LGST 207 Midterm 2 Flashcards
First televised sporting event
Princeton v. Columbia 1939 baseball game.
NY Times criticized baseball on TV–> criticism has followed sports on TV since the beginning
Relationship between TV and sports at the beginning
TV needed sports, as sports helped increase TV demand, as people bought TV’s to see their teams play
Broadcast TV Business Model
Deliver an audience to advertisers, receive money from advertisers for doing so
National networks provide schedule of programming (entertainment, national news, sports) and local affiliate affiliates with the network and airs their local shows and syndicated shows
Big difference with cable is the lack of a cable subscription necessary, although retransmission fees help the broadcast channel receive a small amount from the cable companies
Network Rights Fee Model
Network pays sports leagues annually in long term contracts to air their games. Sells advertising to recoup investment
Why does a good rating matter
More viewers results in advertisers willing to pay more, so the value of the property increases with good viewership
Sports Importance to Broadcast (FOX example)
FOX Gets the NFL, the NFL helps it be a successful network by:
- Promoting the other shows on FOX
- Affiliates compete to switch to FOX to be able to air the local football team
- Advertisers bundle their ads, advertise on other FOX programming, results in more ad revenue
Broadcast Overview
Broadcast TV is the traditional TV model with no cable subscription necessary to watch these channels. The network makes money through advertising. Sports programming is often beneficial for a network in getting good affiliates and good ratings for its other programming
Cable TV Revenue
Dual revenue streams (monthly subscriber fees and advertising revenue)
Subscriber fees
Channels sell their content to MSOs (Comcast, Time Warner, Fios…) at a wholesale price and the MSO sells the channels to the consumer at a higher retail price
Affiliate fees for each channel vary based on demand (ESPN the highest)
Satellite TV
Similar to cable but stresses the choice and quality and focuses on sports
Cable TV Overview
Cable TV came onto the scene in the 1980s with ESPN and cable news networks, but seems to be falling after an incredible rise due to cord-cutting. The cable model is a boom to channels as they get revenue from affiliate fees as well as ad revenue. This has put a financial burden on the consumer who have to pay high cable bills.
Digital Media
Direct subscriptions that deliver a highly targeted audience to advertisers for a fee (Netflix, Twitter, Hulu, Amazon Video)
Increased presence as it is popular with millennials
Rating, Share, Sweep
Rating is percent of households watching a given program
Share is percent of households using their TV watching a given program
Sweeps are Feb, May, July, Nov (2,5,7,11)
Sports on TV summary
TV as a whole is down, and sports down too, but sports and TV need each other and are important to one another
Every major move by a league is based on TV repercussions and the national/regional sales of TV rights are essential for league success
Also sports are helpful so affiliates want the network
Why do sports mesh well with TV
Need to watch games live (no DVR), high levels of engagement and passion, fairly predictable ratings, gives advertisers a direct pipeline to middle class and more wealthy consumers, specifically allowing great access to highly desirable 18-34 year-old men
Why have media rights gone up recently
More networks and platforms bidding for the package, live sports bring high ratings and reach young men better than anything else, more finely target audiences, TV everywhere multi-platform concept gives properties more rights to sell.
However, could be a bubble with such a sharp increase and so many cord cutters and people who don’t use cable
I think it will keep going up as digital players make more aggressive bids
Is Sports Broadcasting Worth the Cost?
Huge rights fees, and networks are losing money from sports alone. However, seen as an investment to help get the channel affiliates (broadcast) or subscribers (cable). Also major promoter for the network’s non-sports programming.
Factors ESPN Considers in Acquiring Content
New deal or renewal Strategic value Length of contract (as long as possible) Across all platforms Driver ratings (reach X time spent viewing) Strengthen brand Volume of content (highlights) Time of year Price
RSN
Regional sports network that MLB, NBA, and NHL teams play on. Traditionally owned by cable and media companies (Fox, Comcast) but some teams have taken over their own RSN’s
Why do teams take over their own RSN
Additional revenue stream, cuts out the middle man and gets the advertising directly, also creates and enhances asset value of the franchise
Additionally, standalone properties not subject to revenue sharing
So, helpful in making more money and growing exposure
Media Big Picture
Ever since sports began on TV, there has been criticism. In the beginning, TV needed sports to increase TV’s demand. Broadcast TV is the traditional TV model where networks make money through advertising. Networks like sports to get good affiliates and good ratings/promotional opportunities for its other programming. Cable TV has a dual revenue stream, with subscriber fees and advertising revenue. As a whole, TV is down, but sports and TV need each other. Every decision a league makes involves TV repercussions, and TV is needed to promote a brand. They go hand-in-hand, as sports survives the DVR epidemic and is the last form of must-watch TV left. As more channels and opportunities to consume content are created, there has been an increase in media rights. This is also because live sports bring ratings from a young audience that other programming cannot do. While channels don’t make money off of sports individually, they are used to help promote their other programming and channels have seen great results from having sports. RSN’s are becoming increasingly important with more teams launching their own RSN’s to take out the middle man.
NBA’s Goal of Emerging Technology
Experiment with unproven digital technology to shape fan experience in the future (not profit today, but get a headline and wants to be seen as innovative)
Partnership with the emerging technology companies and associate themselves with them. Promoting their brand across a variety of platforms to change the consumption of their product.
How NBA Uses Emerging Technology
Finding scale on new platforms:
- Augmented reality (part of smartphone that doesn’t require an extra device like VR, NBA Pop-a-shot or Snapchat foam finger)
- Voice (get player voice and all-star voting on Alexa
- Chatbots (audience has high willingness to purchase stuff thru chatbot)
Current status of emerging technology in NBA
Mostly entertainment not profit, but with right business model and technology, profit and value will come