Brent Wilsey’s Post

I’m not that impressed by the new sports streaming service Venu Sports. Venu Sports is the joint venture between Disney’s ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox. It will feature all three companies’ portfolio of live sports. This includes the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and college football. The service will cost $42.99 a month. The joint venture is aiming to launch before the start of the NFL season on September 5th, but it is still pending regulatory approval. It is also expected for further details to be released when it launches. My problem here is there are still so many sports games you are not receiving and $42.99 a month is quite expensive. Consider the fact that now Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Paramount also own large sports rights. One thing I’ll be interested in is how expansive the service will be. For example, with the NFL on Fox you are only able to view the local Fox game that is being broadcasted. With this new service would I be able to watch any NFL game that is being broadcasted on Fox that day? If not, I really don’t believe this is worth the money. As for the business structure it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Each company will own a 1/3 stake, have equal board representation, and will continue to bid independently for sports rights. I find it interesting they have an equal share since they all bring different rights to the table. As it stands right now, I’m not a fan of this deal as a consumer nor would I be as an investor in one of these companies. #VenuSports #ESPN #WarnerBros #Discovery #Fox #NFL #streaming

I’m not that impressed by the new sports streaming service Venu Sports. Venu Sports is the joint venture between Disney’s ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox. It will feature all three companies’ portfolio of live sports. This includes the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and college football. The service will cost $42.99 a month. The joint venture is aiming to launch before the start of the NFL season on September 5th, but it is still pending regulatory approval. It is also expected for further details to be released when it launches. My problem here is there are still so many sports games you are not receiving and $42.99 a month is quite expensive. Consider the fact that now Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Paramount also own large sports rights. One thing I’ll be interested in is how expansive the service will be. For example, with the NFL on Fox you are only able to view the local Fox game that is being broadcasted. With this new service would I be able to watch any NFL game that is being broadcasted on Fox that day? If not, I really don’t believe this is worth the money. As for the business structure it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Each company will own a 1/3 stake, have equal board representation, and will continue to bid independently for sports rights. I find it interesting they have an equal share since they all bring different rights to the table. As it stands right now, I’m not a fan of this deal as a consumer nor would I be as an investor in one of these companies. #VenuSports #ESPN #WarnerBros #Discovery #Fox #NFL #streaming

Not sure how others feel about this news but it’s not a big surprise in my opinion. Legal and FCC issues over bundling aside there were still significant challenges to get major sports leagues to support this. Why would the NFL, MLB or NBA allow these media giants to negotiate as a collective thus eliminating a competitive rights negotiations landscape where they reap the rewards of huge fees? In my opinion that was never going to happen, yes maybe second and lower tiered sports would gain an advantage but I doubt the majors were happy about this direction and signalled they wouldn’t allow them to simply move existing rights each owned into this venture. And if that was the case then what would it become, a housing station for less attractive rights, whereby consumers were going to have to subscriber to get another service?? Wasn’t going to happen. National Football League (NFL) National Basketball Association (NBA) National Hockey League (NHL) Major League Baseball (MLB) NBC Sports CBS Sports Fourth Line Media Warner Bros. Discovery Fox Corporation ESPN The Walt Disney Company https://lnkd.in/eU4EXGFM

Kudos to Adam SIlver and the NBA! The NBA has now finalized its media rights deals with Amazon, Disney and NBCUniversal, which are set to generate an estimated $76 billion over 11 years, beginning with the season ending in 2026. Disney will keep the rights to show the NBA Finals exclusively, Amazon will have global rights to 66 regular-season NBA games, including an opening week doubleheader and a new Black Friday game. Amazon continues to make waves in live sports streaming by adding NBA and WNBA coverage to its existing Thursday Night Football NFL deal. This is a HUGE deal symbolizing where the sports media industry is heading. Streaming continues to become a major focus for content delivery with platforms like Netflix and Amazon both taking territory. Both will require robust technological infrastructure and trusted sports broadcasting expertise in order to provide viewers globally with a reliable and stable streaming experience. Read more here: @Variety https://lnkd.in/edAK-dZn #NBA #livestreaming #mediaenentertainment

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is on the brink of lucrative media deals with NBCUniversal, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios and The Walt Disney Company/ESPN, potentially bringing in a staggering $76 billion in revenue over 11 years, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. NBCUniversal is set to pay an average of $2.5 billion annually to showcase about 100 games per season, with half airing exclusively on Peacock. Amazon's deal, valued at $1.8 billion, includes regular season and playoff games, an in-season tournament, and "play-in" games. The Walt Disney Company, on the other hand, is expected to pay about $2.6 billion each year to continue broadcasting the NBA Finals, receiving fewer games but expanding coverage to ESPN's forthcoming direct-to-consumer platform. These agreements, encompassing WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) telecasts, are slated to commence post the 2024-2025 season and could hike the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s annual fees to nearly $7 billion, marking a notable 2.5 times increase in average fees. 🏀 📺 💻 📱 #nba #disney #espn #nbcu #peacock #amazonprime #primevideo #mediarights #sportbiz #sportsbusiness #sportsmedia #sponsorships #sportssponsorships #marketing #media #NBAfinals #brandedcontent #ai #mensio #hive

As the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals begin, the league is finalizing a $76 billion, 11-year media deal, solidifying NBCUniversal and Amazon as key players. NBC will pay $2.5 billion annually for about 100 games, and #Amazon's $1.8 billion deal includes regular-season games, the in-season tournament, and "play-in" games. ESPN’s $1.5 billion deal reduces its game count but includes its new streaming service, Venu. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), a long-time #NBA broadcaster, is out for now but hopes to reach a new agreement. Despite CEO David Zaslav's skepticism about #NBCUniversal's spending, WBD reiterated its NBA commitment. Mark Zamuner, president here at Juice Media, believes fragmented media deals benefit content producers and the league, potentially increasing rights fees 2.5 times. He also sees significant growth potential in women’s sports. “To see the value generation of women’s sports and its growing audience—that is greatness to see,” Zamuner said. “Long-term lockups and value generation, especially with consumer choice, offer great upside.” NBA sponsorship revenue rose to $1.5 billion this past season, up 7%. The in-season tournament drew 58 brands, with major sponsorships for future events.  Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gR57WhEB

From CNBC: This is Netflix’s first real foray into traditional live #sports, driven by the company’s ambitions to grow its advertising tier. The company signed a deal earlier this year with WWE to be the home for its live “Raw” events, but Netflix dubbed that deal as “sports entertainment.” Unlike WWE, Netflix’s deal for Christmas NFL games doesn’t come with a full production team. That’s left the streamer looking for help. Netflix has been in touch with the broadcasters that currently air National Football League (NFL) games, including The Walt Disney Company’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Paramount Global’s CBS Sports, said the people familiar, who asked not to be named because the discussions have been private. Disney won’t produce the games because it already has college football obligations the same day, two of the people said. In-depth discussions haven’t begun with the other broadcasters, but Netflix’s options may be somewhat limited. Fox Corporation and CBS Sports already produce various games in different regions each week, which could make taking on additional games for Netflix a burden There’s also competition to consider. Amazon inked a deal with NBCUniversal to produce its NFL games before its first season of “Thursday Night Football” in 2022, but there may be more resistance among current NFL partners to help out Netflix, according to people familiar with the matter. That’s because Netflix could be auditioning as a future long-term media rights partner for NFL games in place of a legacy #media company, such as Paramount, Fox or NBC. While there is some trepidation among current media partners to produce games for a potential rival, pressure from the league — and a hefty paycheck from Netflix — could convince broadcasters to strike a deal, according to people familiar with the matter. “There aren’t that many players in the space who are capable of doing this at a level that you would want to trust when you’re launching as a new partner with a league as important as the National Basketball Association (NBA) or the NFL,” said Shirin Malkani, co-chair of the sports industry group at law firm Perkins Coie LLP, adding that the production side “can be a big hole for streaming partners.” Netflix and the league are looking to mirror the partnership that Amazon’s Prime Video lined up with Comcast’s NBC Sports for “Thursday Night Football” games. If a deal can’t be made with one of the incumbents, Netflix could find other options with third-party producers. Endeavor Group Holdings’ IMG is the production partner for Major League Soccer, which is offered through Apple. “It’s not easy to do an NFL game at a level that people are used to watching, which is a very high level and well produced,” said Jonathan Miller, chief executive of Integrated Media, which specializes in digital media investment. “But there’s a number of options out there that can pull it together without [Netflix] having a fully staffed sports division.”

Netflix is set to significantly expand its live sports offerings in 2025. Netflix's push into live sports, marked by their NFL Christmas games debut and WWE, signals a significant shift in their content strategy for 2025. The streaming giant is likely to pursue additional sports rights, focusing initially on mid-tier properties like tennis tournaments, soccer leagues, and combat sports events, rather than immediately competing for premium properties. This strategy allows them to test and refine their live streaming capabilities while building viewer trust. The move is driven by multiple factors: the need to attract and retain subscribers, the potential for premium advertising revenue, and keeping pace with competitors like Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ who already have sports offerings. For sports leagues, Netflix's entry creates new opportunities for rights distribution and revenue, while traditional broadcasters may face increased pressure to defend their existing rights. Netflix's global platform and technical infrastructure position them well for this expansion, though they'll need to carefully balance the high costs of sports rights acquisition against their existing content investments. This strategic pivot could reshape how sports content is distributed and consumed, potentially establishing Netflix as a significant player in sports broadcasting alongside their entertainment dominance. #LiveSports #SportsBrodcasting

Linear cable TV is betting big on live sports to remain relevant. With Comcast spinning off channels like USA and MSNBC into SpinCo and Warner Bros. Discovery consolidating TruTV under TNT Sports, cable networks are evolving into sports hubs. This isn’t just about tradition; it’s survival in a fragmented media world dominated by streaming. #WhatHappened Comcast’s new SpinCo and Warner Bros. Discovery’s reorganization highlight a seismic shift. SpinCo is leveraging sports like the Olympics and WWE to stay competitive, while TruTV is becoming part of a sports-focused lineup at WBD. Even FX and Nickelodeon are stepping into the ring, showcasing UFC bouts and NFL games, respectively. The aim? To shore up dwindling pay-TV subscriptions by turning every cable channel into a sports platform. Meanwhile, sports leagues are charting a dual path: maximizing reach on broadcast TV and tapping into streaming's growth. The NBA's upcoming rights deal, expanding from 15 to 75 broadcast exposures, ensures every national game will also stream—reflecting the urgency to capture younger audiences. #HowItImpactsTheMarkets Cable networks leaning on sports shows how streaming's rise is reshaping the industry. Rights fees are climbing, leaving fewer dollars for entertainment. The result? A divide between networks with strong sports portfolios and those without. For streaming giants, live sports have become the next competitive edge. For leagues, this marks a golden era—record rights fees paired with a broader audience reach. But there's a tension: sports is slowing cable's decline while propelling streaming forward. Networks are stuck between defending legacy models and embracing the future, creating opportunities for those who can balance both. #WhatsNext Expect a clearer divide between sports-entertainment hybrids and pure-play entertainment channels. ESPN’s flagship streaming launch next year could redefine how fans consume sports. At the same time, niche cable networks might struggle without the financial buffer of live sports. As streaming bidders drive up costs, will smaller players even have a seat at the table? The intersection of sports, cable, and streaming is reshaping the media landscape. What’s your take—can live sports save linear TV, or is this just delaying the inevitable? #MediaStrategy #SportsBusiness #StreamingWars #CableTV

This week the Chicago Sports Network announced that they will launch via over-the air in October - which represents an almost unprecedented scenario where the Bulls, Blackhawks and (next year) White Sox games will be accessible without cable or streaming apps. Also, the Dallas Mavericks recently announced that their games will be available OTA in their market. Focusing on just the Bulls and Mavericks - this represents NBA teams in the top 5 markets being accessible for free (also the Phoenix Suns - market #11). While team performance obviously matters - it will be interesting to see the results from these ratings as teams will potentially view free TV as brand building strategy vs. the transactional nature of monetizing each consumer via cable/streaming. As I contend - the consumer is fatigued in terms of navigating which streaming service to access their preferred content and broadcast/free TV provides a frictionless experience which could prove out as more viable moving forward for fixed appointment viewing.