the program itself HERE, but the Sponsor has elected to remain hidden for the initial phase of this project. We can tell you that they're able to develop, produce, or finance any podcast, but you'll be able to learn more if your submission is selected and the Sponsor wants to pursue it beyond the scope of this project.

OWNERSHIP/PARTICIPATION: 

• If the Sponsor responds to your concept submission and you have included additional information about individuals or sources you have access to, intellectual property you control, or podcast production capabilities that you have, the Sponsor may want to pursue your participation beyond the scope of this project. If that is the case, it will be negotiated in good faith with the Sponsor, and covered by a separate agreement.

In order to be considered, you must include the below materials in your concept submission. Remember, a concept is not a detailed script - it is a spark of inspiration or a distillation of what could happen in the podcast. As always, concepts should be clever, original, and engaging.

• TITLE (REQUIRED): Include a potential title for your podcast.
  
  
• CONCEPT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing your concept for the podcast.
  
  
• ADDITIONAL INFO (Optional): If you'd like to share more information that could help the studio understand your concept, you may attach it to your submission. If you are working on an existing podcast or story for a podcast, you may also include additional information about individuals or sources you have access to, intellectual property you control, or other reporting that may be relevant, as well as any podcast production capabilities you bring to the table. This attachment might include a short treatment, news articles, additional research, reference images, or even a short video.
  
  
• LINK (Optional): If you'd like to include helpful reference links to relevant stories or articles, or other existing podcast executions that also might demonstrate something similar to what you're proposing, please feel free to include those too. 

Greenlit concepts creators will receive $500 each. Should your concept be selected, you must complete the Winner Affidavit and IP Assignment forms in order to receive payment.

1. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.

2. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.

3. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

4. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.

5. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.

6. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

7. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.

8. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.

9. Winners must submit the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment.

10. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.