08/30/21: Yahoo Sports detailed its plans for fantasy football this fall

Monday August 30, 2021

Just before the new NFL season, Yahoo Sports continues to power up its fantasy game, not only upgrading multiple facets of the annual contests, but also entering into a “first of its kind” season-long partnership with Chargers running back, fantasy star, and Gridiron Gaming Group founder Austin Ekeler. Ekeler will join Yahoo Sports as a fantasy football analyst, creating new and unique fantasy football programming for Yahoo Sports, including starring in weekly fantasy show titled “Ekeler’s Edge.” Yahoo Sports and Ekeler will also host live conversations throughout the season. The combined initiatives were design to allow fans to fully immerse themselves into the fan-powered sports experience through Yahoo’s core areas to create a full 360 Gaming experience.

Cynopsis asked Geoff Reiss, GM of Yahoo Sports, about the approach.

Reiss on Yahoo’s vision: We continually advance the experience for our users and this season we’re putting particular emphasis on fantasy and premium gaming. We’ve made significant new investments in both season long fantasy, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and our sports betting offerings that are now available in nine states. We’ve launched Yahoo Fantasy Plus which provides season long fantasy players insights and tips that help them prepare for the draft and manage their teams throughout the season. Nobody offers fans the range of games and experiences we do and it’s essential we constantly expand and improve our offerings.

We enter September with a ton of momentum coming out of the NBA and MLB seasons in season-long fantasy and have seen really strong engagement for our new single-game DFS contests.

On this season: We are incredibly excited to debut new fan-first fantasy football innovations led by a partnership with Austin Ekeler. He will be joining Yahoo Sports as a fantasy football analyst, staring in a weekly fantasy show called “Ekeler’s Edge” on our award-winning fantasy platform, “Fantasy Football Live,” alongside expert commentary from our own football analyst, Liz Loza. The new show will debut on September 8th with a combination of content for all fantasy fans this season, really driven by which platform they will be watching. Austin will spotlight fantasy players that are likely to have a big week based on his own experiences facing the opposing defenses in the league. He will also be conducting interviews with other football stars and fantasy enthusiasts, and we’ll also host live conversations with him throughout the season to answer our fans’ most burning questions, offering unique perspectives for the fantasy community.

We will also continue to expand Yahoo Fantasy Plus, our premium subscription service that provides a series of exclusive tools for fantasy players including access to premium research tools, trade insights and easier lineup management. We are introducing the new “Trade Hub” feature this season, making proposing and evaluating trades easier and more fun.

On other new elements: We also just announced that for the first time, Yahoo Sports will introduce “Shark-Free*” Daily Fantasy contests, providing an opportunity for more players to win the biggest cash prizes. Players will now get the chance to compete in a wide range of Daily Fantasy football contests, including single-game contests and multi-entry contests on a level playing field, beginning with the Week 1 NFL Baller contest with a $1 million prize pool. To further the fan experience, Yahoo Fantasy will also be giving $10 in contest entry credit to every Yahoo user, whether they are an experienced Veteran or if they’re new to the platform. And new depositors will receive an additional $25 in contest entry credit after making their first deposit.

We wanted to host an event for our fantasy fans and bring them together safely. So, for the first time ever, we are also giving leading Yahoo Fantasy players the great opportunity to compete on the big stage by creating a more seamless experience between the digital and physical worlds at the first-ever Yahoo Fantasy Football Championship. We’re excited to be partnering with MGM to host it at MGM National Harbor Resort & Casino in Maryland from December 11-12, during Week 14 of the football season.

On its approach to betting: Through our partnership with BetMGM, which provides users with opportunities to wager in nine states, the number of consumers taking advantage of opportunities to bet continues to grow as over 80 percent of Yahoo Sports’ converted bettors have come from sports and fantasy products. Our focus has been on incentivizing consumers and ensuring they stay within the ecosystem. With football season around the corner, new BetMGM bettors that are referred by Yahoo will be eligible to claim $25 in contest entry credit to enter our paid daily fantasy contests and paid fantasy leagues as well as one year free of Yahoo Fantasy Plus. We anticipate continued success with this approach and are excited about this specific promotion as we enter one of the biggest betting periods of the year.

We will also launch “Yahoo Sportsbook Live” on the award-winning Fantasy Football Live, a new live gaming program designed to help football fans make real-time bets during the crucial halftime window this season, which will debut across Yahoo Sportsbook, Yahoo Fantasy and Yahoo Sports social channels weekly on Sundays.

PROGRAMMING

More good news for MLS, which saw ABC and ESPN networks report an average audience of 384,000 viewers through 18 matches, up 50% over the 2020 regular-season average, and up 39% over 2019 numbers. ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 combined are currently on track to deliver Major League Soccer’s most-watched season since 2000. ABC will be home to MLS Cup 2021 on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3p.

Meanwhile, FOX Bet Live returns with an expanded talent lineup today at 5p on FS1. Alex Curry joins as the new host, alongside gambling experts “Cousin Sal” Iacono and Clay Travis. For season four, the group will include analyst Geoff Schwartz and longtime reporter and media personality Jason McIntyre.

Speaking of FOX, Mark Titus and Charlotte Wilder, hosts of FOX Sports digital original The People’s Sports Podcast, will take on eight of the nation’s “most exciting” campuses this fall on the Ultimate College Football Road Trip sponsored by Dos Equis. Serving up live shows from eight different locations, plus additional on-site social content throughout the course of each weekend, the tour represents FOX Sports’ most ambitious digital-first activation to-date, according to the company, beginning with Madison, Wis., for the season opener between Penn State and Wisconsin in FOX’s BIG NOON SATURDAY game of the week on Saturday.

On Thursday, the Pac-12 Conference announced that it would not be adding any new members. In a statement, conference officials noted that “This decision was made following internal discussion and analysis, and is based on the current competitive strength and cohesiveness in our ability as a conference to best support our student-athletes and to grow and thrive both academically and athletically.” Meanwhile, the Big 12 has already formed an expansion committee to replace the departing Texas and Oklahoma programs.

SEC Network added New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer and Super Bowl Champion Deuce McAllister to its roster this fall. McAllister will join veteran play-by-play commentator Dave Neal and first-year college football reporter Andraya Carter for afternoon SEC contests this season. His first game assignment will be Alabama State at Auburn on Sept. 11.

CYNOPSIS’ THAT BIG TV VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

SESSION SPOTLIGHT | Fireside Chat: GAMUT. The Leader in Local OTT
Local OTT video advertising is no easy feat, as each company offers different pieces to the puzzle: audience, data, reach, transparency, but only Gamut delivers total expertise spanning the entire streaming video landscape.

On Tuesday, September 21, this panel will provide an inside look at how Gamut can help advertisers reach a highly-engaged OTT audience with buying power.

REGISTER NOW

SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

NASCAR announced that Xfinity, a NASCAR Premier Partner and title sponsor of NASCAR Xfinity Series, signed on as the exclusive partner of NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Elimination Races. “There is no better time in the NASCAR season to highlight the importance of providing a fast, safe and secure Internet to customers during their most important moments,” said Matt Lederer, Vice President, Brand Partnerships and Amplification at Comcast. “When everything is on the line, the best drivers in NASCAR know it requires peak performance to advance to the next round and we look forward to celebrating those moments of excellence with NASCAR fans.”

FanDuel released its first-ever national brand campaign, which kicked off on Saturday. Promotion marks the debut work from Wieden+Kennedy with the company. The “sports anthem” spot uses the tagline “Make Every Moment More” while capturing a full suite of sports, including Lisa Leslie’s first WNBA Dunk and a guest appearance by new FanDuel ambassador Jordan Spieth. In addition to the three national spots, FanDuel will have five sportsbook ads that feature NFL imagery in the 10 states where the brand currently offers mobile sports betting: New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Tennessee.

HyperX announced Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev as a HyperX Global Brand Ambassador. As HyperX’s first global brand ambassador from Russia, Medvedev will receive a comic-style illustration and participate in global marketing activities.

DIGITAL, DATA & TECH

ESPN is reportedly seeking to license its brand to major sports-betting companies for at least $3 billion across several years, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company’s exploration is a move to “capitalize on the fast-growing online gambling industry,” by offering the right for a suitor to use the ESPN name for branding purposes and potentially rename its sportsbook after the network.

ESPORTS

Riot Games looked forward on its live events. The company confirmed that the 2022 League of Legends World Championship will take place in North America, running across four cities with LCS Commissioner Chris Greeley confirming the plans in an interview with Travis Gafford. North America hasn’t hosted a League World Championship since 2016. Meanwhile, Riot Games announced that the 2022 LCS Mid-Season Showdown will take place at the NRG Stadium in Houston on April 23 and 24 while the Prudential Center in Newark will host the LCS Championship in 2023.

Tencent is looking to expand Arena of Valor esports in 2022, drawing up more tournaments for the title around the world in addition to partnering with the game Honor of Kings, uniting them for the first time next year for the the Arena of Valor World Cup 2022 in October next year. Tencent stated that the prize pool for the competition will be more than $8 million.

Esports Entertainment Group announced a partnership with the Indianapolis Colts to operate co-branded esports tournaments annually for the NFL side of its platform. In addition, the company will leverage player imagery within Indianapolis Colts’s local market, whilst also working with the team to promote the tournaments through digital marketing.

How to Create Culturally Relevant Content
In partnership with Discovery, the Diversity and Inclusion virtual event on September 13 takes a deep dive into how to deliver a message that embraces diversity and shares your business values in a way that resonates with consumers. The best part? It’s FREE to join.

Secure your complimentary virtual pass now.

ON THIS DAY in
2012: Andy Roddick announced his retirement from tennis.

IN THE KNOW
Which NFL team provided the “Greatest Show on Turf”? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city).

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Which college football team enters the stadium with the song “Also sprach Zarathustra”? Answer: University of South Carolina. Kudos: Joe Grippo-The Memory Company/NY; Michael Ritz-Lenox Advisors/NY; Michael Dittelman-Dedicated Sports Marketing/NY; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton; C.J. Bottitta-Big Picture Productions/Apex; Louis Lewow-FITE/Atlanta; Greg Moloznik-GLM Media/Scottsdale; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Kevin Fay-Havas Edge/Carlsbad; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA

Cynopsis Team

Chris Pursell
@VegasandVine

Kerry Smith
Division President
Access Intelligence

Roberta Caploe
Publisher
@robertacaploe

Executive Director of Sales
Albert Nassour
917-545-3129

Cynopsis Job Listings Sales
John Cox

CynopsisJobs
Check out more jobs in Cynopsis Classifieds »

Job of the day

MANAGER, STREAMING TV PROGRAMMING STRATEGY AND SCHEDULING
JUKIN MEDIA
LOS ANGELES, CA
Supports Director on all Streaming Team department responsibilities. Manage program strategy and scheduling and manage on-air promo strategy and scheduling. Evaluate potential program acquisitions and create editorial calendar Bachelor’s degree and 5+ Years TV and/or Streaming TV Programming Strategy, Scheduling and Acquisitions experience req. Full info HERE (9/15)

COORDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL SALES, DISTRIBUTION
CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS
LOS ANGELES, CA
Provide sales & distribution support to the SVP in key areas such as updating right management system, export of availabilities, reports, and other international tools, and gather data for sales & distribution support. Invoicing, reports, material deliveries, screeners, contracts, schedule. 1-2 yrs exp supporting sales & distribution teams req. Full info HERE (9/15)

SENIOR WRITER/PRODUCER “PrEditor” >>
UP tv/ATLANTA, GA: Conceive, write, produce and edit breakthrough on-air promotional spots, launch campaigns, and marketing sales tapes. Provide creative direction and help oversee promo work of editors, promo producers and freelance creative help. 7 yrs with cable, network, local television station, ad agency, or other applicable industry related experience. Full info HERE (9/15)

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE >>
UP tv/ATLANTA, GA: Ensure all subscriber questions and concerns are addressed quickly. Utilize written communication via ZenDesk to respond to, troubleshoot, and resolve customer issues. Ensure that customer interactions reflect our values and communication strategy. Ability to triage issues and clearly communicate solutions in a concise manner. Full info HERE (9/15)

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER >>
UP tv/ATLANTA, GA: Oversee day-to-day management of campaigns & ensure brand consistency. Develop social media campaigns & drive brand awareness, and engagement. Understanding of the full social landscape & how it is successfully managed within the entertainment industry. Experience using native and enterprise level digital & social workflow and paid media solutions. Full info HERE (9/15)

SALES PLANNER >>
UP tv/NYC, NY: Work with advertising agency contacts & other advertising sales personnel to ensure that administration aspects of accounts are in order. Build, revise and maintain all sales proposals for AEs. Assist in the compilation & enhancement of upfront and scatter pricing and planning tools: reweight charts, pricing guide, etc. 1+ years related cable exp. Full info HERE (9/15)

MEDIA TRAFFIC COORDINATOR >>
CIRCLE MEDIA/NASHVILLE, TN: Manage ad sales orders and distribute marketing materials. Create show formats and timing the log to exact time specs. Prepare, build, and enter all commercial orders and run reports for sales. Broadcast or Radio Traffic experience, and a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Wide Orbit or related program and Microsoft office expertise is a plus. Full info HERE (9/15)

PUBLIC RELATIONS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE – INTERACTIVE GAMING >>
42West-BHI/LA, NYC, AUSTIN, SALT LAKE CITY: Work on your favorite games! Execute and oversee gaming campaigns across PC, console, and mobile titles. The ideal candidate would possess a passion for gaming and writing with a minimum of three years of PR experience within the games industry, including experience managing campaigns, communications, and conducting strategic media relations. Full info HERE (9/15)

SUPERVISOR, FIELD OPERATIONS >>
SPECTRUM/BIRMINGHAM AL: Responsible for overall fulfillment operations of the system locations from the node to the home across the assigned area. Supervise installation and service to meet customer expectations, technical quality standards, employee productivity and company safety requirements. Full info HERE (9/15)

MARKETING RESEARCH MANAGER >>
PAC-12 NETWORKS/SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Provide quantitative and qualitative analyses, actionable recommendations, and presentations. Organize and compile media research that supports brand management and works closely with sales team to provide relevant research/data points. 5+ years of experience in the marketing and media research field within a media organization required. Full info HERE (9/14)

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS MANAGER
INSP, LLC
CHARLOTTE, NC
Manage all communication with external distribution partner operations teams for onboarding, asset delivery and troubleshooting issues. Drive overall execution for all digital distribution projects. Project Manager for the creation and/or procurement of digital assets. Five or more years of experience and Bachelor’s Degree req. Full info HERE (9/10)

SALES PLANNER
CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS
LA, CA
Build and modify sales plans and orders, maintain media schedules, manage posting process and coordinate, track and implement added value elements for clients. Min 1yr. exp as Sales Planner or Sales Buyer or 1-2 yr. exp as a Sales Assistant in comparable Ad Sales environment req. BA degree in Marketing, Advertising or Comms strongly preferred. Full info HERE (9/9)

MANAGER RESEARCH
CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS
LA, CA
Deliver consumer focused, data driven insights that support and guide decisions relative to the development, acquisition and scheduling of all Crown Media content. 5+yr relevant research exp in cable, broadcast and streaming. Knowledge of Nielsen-based systems and viewing stats. Exp with Star Method, Tableau and Google Analytics a plus. Full info HERE (9/9)

SENIOR MANAGER, PROGRAMMING & ACQUISITIONS >>
iN DEMAND/NYC, NY : Maximize indie TVOD revenue for iND and affiliates, Act as primary contact for all 70+ indie studios under iND offering. Identify and activate new business relationships with content providers and negotiate license agreements for acquisition of movie and television product for VOD. Minimum of 3-4 years of work experience, preferably in related area. Full info HERE (9/7)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
DISH MEDIA
NYC, NY
DISH Media is looking for a top-tiered advertising sales professional to call on advertising agencies and clients. This individual’s success will be directly tied to an ability to help our client’s strategize and achieve their growth objectives. Full info HERE (9/6)

SALES PLANNER
DISH MEDIA
NYC, NY
We’re looking for an energetic Sales Planner to join our NYC team. The Sales Planner will be responsible for execution and maintenance of ordered deals and acting as a facilitator of the sales process by providing proposals that meet the needs of both DISH Media Sales and client’s needs. Full info HERE (9/6)

MEDIA SALES COORDINATOR
DISH MEDIA
EL SEGUNDO, CA
DISH Media is looking for a new Media Sales Coordinator. This role will be responsible for the daily account management and support to assigned Account Executives. We are looking for candidates with the ability to build and sustain relationships across Ad Agencies and Clients to assist our sales staff succeed in this rapidly evolving environment. Full info HERE (9/6)

MEDIA SALES COORDINATOR
DISH MEDIA
NYC, NY
DISH Media is looking for a Media Sales Coordinator. This role will be responsible for the daily account management and support to assigned Account Executives. We are looking for candidates with the ability to build and sustain relationships across Ad Agencies and Clients to assist our sales staff succeed in this rapidly evolving environment. Full info HERE (9/6)

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
DISH MEDIA
NYC, NY
We are seeking a highly creative individual to fill the role of Graphic Designer. This person will be responsible for developing and executing creative concepts that propel and enhance the DISH Media brand visually across all communication channels. Full info HERE (9/6)

TARGETING & ATTRIBUTION MANAGER
DISH MEDIA
NYC, CHICAGO, LA
The Targeting & Attribution Manager (TAM) supports pre-campaign target recommendations and manages post-campaign attribution and measurement. Provides executional strategy for measurement studies, to analyze the success of DISH Media’s targeted advertising business, across both DISH and Sling TV. Full info HERE (9/6)

SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST
DISH MEDIA
NYC, NY
The Sr. Research Analyst reports directly to the Advanced TV Analytics Team Lead. The position supports various divisions within DISH including Media Research, Analytics, Sales & Marketing. Providing reporting on qualitative & quantitative data; assisting w/audience delivery forecasting; providing timely updates of Research & Marketing materials. Full info HERE (9/6)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE – CLIENT VERTICAL
DISH MEDIA
NYC, NY
The Client Vertical role will focus on driving revenue within a set number of verticals. Work with the various teams within DISH Media (Sales, Data, Analytics, etc) to elevate the sales strength of their verticals. You will be a part of a Client Vertical team that represents DISH Media in the marketplace mostly with client direct decision makers. Full info HERE (9/6)

DIRECTOR OF PROMO STRATEGY AND SCHEDULING >>
GAC MEDIA LLC/NYC, NY: Work across various departments to coordinate promotional priorities on a monthly and weekly basis. Review creative and identify needs to ensure promotional inventory is being used effectively. Use Grip-It to schedule and book promotional time for primary and secondary events. At least 3-5+ years’ experience working in Promo or Inventory Management. Full info HERE (9/6)

SALES ASSISTANT, DIRECT RESPONSE >>
GAC MEDIA LLC/NYC, NY: Accurately enter all orders for Direct Response schedules. Review and process orders to ensure that all necessary paperwork is submitted for cross functional teams. Pull pre and pot logs for clients. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and Bachelor’s degree required. Full info HERE (9/6)

SALES ASSISTANT, GENERAL RATE >>
GAC MEDIA, LLC/NYC, NY: Accurately enter all orders for linear & digital advertising schedules. Review & process orders to ensure that all necessary paperwork is submitted for cross functional teams. Manage advertising copy for clients, including correct distribution of Traffic Instructions & client spot uploads as needed. Strong analytical & problem-solving skills req. Full info HERE (9/6)

DIRECTOR, SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
THE JIM HENSON COMPANY
BURBANK, CA
Generating leads and closing sales for creative service vendor opportunities. Building and establishing valuable industry relationships within entertainment to yield potential business development opportunities. Establishing new partnerships and maintaining existing partnerships with clients. Experience in entertainment sales is preferred. Full info HERE (9/6)

NETWORK TV VIDEO CONTENT EDITOR
WEIGEL NETWORKS
CHICAGO
Video Editor responsible for editing and formatting content to air on the Weigel Ntwrk brands and in accordance with FCC rules and regulations and SOP’s. Responsible for the clarity and accuracy of content broadcasted. 2+ yrs exp. Exp w/Adobe Prmr, Attn to detail and familiarity with FCC rules and regulations for what is permissible to air required. Full info HERE (9/4)

VP- CLIENT MANAGEMENT >>
RING2MEDIA INC/REMOTE: Responsible for all strategic planning, implementation of growth initiatives, and overall success. Design and pitch campaign growth opportunities and new strategic initiatives to create new Revenue opportunities. Success will be measured by growth rate of accounts; in terms of both Overall Revenue and scope of services.” Full info HERE (9/3)

VP-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT >>
RING2MEDIA INC/REMOTE: Robust experience in the Medicare Advantage, Health Insurance, and Life Insurance verticals required. The ideal candidate will have existing relationships at the carrier, broker, and IMO/FMO levels & an intimate knowledge of Lead Generation/Customer Acquisition, with a deep functional understanding of the economics and Customer LTVs in the space.” Full info HERE (9/3)

MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING
CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS
STUDIO CITY, CA
Develop & execute consumer marketing campaigns. Create innovative & compelling tactics such as sweepstakes, experiential activations, email campaigns, promotions and more for top-tier linear & streaming platforms and brand extensions within Crown Media. Clever, enthusiastic team player with ability to multi-task and interface with all departments. Full info HERE (9/2)

VP COMMUNICATIONS, DOCUMENTARIES >>
Discovery Inc/NYC or LA: Help lead and promote new content in the docs and doc series space across Discovery Factual and discovery+. Pitch and secure media coverage in a wide range of media outlets as well as launching awards campaigns with established relationships in the premium doc space. Must have 10+ years exp in-house and/or agency setting. Full info HERE (9/2)

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER – PROGRAM INTEGRATIONS >>
Discovery Inc/NYC: Food Network’s Program Integration team is seeking an AP to help project manage integrated content across linear and D+ platforms. Looking for passionate people with television, marketing, or media background and 1-3 years exp in coordinating and project managing. Full info HERE (9/2)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER >>
PROCAM TAKE 2/NYC, NY: Procam Take 2 is an ambitious team of individuals who are excited about what we do & our booming industry. We are looking to hire creative and passionate professionals who are always pushing themselves to achieve their best. As our business development manager, you are an integral part of the Procam team and play an important role in our success. Full info HERE (9/2)

MARKETING MANAGER >>
MAVTV/CORONA CA: Develop & execute marketing campaigns & proactively create, plan, & execute innovative marketing & communication strategies to expand viewership & revenue opportunities. Develop a campaign strategy and identify target audiences and deployment capabilities, and facilitate media buys for Network advertisements. 4+ years of experience in TV required. Full info HERE (9/2)

PRODUCTION MANAGER
EarthxTV
DALLAS
Ability to interface with production partners and ultimately responsible for all the crew, talent, locations, and all the contracts associate with the production. Will hire crew, heads of departments, etc, over-seeing the onboarding process and ongoing paperwork. Bachelor’s degree and/or a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience required. Full info HERE (8/30)

DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC & SCHEDULING
EarthxTV
DALLAS
Responsible for scheduling all programming, commercials, and promos.
Oversee completion of programming grid – Building formats and maintaining program schedules in the traffic system. Assign all house numbers to content as it is delivered and coordinate all logs. Bachelor’s degree and/or a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience required. Full info HERE (8/30)

@{optoutfooterhtml}@