Sports Media

[andyb]

This is somewhat interesting. Might be just digital venture capital getting together, but it is something to watch. Axios has started adding flimsy (for now) local market coverage.

The Athletic reportedly in talks with Axios regarding a merger

[zambonir]

I ultimately expect The Athletic to fail, because nearly everything does (especially by the standards VC capital requires) but I hope not.

[andyb]

The Ringer on the streaming wars edging into sports. It does not really approach the linear ESPN vs ESPN+ type of question very well, but clearly the streaming services are starting to compete more for sports and the new NFL and NHL contracts are starting to move towards where lots of content is available on both.

It is just going to be an interesting evolution.

Live Sports Are the Next Great Battle of the Streaming Wars

[zambonir]

I just noticed that MLS also got rid of its standalone streaming product. All included with ESPN + now with the usual caveats (local team and national games blocked out).

At the same time, if i want to watch NWSL at all, I have to get Paramount + (formerly CBS All Access). I guess if I were a bigger soccer fan I'd have it anyway.

[zambonir]

Stories to come but apparently Turner has bought the remaining NHL rights.

[andyb]

Rumor was Fox over the weekend. I think NBC is in the middle of their Premier League renegotiation so maybe they prioritized that since the NHL was getting more expensive.

[BostonRoss]

I hope NBC didn't reach an agreement with the Super League...

[bkox]

A Wall Street Journal report this week indicated that NBC/Comcast may be interested in either selling all of its regional sports networks or placing them on its streaming service Peacock in the not too distant future.

Kevin Cooney has more thoughts on it in this article:

Kevin Cooney: Phillies pitching staff helps to mitigate other weaknesses

[andyb]

One has to wonder whether moving games off cable systems to something like Peacock would void the current terms of contracts which were written so the Phillies would get paid based on the number of households that received the game and not the actual subscribers which would be less. So NBC might want to get out of their current contracts and move games to Peacock since their current contracts are less profitable to them. But teams will sue if that happens because their revenue streams would be more limited.

Clearly there is disruption coming in this space. It just might be a bit slower than we want (for those of us who can't get their local teams on their streaming service).

[bkox]

I wonder if blackouts still apply if they were on a steaming service like peacock? Living in central Illinois, even with an MLB tv subscription, when the phillies play the cards, cubs or Chisox, I have to watch on their regular affiliates on cable instead of through MLBtv

[zambonir]

That's a little surprising, you would think the value of them to Comcast remains as a way to draw subscribers (though the same will ultimately be true of Peacock). I wonder if they will eventually sell the Flyers.

The WSJ article said they originaly planned to put Philly on Peacock (in addition to, not instead of cable) this year, which would have been a huge perk for someone (like julio) who doesn't want to have cable, or someone like me, who doesn't get the local Comcast RSN on my cord-cutter. We both could have just paid 5.99 a month for Peacock. But they postponed that while pondering this larger strategy.

I think blackouts will be pretty much the same for now. You probably won't even be able to get NBC Sports Philly if you're not in Philly, and if you can, the games that are on MLB.TV or NBA Season Pass will only be available there. But if the Midwestern team's channel is on Peacock, you will have that.

[andyb]

I don't think the Peacock option would show out of market games, so the blackouts would be meaningless. You just would have to be in market to see your market's games. This is not like ESPN+ and hockey which is assuming the "out of market" package where blackouts would apply. For NBC this would be a way to get the $6 a month (or maybe a higher fee with the RSN games) for in-market subscribers where they own some of those rights.

[zambonir]

Disney in Discussions With NFL for ‘Sunday Ticket’ Franchise, Renews MLB Deal

ESPN won't be airing nearly as many MLB games.

[andyb]

They sort of announced that a few months ago, though I think Fox and TBS got some additional games in their package.

ESPN's strategy in the recent rounds of negotiations has definitely been scattered. They re-upped for the NFL when many thought they would pass. They added the top SEC game of the week which was really expensive. Then the NHL.

Looks like they got La Liga soccer rights this week too with the Premier League up for grabs potentially in a year. All these packages push content to ESPN+. It does seem they are laying the groundwork for that to increase in price ($10?) in a year or two. It is just interesting that they cut back on baseball when they do have gaps in their summer coverage. I guess passing on the playoffs for them is the big thing since they have less channel space available in the Fall.

[andyb]

Looks like MLB.com is making their in-season price drops a bit more aggressive. Just got an email for a 50% offer that is $64.99 for the full MLB package and $54.99 for the single team package. This usually comes around Father's Day.

[bkox]

This weekend's series against the Giants is available to watch only on Peacock. NBC Philly will send John Kruk and Jimmy Rollins to San Francisco to be in the booth with Giants broadcasters Jon Miller and Mike Krukow.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) June 14, 2021

MLB to place three Giants-Phillies games on Peacock this weekend as test of new distribution platforms. Will be available nationwide but exclusive to Peacock in SF, Philly markets. Somewhat similar to what Amazon is doing this season w the Yankees.

— Eric Fisher ( @EricFisherSBG ) June 14, 2021

[zambonir]

Will be available nationwide but exclusive to Peacock in SF, Philly markets.

So does that take it off MLB.TV or no?

(Actually doesn't matter because I'm going to be in the Lehigh Valley, oops!)

I actually don't mind signing up for Peacock, I have had it before and there are several things on there I still want to watch. This may actually become the thing a lot of people have been waiting for, i.e. a local-only streaming package where you don't have to have Comcast or someone that carries NBCSN Philly: just Peacock

[andyb]

That will annoy some viewers used to watching the game on cable. Works for me of course (and the entire Dodgers series is on MLB Network too). I also got an email today with the "Father's Day Special" this week for the rest of the season MLB.TV package for $44.95. There seem to be so many free games that it is not really worth it though.

[zambonir]

It is certainly a killer for casual/older fans. My father for instance, wouldn't care enough to go through the trouble, and it's funny that I will be at his house this weekend, so now I'll either have to cast or put the app on his TV.

I believe anyone who has Xfinity as their cable provider already gets Peacock for free anyway, if they've bothered to sign up. And it's already a must for Premier League fans.

[Ryles]

This is ridiculous. Senior fans don't need the hassle of signing up for a streaming service. I have it but on Saturdays I like to watch the Phils at the local social club, play the pools (entertainment purposes only) & commiserate with friends. Doubt the local club will program their TV's for Peacock.