Excited about the NFL Draft coming to the Pittsburgh in 2026? Us too! Check out Andrew Stockey's interview with Matt Shapiro, NFL VP of event strategy and integration.
News Anchor/Sports Director at WTAE-TV Pittsburgh.
Using this page to share stories of interest to the Pittsburgh regional business community.
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We are hearing, in detail, from the NFL as the league shares it's perspective on the 2026 Draft which will be in Pittsburgh. My interview with Matt Shapiro, NFL VP of event strategy and integration.
ONLY ON WTAE Hearst Pittsburgh
We are hearing, in detail, from the NFL as the league shares it's perspective on the 2026 Draft which will be in Pittsburgh. My interview with Matt Shapiro, NFL VP of event strategy and integration.
Big Game Buzz: Concussions, CTE, and the Unraveling Mystery 🧠🌐 Ever wondered about the real story behind concussions in sports?
As Super Bowl fervor grips the nation, Dr. Donna Broshek invites you to question the headlines. "It’s not just football," she says. From the gridiron to everyday activities, concussions can happen anywhere. 🌍💬
Join the conversation, rethink assumptions, and gain a deeper perspective on the relationship between head injuries and potential long-term consequences.
https://lnkd.in/gu3GnFAD
Today, the spotlight is on Ben Smith, our Head of Sports. Many of you know him for his inspiring "Mr. Smith's Weekly Words of Wisdom" in our weekly sports news. Today, we’ll get to know the man behind the wisdom and guidance. Let's dive into Ben's journey and insights:https://lnkd.in/dS3VnCTh
Last Monday, at his annual Super Bowl press conference, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the league’s experiments with streaming broadcasts. Specifically, he was asked why “a lot of fans were upset” about the exclusive broadcast of its Wild Card game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs on Peacock last month (which I wrote about in “Peacock's NFL Wild Card DTC Lessons for CNN & ESPN”). Goodell responded that the NFL still has “over 90% of our games on free television” but:
“...our fans are on these platforms. Our fans want to access them. The technology is extraordinary. You can do things on some of these platforms that you can't do on a linear platform. So, for us it's part of the future. I don't know where it goes from here but we're going to continue to reach our fans where they are with the best possible production, the best possible technology.”
His answer implied the premise of the question was wrong. Enough fans have cut the cord that the test was necessary. If fans were unhappy—and, some fans were indeed unhappy—then why did the game reach 23 million viewers on Peacock, NFL+ and on NBC affiliates in Kansas City and Miami? And, why did it reach 27.6 million viewers overall on a platform that has struggled to climb past 30 million subscribers?
It is all progress, both incremental and speculative. The wholesale model which has delivered 90% of the NFL’s audience, to date, is now perceived to be facing an “extinction-level event”. But, the lesson from the NFL’s past season is the wholesale model is nowhere near disappearing. Goodell said in the same response that we will not see a streaming-only Super Bowl “in my lifetime”. The only certainty is that fans still exist, the challenge lies in reaching them and subscriptions may not be the ultimate solution.
****Key Takeaway***
For all the worrisome talk of “extinction events” in media, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s mindset is that NFL fandom is evolving and not disappearing. But, Goodell seems to worry most about the future of subscription models in sports media.
[Link to the full essay in the comments below]
#nfl#superbowl#peacock#sportsmediahttps://lnkd.in/e_HyVWnj
The possibility of the NFL taking equity in ESPN is intriguing for a lot of reasons, but it's no simple corporate transaction. In this week's Sports Business Journal, I dig into exactly why it's so complicated. One reason: the NFLPA contract.
Any deal that lowers the NFL's short-term media revenue will be looked upon very skeptically by the players union. That and more here:
https://lnkd.in/eJdtnhPv
My latest thoughts as part of this week’s #StrictlyBusiness focused on the NFL draft’s economic impact on the overall business landscape.
Check it out!
🎙️ Live Professional Discussion: Exploring Fandom Bias in the NBA 🎙️
Tonight at 5:30 PM EST, join us for a unique live stream titled "Mirror, Mirror: When LeBron Fans Face the Judgment They Dodge for Others." This session aims to dissect the intriguing paradox within NBA fanbases, particularly around LeBron James. How do biases and double standards shape our discussions and perceptions? Perfect for professionals in sports management, media, and psychology. Tune in for insights: https://lnkd.in/gpM_Yt3z
