Jonathan Anastas’ Post

"Sports content sits at the epicenter of today’s media landscape. Three key factors drive its value: real-time engagement, a vast and diverse fan base, and consistent predictable scheduling." - Patrick Whitesell, Endeavor Group (UFC, WWE, WME Sports, ATP Tour Miami Open, Barrett-Jackson, OpenBet) executive chairman Sports has an unmatched ability to engage viewers and fuel media consumption. Sports cultural value remains irreplaceable. In today's increasingly fragmented media world, sports value is growing. #sports #advertising #effectvinsights #media #engagement

A bit surprising that it took Netflix this long to invest in the live sports streaming business. Netflix's prior sports content approach which included documentaries like “Drive To Survive”, "Break Point" and “Quarterback” have been hugely successful and the WWE's focus on drama and carefully curated storylines sits comfortably within Netflix's existing strategy. It will be interesting to see if they pivot into other sports at some point. But with Apple (MLS and the MLB) and Amazon Prime (NFL Thursday night football) already in long-term deals with the more popular sports within the US market, that may not happen anytime soon. The streaming landscape and sports rights market dynamics in Europe is also different. Amazon, for instance, faced intense competition in the bidding for sports rights, and the escalating costs of securing exclusive broadcasting rights and ultimately reconsidered their investment in European live sports (football), opting instead to focus on boxing in 2024. Interesting to see where they go from here.

Enjoyed speaking with The Drum’s senior tech reporter, Kendra Barnett, earlier this adternoon about Netflix’ brilliant ten year deal with WWE for the exclusive global live distribution rights to #wweraw. Both parties get something huge from the partnership with no discernable downside from my vantage. This is yet another data point in streaming’s inexorable conquest of league sports distribution that will take legacy linear’s last tentpole. Although WWE is technically not a sport - it’s considered “scripted athletics” - it’s definitely batting practice for Netflix to build out their sports monetization capabilities as we will undoubtedly witness at their upfront presentation in May. Don’t underestimate the power of “scripted athletics,” #DrivetoSurvive ignited F1 in the US when it was previously dormant here in the US. Netflix will do the same in reverse for WWE globally and with WWE owning the #IP around all of the characters in RAW, the revenue from L&M will quickly break into the $BBs! #streaming #leaguesports #lineartv https://lnkd.in/e8t_sbdT

WWE Raw is coming to Netflix. Netflix and WWE announced today that they reached a 10-year deal to stream WWE’s Raw for more than $5 BILLION… that's with a B. Netflix is writing the masterclass playbook for modern sports and entertainment rights. I suspect this is just the beginning of more deals Netflix will announce, and I can envision a world where Netflix becomes like cable for sports. WWE business is massive; take a look at some of these interesting stats: - 40% of the WWE audience is WOMEN. - WWE has over 100 million subscribers on YouTube - Strong midwest-Atlantic following (yes, there is more to the USA than just NYC, LA, and Miami) I talked a little bit about Netflix's sports strategy in a previous issue of The Qualifier. Have a read 👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/dUJNVjzx

The 'happy compromise' I've been mentioning between Free TV & Streaming (Paid) is now going to be mainstream. This is the SAME PATTERN, I followed as a WWE viewer in the 90s: Firstly, a little background: In the 90s, 'Raw' was on USA Network (mostly) on Mondays, which was a paid cable channel. Smackdown was on a free to air channel on Thursday on "UPN" at the time. (A CBS corporation channel.) Eventually after a lot of nagging from my side, I convinced my parents to buy cable TV. I was able to watch WWE shows live + the rest of my family had their own options of Entertainment to view. (Justified purchase) -------------- I bet Netflix is hoping for the exact same actions as the above scenario in modern times. A great Smackdown episode on Friday (Free TV) which hooks viewers enough to pay & watch their flagship show on Mondays. This time viewers will have to subscribe to Netflix for that privilege. A couple of issues, I see this time around from my POV: 1. Social Media (Free) has virtually ruined the hook/incentive for some viewers to pay. i.e. WWE Raw highlights / key moments will be free to see on social media. It ruins the need to watch live, when several account creators go ahead & tell + show you what happened on Raw. 2. Streaming Piracy - It is everywhere these days. This time around many of those who do not have the means to get a Netflix subscription WILL opt this route. Streaming Piracy seems to get easier and easier, year on year. (Lots of social media accounts are freely giving this info away.) ----------------- As a casual WWE fan, owning a Netflix subscription are you excited for WWE Raw to be on the platform? #OTT || #Streaming || #Media

The Reign of Live Sports: Where Game Day Outshines Streaming Days In the ever-evolving world of media, one undisputed king stands tall—live sports. It's not just a game; it's an immersive experience that captivates hearts and dominates the media landscape. And guess what? Even the streaming giants like Netflix are jumping on the bandwagon. Picture this: the roar of the crowd, the suspense of a last-minute goal, the camaraderie in victory or defeat. It's a symphony of emotions that no pre-recorded show can replicate. Live sports isn't just entertainment; it's a cultural phenomenon that transcends borders and unites diverse audiences. Why is live sports the kingpin? Because it's unscripted drama—the unpredictability, the underdog stories, the record-breaking moments. No series or movie can match the raw intensity of a nail-biting match or the jubilation of a championship win. And finally the streaming giants have realized if you can't beat them, join them! Netflix, the epitome of on-demand content, is venturing into live sports streaming, recognizing the unmatched allure of real-time action. #marketing #media #sports #creativity #streaming #digitalmarketing #branding #socialmedia #future

Most people don't see the significance of this deal: The recent announcement of the $5 billion relationship between WWE and Netflix marks a groundbreaking shift in the streaming and sports entertainment industry. This partnership will see Netflix exclusively air WWE's "Raw" in the US and various international markets, starting January 2025. The deal extends beyond "Raw" to include other WWE shows and specials, such as "SmackDown" and "NXT" and major pay-per-view events like WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble. Netflix's venture into live sports broadcasting builds on its successful sports-related content like the "Drive to Survive" Formula 1 series, which indicates to me a broader strategy to diversify and enrich its content offerings. This deal expands WWE's global reach and aligns with Netflix's evolving content model, mainly as it develops its ad-supported streaming service. For WWE, now part of TKO Group Holdings after its merger with Endeavor Group's Ultimate Fighting Championship, this represents a substantial shift from its traditional reliance on linear TV and its streaming service, WWE Network. It offers a new economic model and a significantly broader audience reach. As I observe this partnership unfold, seeing how it impacts the broader streaming and live sports broadcasting landscape will be interesting. This partnership could lead to further expansion into live sports broadcasting by Netflix and reshape the way we consume sports and entertainment content. #streaming #netflix #wwe #linkedinsports

Netflix Announces First Major Venture Into Live Sports: $5 Billion Deal For WWE’s Raw >> Super deal brining the best in business together. Netflix ensuring in climbing rise in subscription for next 2-3 years. >> Shares of Netflix climbed 2% following the announcement, while shares of WWE parent TKO Group rose more than 20%. >> Netflix now joins fellow Amazon and Apple in the live sports space. Amazon Prime inked a $1.2 billion per-year deal with the NFL to air Thursday night games beginning in 2022, and Apple struck a $250 million per-year deal with the MLS and an $85 million per-year pact with the MLB to broadcast exclusive games. #sports #sportsbiz #indiasportsindustry

What’s Next Up for Streaming Services? Hinting at the idea of eventually moving into live sports, Netflix has started 2024 off with a massive media rights deal. Netflix and WWE have just struck a groundbreaking deal to bring 'Monday Night Raw' to the platform starting in 2025, and the numbers are staggering – $500 million per year for 10 years, totaling an impressive $5 billion! This move only continues to redefine the landscape of live sports and entertainment. This agreement underscores the growing influence of streaming platforms like Netflix and signals a significant shift in the media rights space. With Amazon already making waves, this move could pave the way for larger subsidiaries/platforms like Peacock, Hulu, and possibly HBO to dive into live sports and entertainment. Peacock already made waves this year with its exclusive rights to one of the most anticipated playoff games featuring the Chiefs and Dolphins. However, this move came with its share of backlash from fans who are becoming increasingly aggravated about paying premium prices for exclusive content. Food for Thought: As we witness this surge in high-stakes deals and exclusive rights agreements, the question on everyone's mind is: What direction are we headed in? Though it certainly makes sense from a business perspective, what about the fans who watch these events? Happy to hear everyone's thoughts on this matter! #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz #netflix #wwe https://lnkd.in/eGB3e8f8

After tip-toeing towards this since the Chris Rock livestream last year, Netflix has finally taken the dive. ✔ Great for sports rights owners. Netflix paid 92% more than WWE’s prior deal on an average annual value (AAV) basis. If WWE drives Netflix’s sub growth / retention, it is bound to push into other sports. Formula 1 and tennis seem the most obvious ways for them to expand. ✔ Great for Netflix’s TAM. They still only have 8% of total TV screen-time in the US. Sports content will help them go after cable (30% of screen time) and broadcast (23%). ✔ Great for Netflix’s ad tier. Adding 1-2m unique viewers of Raw will help them build on their 23m ad tier MAUs, making it harder for advertisers to avoid. ❌ Bad for other sports networks. Disney, WBD, Fox and NBCU won’t be surprised — and it’s a huge jump to go from WWE to NFL, NBA or MLB — but a new competitor paying 1.92x AAV for sports rights is a problem. ❌ Bad for linear networks broadly. See second point above, but worth looking ahead to what might be beyond sports. If Netflix’s platform can support tens of millions of concurrent sports streams, it not only opens it up to all sports but also to news, the last bastion of linear TV. And if it can offer sports and news, as well as drama, film, comedy and documentaries, Netflix can complete its transition from “good enough” to a full substitute product for linear TV. #netflix #disney #warnerbrosdiscovery #foxsports #nbcuniversal