The NFL — it’s almost synonymous with America today. And its history is a fascinating lens to explore the nation’s development over the last 100 years, from WWII to TV and suburbs to the Internet and social media. What began as a quasi-illicit league in small midwestern towns is now the single largest media property in the world today by revenue. And whether you watch football or not, this is one incredible business story. Acquired is ready for some football — let’s kick this Season off right! Links: Sports Illustrated’s oral history of the famous Joe Namath “pool photo” Episode sourcesCarve Outs:The MenuPeyton’s PlacesSponsors:WorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos25Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentryServiceNow: https://bit.ly/acquiredsnMore Acquired!:Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store!© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLCNote: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.
Full Episode
So in my headphones, I have, are you ready for some football? I was listening to that too. Yes. Dude, it gets you so pumped up. It totally does. I feel like I grew up on the Fox Sports theme.
It always makes me think of Thanksgiving.
It makes me think of, I think it was a Jock Jams tape that I bought, or maybe it was like a knockoff Jock Jams produced by Fox Sports. But I definitely had that theme song on a sports pump up tape.
Oh my God, Jock Jams. That needs to make a comeback.
Who got the truth? Welcome to Season 12, Episode 1 of Acquired, the podcast about great technology companies and the stories and playbooks behind them.
I'm Ben Gilbert, and I am the co-founder and managing director of Seattle-based Pioneer Square Labs and our venture fund, PSL Ventures.
And I'm David Rosenthal, and I am an angel investor based in San Francisco.
And we are your hosts. Today's episode is on the NFL. Football is America's favorite sport, by far. In fact, football is more than three times as popular as the next highest sport, basketball. The Super Bowl is watched by over 100 million viewers every year in approximately two-thirds of American households.
My favorite Super Bowl stat is that it's the weekend with the fewest weddings planned of the year. It is the NFL's world, and Americans are just living in it. Especially the TV networks, which have been reduced from pillars of our nation in their heyday to largely distribution channels for the NFL today, plus some other lesser programming sprinkled in.
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