How a Manchester United fan got on Tampa TV

I grew up going to Old Trafford in the 1980s.

Back then, it felt like the most local thing in the world. Manchester football for Manchester people.

Forty years later, I sat in the ABC studio in Tampa.

I was there to talk about the Premier League Fan Fest. Ten to fifteen thousand fans were about to spend a weekend in Florida watching a game they could have watched from their couches.

Here’s what hit me in the green room before the segment.

The thing I loved as a kid, that local tribal feeling, now happens in cities all across America (Tampa, Kansas City, Chicago, Miami, you name it).

And it’s the same trick the smartest brands in the world have been pulling for decades.

Take something that feels small and local, and make people feel part of something much bigger.

Founders can run the same play with media.

Let me show you how.

Every week, there’s a global moment:

These moments aren’t owned by brands.

They’re owned by the news cycle which means producers are already booking segments around them.

They just need a smart voice to tie the moment to something bigger.

That voice can be you.

Here’s how I ran it in Tampa.

Step #1: Pick the moment

Premier League Fan Fest came to Tampa.

Manchester United fans are flying in from all over the country.

The local story was obvious — thousands of fans, one weekend, a big crowd.

Step #2: Add the local angle

A lifelong Manchester United fan now living in Florida, watching the global game land in his backyard.

That gives the producer a face, a story, and a hook.

They love it.

Step #3:Add the authority lens

I didn’t just talk about soccer.

I tied it to what every founder watching at home cares about: how brands build belonging.

The line I led with: “What you’re seeing isn’t fandom but identity. People feel part of something much bigger.”

Then I closed the loop.

Whether it’s sport, media, or business, the brands that win are the ones creating something people belong to.

That’s the takeaway a CEO watching at 7 am can use.

Step #4: Make the segue.

At the end, the anchor asked where to find more.

I pointed to this newsletter: “That’s where we break down how global brands like Manchester United build this kind of influence.”

One five-minute segment got me in front of a brand new local audience, tied me to a global story, and grew the list at the same time.

The producer’s already asked me back for the next event.

This month, the World Cup will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico. I’m lining up that pitch this week.

(And the month after that, the US Open is in Queens. There’s always a wave somewhere.)

Your takeaway for this week: Look at the next 60 days. What global moment is coming to your city, your industry, or your customer’s feed? Pick one. Pitch a producer with a local hook tied to your authority.

Problem: You want TV, but you don’t have a “news story.” So you wait. The moment passes.

Tactic: Stop pitching yourself and pitch the moment. Producers don’t book guests; they book segments. Find the segment they need before they need it.

Sports, culture, business, or a holiday.

The bigger and more local, the better.

You need one line a producer can use in 10 seconds such as: “A lifelong Manchester United fan now living in Tampa” or “A pediatrician in Phoenix who treats kids after every Super Bowl.”

Be the face of the story.

Tie the local moment to a bigger pattern.

Something your real audience actually cares about: brand-building, consumer behavior, the shift happening in your industry.

Email the producer or assignment desk with one line:

“[Marquee event] is in town this weekend. I’m a [credential] who can speak to [angle a viewer cares about]. Three soundbites ready if you want a screener.”

Three ways to get in front of an audience this month. We'll start with our own.

What: We host the Thought Leaders America podcast. We sit down with founders and dig into how they built real authority. We're booking guests right now.

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Deadline: Rolling. Free — it's our show.

How to get on: Fill out this form, and we will be in touch

What: Free service connecting experts with journalists chasing fast stories. Featured acquired HARO in 2025. One subscription, one inbox.

Who it’s for: Founders willing to reply within hours, not days.

Deadline: Rolling.

Link: featured.com

What: Free public profile that puts founders in front of event planners actively looking for guests. AI matching pulls your profile into searches when organizers post topics that fit. Free tier is enough to get started.

Who it's for: Founders who want stages and on-camera reps without a publicist.

Deadline: Rolling. Free profile tier; paid upgrade ~$97/mo or one-time $249 lifetime if you want premium discovery.

Link: speakerhub.com

Want us to pitch TV producers with a local hook tied to your authority? — Get booked on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and more with our done-for-you placement service. We pitch the producer. You show up ready.

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