Amanda Newman’s Post

Showing the world it still cares deeply about sports, Warner Bros. Discovery has inked a five-year sublicensing deal with Disney to carry certain College Football Playoff games exclusively on TNT. The deal is for two first round games this year and next year, and then four total games (two first round, two quarterfinal) in years 3-5. WBD Sports now owns rights to carry some CFP games, MLB games, NHL games, and some NASCAR races for years to come. Warner Bros. Discovery continues to work with the NBA on figuring out if there's a way for the company to carry live games in the league's next media rights deal. WBD/TNT will have NBA rights next year no matter what -- the last year of the league's current media rights deal. But CFP bolsters not just TNT and Max's sports tier but also Venue Sports, the sports streaming app that's co-owned by Disney and WBD (and Fox), which launches in the fall. Both ESPN and TNT are part of the Venue, which doesn't yet have a price. Story here: https://lnkd.in/eXybwxQi

✅🖥️ Crain’s Chicago Business (6/3): “The Chicago Sports Network is the name of the venture launching in October. The channel will stream more than 300 live games, post-game coverage and 24/7 multi-sport programming, according to a statement from the network. Both the Blackhawks and the Bulls will have their preseason games aired in October, while the Sox will make their debut on the network in 2025. The network is a partnership between the teams and Nashville-based Standard Media, which owns four local stations in Nebraska, Rhode Island, Missouri and Kentucky. The move comes as the teams' contracts with NBC Sports Chicago are set to end on Oct. 1. NBC has been the teams' broadcast channel since 2004. The network lost the Chicago Cubs when the team signed a deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group to create the Marquee Sports Network in 2020. The Chicago Tribune first reported on the aim to launch the new regional sports network in May detailing the many hurdles the teams seem to have overcome, including having to get the NBA, MLB and NHL to sign off on the plan and to work out complicated rights fees as cable providers such as Comcast have "blacked out" regional sports networks due to contract disputes.” 🏀🏒⚾️⬇️ #streamingtv #ctvadvertising #livesports https://lnkd.in/e-zmfan3

As the fall sports season kicks off, fans are more engaged than ever. With millions streaming the NFL, NCAA, and Premier League, there's no better time to position your business in a new way to reach more targeted and qualified people. Fun facts: NFL Viewership is Soaring: With 12.1 million viewers tuning in for the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and streaming numbers consistently outpacing traditional TV, the NFL remains a top choice! NCAA Football’s Massive Audience: Earlier this year, over 25 million viewers in the U.S. streamed the NCAA college football national championship. Premier League Popularity: The Premier League continues to gain traction in the U.S., with games averaging 527,000 viewers across streaming platforms during the 2023/24 season. If you are looking for creative, targeted and trackable ways to reach sports fans, I can help. It's your dollars- I can assist, you pick the sport, region and can back it up with real time results. #sports #data #streaming #digitalmarketing #NFL #NCAA #reach #premierleague #local #results

Curious how U.S. Sports Leagues make money? Per this chart from Visual Capitalist, central revenue, which largely consists of media and broadcast deals, is the most important revenue source for the NFL and NBA. while the NHL and MLB rely more on ticket sales as a primary revenue source. Since 2018, the NFL has grown from 61 of the top 100 most watched TV broadcasts to 93 in 2023. Adding to this, streaming platforms are increasingly signing contracts with the NFL, including Netflix paying $150 million to stream two 2024 Christmas games and Amazon paying $1 billion to stream Thursday night games exclusively on digital. Additionally, the NBA recently signed an 11-year $76 billion deal with ESPN, Amazon, and NBC that is worth more than double its previous contract. Moreover, this trend of significantly increasing media deal values is seen across every major league amid high consumer demand for professional sports. For the MLB, local media is a vital source of revenue, with nearly a quarter of revenues coming from this source—more than any other sport by far. In fact, each day an average 2.3 million viewers watch MLB games on regional sports networks. Meanwhile, the NHL makes the highest share of revenue from seating and suite sales compared to major sports leagues, at 44%, due to it attracting less lucrative TV contracts. https://lnkd.in/e_Uqj8Zf #valuation #NFL #NHL #NBA #MLB

The feeling is mutual. It appears that the NBA doesn't need you either, David Zaslav. https://lnkd.in/gJ3QRdvC Last Summer, I did a deep dive into the sports streaming space, researching sports rights by entities to get a bird's-eye view of everyone's position. https://lnkd.in/gq_TU-Vn In short, my recommendation to Warner Bros. Discovery at that time was to: 1. Retain NBA rights — put NBA on TNT on Max (they did) to maintain TNT's NBA Playoffs edge against the vMVPDs (YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV). *This year, just like last year, I opted for YouTube TV's pricey but everything-in-one-place subscription to follow the NBA season. 2. Consider a more significant play in motorsports, which they did by splitting Nascar's mid-season games with Prime Video and obtaining rights to qualifying and practice races through 2031; FOX and NBC have the lion's share. Rights to Indy500 expired this year, and it was announced last month that FOX would get exclusive rights to IndyCar and the Indy500. Finally, F1's contract with ABC-ESPN expires in 2025. Considering all the developments since last Summer, WBD may even want to consider ending their 8-year U.S. Soccer contract (2023-2031) and get out of sports altogether.

⚾ Developments/Thoughts in the World of Sports Broadcasting 🎥 As a strong follower of Major League Baseball, I've closely observed the evolving landscape of sports blackouts and broadcasting rights. The recent changes within MLB, especially regarding blackout restrictions, have sparked my interest and raised important questions about the future of sports media. Most blackout restrictions often result from private negotiations between sports leagues and broadcasters, where, in many cases, fans are left in the dark, making it challenging for those who can't attend in person to watch the game. The emergence of streaming platforms like MLB.TV has offered a limited solution for those seeking other ways to watch their favorite teams' games. However, as highlighted by the challenges fans face in areas like Iowa or Las Vegas, the current setup still falls short of providing accessible and convenient viewing options for all. Why does this matter, you may ask? It's not just about the streaming providers; it's about the next generation of fans. Many young fans, especially those in remote areas without easy stadium access, rely on digital platforms to connect with their favorite teams.  MLB teams' recent endeavors, such as the partnership between the Arizona Diamondbacks and MLB, signify a potential shift towards more innovative broadcasting models. By offering subscription options like Dbacks.TV, bundled with MLB.TV teams are exploring new avenues to reach a broader audience while adapting to changing consumer preferences. I believe it's time for media giants across the sports broadcasting industry to come together and find mutually beneficial solutions. The key is understanding that fan engagement is not just a metric but the industry's driving factor. Regional networks, major streaming platforms, and sports leagues can coexist in a way that maximizes fan engagement without sacrificing revenue streams or customer experience. As these developments evolve, I welcome all thoughts and insights. I would love to see what others say on an issue that most sports fans have encountered in their lives.  #SportsBroadcasting #MLB #SportsFandom #FanExperience #SportsMedia #SportsBusiness https://lnkd.in/eYRPUM4x

WATCH THE BLACKHAWKS FOR FREE! (Also the Bulls & White Sox...) There's a whole lot of interesting chaos happening in the media world right now. More honestly than any one person can follow. But the chaos in professional hockey is especially awesome and entertaining. Here in Chicago, the Hawks, Bulls & White Sox have terminated their contract with NBC Sports Chicago and started their own sports network (named Chicago Sports Network - points for clarity!) The BIG revelation is that the Hawks will broadcast their games for FREE over traditional airwaves in the Chicago market (Tune in at 62.2 & 62.3). For the millions of people like me who have cut the cable, this is incredible news. Perhaps, more importantly, it supports a theory/idea/cause that I'm a champion of. And that is that sports teams need to broadcast to the largest possible audience and reach the most amount of people with a minimum amount of cost and friction to the viewer. With the exception of football, viewership is both decreasing and aging in all major sports. (Kudos to you NFL for keeping your product available and top of mind.) The leagues and teams have continuously tried to drive revenue by locking their product behind paywalls. This has increased the rate of viewership shrinkage, locked out new audiences and ignored the young people that hockey, basketball and baseball need to grow and survive as American demographics rapidly change. So kudos to the Hawks, Bulls & White Sox for getting ahead of this trend and putting fans first in their quest to succeed in the new, uncharted and chaotic media world. And, more importantly, CHEERS to all the Hawks Fans who either can't or don't prefer to pay incredible fees required to have a cable package that is high priced and low value. Now, let's just hope the Hawks can have a more successful season than they did last year. Media and sports friends, I'd love to hear your thoughts... Geary Yonker Justin Kaufmann Ben Eng Tom Long Danny Wirtz Bill Figel

NFL 2023 National Revenue Hits $13 Billion, Over $400 Million Per Team 🏈 💰 Each of the 32 NFL teams received just over $400 million from the league office for the 2023 season. This impressive payout, up 6% to 8% from the previous year, represents national media rights, league sponsorships, and shared revenue from various NFL affiliates and subsidiaries. With a total national revenue of roughly $13 billion, the NFL’s economic model continues to be the envy of other major sports leagues. 📊 📈 The NFL’s financial success is driven by its hard salary cap and guaranteed revenue from media deals. In 2023, the salary cap was $224.8 million, ensuring profitability for each team before they even sell tickets or sponsorships. The league’s media rights contracts, valued at least $125 billion over 11 years, with partners like ESPN, Fox, CBS, NBC, Amazon, and YouTube, form the backbone of this revenue. Additionally, longstanding sponsorships with brands like Gatorade, Visa, and FedEx add significant value. 🏟️ 🚀 The national payout has increased by 115% over the past decade and is expected to continue growing, potentially reaching over $800 million per team in the next decade. Teams also benefit from shared gate receipts, adding another $20 million-plus per team. This combined revenue accounted for 68% of the $20 billion generated by all teams in 2023. The Green Bay Packers' annual financial report offers a glimpse into these figures, highlighting the varying amounts teams report due to timing and expense deductions. 📑 📸: The NFL’s West Coast headquarters in Inglewood boasts five soundstages, including a 360-degree setup for shooting “NFL Total Access” and “NFL GameDay.” The revolving neon sign on the right was sourced from the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville / Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times #NFLRevenue #SportsBusiness #FootballEconomics #MediaDeals #Sponsorships #SportsFinance #NFL2023 #FranchiseValue

The Varsity 1. Charter has made ad-supported versions of Disney+ and ESPN+ available as part of its packages, but a surprisingly low number of subscribers actually have downloaded those apps. What's going on? 2. Nine games into Roku's MLB deal, I sat down with two of the company's top executives, Joe Franzetta and David Eilenberg, to see how their baseball deal was going, what other sports leagues could learn from that deal and the not-so-surprising fervor of Phillies fans. 3. With all the problems that affected the Copa America tournament this year, some have questioned whether the U.S., Mexico and Canada are prepared for the World Cup in 2026. My sources have no concerns about the World Cup. Rather they place blame squarely on CONMEBOL. 4. Why doesn't MLB hold its annual draft in conjunction with the College World Series every year? That's certain to attract more fans who would follow the event, simply because they better know the players. 5. The reason that the glut of sports documentary series is not going away any time soon? Just look at the most popular shows on all the streamers... Plus, Warner Bros. Discovery is dead serious about matching Amazon’s $1.8 Billion NBA rights “C” package. But it will have to pull it off without YouTube TV, despite the latter’s courtship. https://lnkd.in/eWC2UJ5A

A rising tide lifts all boats? Right? Not always with football in America. But, this is a really good step for the USL to continue to make inroads in the American football landscape. I am a huge fan of football in America at all levels! I remember that in the past, if you didn't get a first division team to pick you up, your options were often 2nd or 3rd division teams in other countries. Not a lot of support and a long shot to move upward. With an improved (and hopefully continued improvement) of the multiple tiers of the USA soccer structure, we can develop players and fans. I love that ESPN is delivering a platform for the USL. Side note: I hope that the NWSL broadcast structure will continue to improve as well - for the quality of play, they are underserved in my opinion. On a broadcast partner standpoint - I think the dollars are there. https://lnkd.in/gGuwQ7hT