EXCLUSIVE: Why Ex-YouTube Sports exec left for Meta

In this episode of StreamTime Sports, host Nick Meacham sits down with Rob Pilgrim, Head of Sport for EMEA at Meta, to explore how digital platforms are reshaping the sports media landscape.

Rob reflects on his journey from YouTube to Meta, the shifting dynamics of audience engagement and how platforms like WhatsApp and Threads are becoming central to the sports conversation. 

The duo also examine Instagram’s evolution from a photo-sharing app to a video-first platform, including Meta’s recent move to launch its Instagram for TV app. Rob explains why the company sees a growing opportunity for lean-back, living room consumption, how vertical video and creator-led formats are translating to the big screen, and what Meta has learned from YouTube’s rapid growth on connected TVs.

Key Points:

• Why Instagram’s expansion onto TV signals a new phase in short-form video consumption• The growing influence of individual creators and athletes in the sports ecosystem• The future impact of AI and wearables on fan experiences

• Privacy, responsibility, and trust as Meta introduces new technologies

• The importance of collaboration between sports organisations and Meta to drive innovation