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Wednesday October 27, 2021
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| Monster day for the National Lacrosse League yesterday, announcing the most extensive United States media rights agreement in its history, with ESPN and ESPN+ picking up exclusive rights in the U.S. and the rest of the world outside Canada for live NLL games. All NLL games will be carried on an ESPN network or platform with ESPN linear carrying a minimum of 10 live games annually while ESPN+ will offer up to 139 games exclusively each year.
“We are so proud, honored and excited to work with ESPN and ESPN+ in this unprecedented landmark announcement for the NLL. Never before in the 35-year history of the league have fans, sponsors, teams and players had this type of access and exposure across the United States,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “While we, our sport and the industry continue to focus on digital native fans, we will also have the benefit of expanded reach through live distribution on ESPN linear networks. We’ve been steadily building on our media strategy and towards this kind of distribution over the last few years and are excited about the momentum an announcement like this generates heading into NLL Faceoff Weekend, December 3-4.”
PROGRAMMING
Let’s kick things off with a bevy of ratings news. ESPN’s Monday Night Football Week 7 presentation delivered an average of 12.9 million viewers for the Saints/Seahawks matchup on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes to mark the most-watched MNF Week 7 game since 2014, while also delivering 17% and 14% viewership increases, respectively, from MNF Week 7 matchups in 2020 and 2019, according to Nielsen. Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli (ESPN2) returned for the first time since Week 3, and, in doing so, delivered 1.6 million viewers, resulting in the Super Bowl-winning brothers now fronting ESPN’s three most-watched alternate telecasts.
NBC saw SNF continue its strong run this season, with Sunday’s edition of Football Night in America averaging 8.3 million viewers on the channel, up 41%over year ago numbers. The Colts/49ers game itself saw a TAD of 16.9 million viewers, up 13% over week 7 in 2020.
Weekend football data also saw ESPN lay claim to the four most-viewed week 8 games on the collegiate side. Tennessee/Alabama land 4.7 million viewers on ESPN, while Oregon/UCLA drew 3.8 million on ABC. The Illinois upset over Penn State on ABC saw 3.8 million, and Ohio State/Indiana averaged 3.3 million for the broadcast network.
In baseball, FOX Sports reports that 6,175,000 viewers tuned in to watch the Astros eliminate the Red Sox in the ALCS clincher, across FS1, FOX Deportes and the company’s streaming services. That marks the most-watched telecast on FS1 since Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS. The series averaged 4,752,000 viewers, up 88% over last year’s slate through Game 6.
Meanwhile, TBS is reporting that the network scored its most-watched MLB Postseason coverage since 2018, with an average of 4.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That number is up 95% vs. 2020 and 21% vs. 2019. TBS won the night across cable television 11 times during the MLB Postseason and garnered growth across all key demos and platforms. Saturday’s series-deciding Game 6 telecast between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers is the most-viewed NLCS Game 6 on any network since 2016, averaging 6.9 million viewers – up 99% vs. last year’s LCS Game 6 coverage on TBS. Turner Sports’ TV Everywhere platforms produced a record for streaming consumption on digital platforms, including an increase of 186% in minutes streamed vs. the same number of games during the 2019 Postseason, the last time the network carried NL games.
Finally, ESPN saw its opening week of NBA game coverage rank as the most-watched since 2017, according to Nielsen. Its four-game slate averaged 1,817,000 viewers, up 18% from 2019, 3% from 2018 and 46% from 2020’s single-game opener
NBC Olympics launched live coverage of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for curling across NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Olympics digital platforms. Coverage of the men’s and women’s finals will be presented next month, November 19-21, from Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., featuring two fields of six teams competing for a spot in both the men’s and women’s division to represent the U.S. at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Jim Kozimor will call the action from Eveleth, alongside analyst and 2010 Olympic gold medalist Kevin Martin, and reporter Trenni Kusnierek.
Sport 24, the live 24/7 sports channel for the inflight industry, renewed and expanded its partnership with the NFL for a further five years. The IMG-owned and operated service will broadcast 100 live NFL games per season to passengers on select airlines including JetBlue, Emirates, Etihad, Turkish Airlines and ANA. The agreement includes all international games, Playoffs, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl which shall take place on Sunday, 13 February 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
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SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
The Southwestern Athletic Conference named General Motors as its exclusive automotive sponsor through 2024 in a three-year deal. GM will also hold the presenting naming rights to the SWAC Football Classic featuring Alcorn State University Braves vs. Jackson State University Tigers. “We champion diversity and inclusion on all fronts. Our commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities is paramount to strengthening our diverse talent pipeline and propelling the visibility of student athletes, alumni and each of the universities represented,” said Tarshena Armstrong, Director of Diversity Marketing & Development for General Motors. “Representation matters. SWAC is the premiere HBCU athletic conference boasting a celebratory spirit of community and connectivity. GM is proud to help drive change and impact with our partnership across each of the SWAC sporting events.
The Professional Fighters League announced a partnership with Frank’s RedHot to be a presenting sponsor of the final two fights and preview show for the 2021 PFL World Championship taking place at 8p tonight on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The partnership also includes Frank’s RedHot branding in and around the PFL SmartCage at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, as well as social content including pre-championship highlights and soundbites from the event.
NFL future Hall of Famer Drew Brees takes center stage in three new ad spots for PointsBet’s Live Your Bet Life campaign. PointsBet, a premier global online gaming operator, worked in partnership with Troika Media Group on a 360-degree campaign, including broadcast, digital, social, out-of-home, and in-stadium.Spots will air nationally and in markets where PointsBet is available to users. Additional commercials will debut later in the year.
The Game Day announced the launch of its new Creator Program, a network of social media content creators and influencer partners across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter delivering “expertise and awareness across all major professional sports categories, the sports entertainment and lifestyle space, gambling and fantasy.” Among the first group of talent to join The Creator Program are Two-Time House of Highlights Winner and Influencer Jenna Bandy; YouTube personalities, Frank Michael Smith; and Sports Dissected; Sports Animator, Rebound Rewind; Dallas Cowboys super-fan, Laws Nation, among others.
DIGITAL, DATA & TECH
The National Hockey League and NHLPA agreed to long-term extensions of their licenses with The Upper Deck Company to be the exclusive licensed manufacturer of physical trading cards. NFT trading cards will also be part of the assortment of the NHLPA- and NHL-licensed offerings from Upper Deck in the future. “Upper Deck’s focus has always been on creating the best experience possible for collectors,” said Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck. “With our proven track record and omni-channel strategy, we are able to empower the end-consumer to engage with the hobby through whatever way they prefer, whether trading card shops, mass retailers, direct to consumer, or online. For now, and into the future.”
Meanwhile, The Panini Group and WWE locked in a multi-year agreement that will make Panini WWE’s exclusive trading card and collectible sticker partner. The landmark agreement will begin in the first quarter of 2022 and will include multiple trading card products during the first year. Panini’s U.S. subsidiary, Panini America will be responsible for developing the WWE trading card products. The first product release – 2022 WWE Prizm – will coincide with the buildup surrounding WrestleMania.
Sportradar announced a three-year extension to its agreement with the International Tennis Federation to serve as the org’s Official Data Partner. In addition to the official data partnership, the extension enables the Federation to deliver a number of important ongoing integrity-led major projects, including the development of innovative technology infrastructure to further enhance integrity protection at World Tennis Tour events.
The Professional Fighters League announced that in partnership with Socios.com, $PFL fan token holders will have the opportunity to vote on the PFL’s MVP of the 2021 PFL season, marking one of the first times a professional sports league has enabled fans with the ability to choose the season MVP. Each of the six champions for the respective six weight classes will be eligible for the award and the poll will go live following the championship event on October 27th at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
ESPORTS
FaZe Clan is going public, announcing a definitive merger agreement to combine with B. Riley Principal 150 Merger Corp with an equity value of approximately $1 billion for the combined company inclusive of nearly $275 million of cash. Upon completion of the proposed merger, BRPM will change its name to “FaZe Holdings Inc.” The combined company’s common stock is expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the new ticker symbol “FAZE.”
Tournament organizer PGL appointed IMG to distribute its media rights globally for its PGL Stockholm Major 2021. The tournament will mark the sixteenth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Major Championship and the first time since 2014 to be held in Sweden, running through Nov. 7.
INDUSTRY & ROSTER MOVES
Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group acquired HBCUGo.TV from Symonds-Evans Media. HBCUGo.TV is the latest in a series of purchases by AMG geared to the African American market. As part of the deal, AMG has also acquired the HBCUGo.TV library of more than 5,000 hours of content, featuring the HBCU students and their alumni.
PointsBet hired Kyle Christensen as U.S. Chief Marketing Officer. As CMO, Kyle will oversee PointsBet’s overall marketing strategy. Christensen previously worked as the head of U.S. brand and consumer marketing for Facebook, leading the company’s first-ever brand marketing campaign.
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ON THIS DAY in
1985: The Yankees fire Billy Martin for the fourth time.
IN THE KNOW
What number was retired to honor Billy Martin? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city).
Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question
In which state is the Sun Belt Conference headquartered? Answer: Louisiana. Kudos: Denis Barry-CBS/NY; Michael Goodman-Radio One Atlanta/Atlanta; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton; Louis Lewow-FITE/Atlanta; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; David Westberg-SAG•AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA
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PLANNER, AD SALES
TV ONE
NYC, NY
Create Upfront/Scatter media plans. Prepare Pre & Post Analysis. Account stewardship: Monitor performance of media schedule and assign ADU. Actively track and arrange liability schedules. Update/Maintain/Validate internal reporting. Prior Sales and/or Media Planning experience strongly preferred. Full info HERE (11/8)
SR. ANALYST, RESEARCH
TV ONE
NYC, NY
Analyze, interpret & craft stories on viewing patterns, national & local markets, potential programming acquisitions & competitors; detecting & illustrating trends. Create, design & supervise all research daily, weekly, monthly & quarterly reports, efficiently. BA/BS degree and 2+ years research experience at a media company, agency or advertiser. Full info HERE (11/8)
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 (11/6)
ACCOUNT MANAGER
JUKIN MEDIA
NYC, NY
Responsible for pre-sale planning and post-sale management & execution. Working closely with operations & sales on trafficking & QA for ad campaigns including scheduling, inventory requests, and production timelines. Helping sales and marketing put together pitch decks for client meetings and formal RFPs. 2-5 yrs prior exp. in the advertising/media. Full info HERE (11/5)
SENIOR SOLUTIONS CONSULTANT >>
TVSquared/NYC, REMOTE: You’ll be a part of our global and nurturing team and have regular contact with your international counterparts. You will work closely with Product, Marketing and Sales teams. The ideal candidate will work well under pressure and be able to easily adapt to new circumstances in a dynamic and demanding work environment. Full info HERE (11/5)
SOLUTIONS ANALYST >>
TVSquared/NYC, REMOTE: The role is a hybrid of product support and basic client-facing consultancy. You will ensure that our clients are brought on board successfully and have ongoing success with the TVSquared platform. This is a fantastic role for a junior candidate interested in progressing their career within a rapidly growing global tech company. Full info HERE (11/5)
MANAGER, CONSUMER MARKETING
A+E NETWORKS
NYC, NY
Crafting and implement communication plans and marketing strategies across paid and emerging media platforms for the History Channel. Experience working with consumer marketing and creative groups with media agencies and data/analytics. 3+ years experience in the entertainment industry, ideally TV networks. Full info HERE (11/4)
DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL GIVING
FRED ROGERS PRODUCTIONS
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assist President & CEO in the development and implementation of a comprehensive corporate sponsorship strategy. Analyze trends in corporate sponsorship and philanthropic giving. Identify corporate sponsorship programs nation-wide whose giving priorities align with our mission. 5 to 10 years of experience in sponsorships, sales, or advertising. Full info HERE (11/3)
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS ASSOC
LONG STORY SHORT MEDIA
WASHINGTON, DC
Writer for social media and short-form content, project managing, and gathering data and analytics that inform digital content strategy. Ideal candidates will be able to think about content across the multimedia spectrum. Full Info HERE (11/3)
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT >>
LONG STORY SHORT MEDIA/WASHINGTON, DC: Support all around production needs, responsible for executing multiple tasks from project conception to finalization. Excellent opportunity for a go getter to participate in all aspects of production. Full Info HERE (11/3)
SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER >>
BLUE ANT MEDIA/CA, NY, MARYLAND or MIAMI: Develop sales materials and plan pitches to platforms and affiliates. Key account management and new account development. Present carriage and distribution opportunities to clients and negotiate deals under the supervision of the SVP, Latin America & U.S. Channel Distribution. Minimum of 3-5 years of sales and marketing experience. Full Info HERE (11/3)
MEDIA TRAFFIC ASSISTANT
CIRCLE MEDIA
NASHVILLE TN
Perform a variety of administrative tasks & should have experience with data entry background & attention to detail. Broadcast or Radio Traffic experience, & a bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred. Wide Orbit or related program & Microsoft office expertise is a plus. B.A. Degree or equivalent, preferable w/a marketing or business focus. Full info HERE (11/2)
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT
CIRCLE MEDIA
NASHVILLE TN
Performs daily and monthly accounting and control procedures in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) including reconciliation of systems, month-end close, intercompany transactions, journal entries, and accruals. Financial accounting background and experience in television or network broadcasting, linear & OTT platforms. Full info HERE (11/2)
CONTENT EDITOR-MOTION GRAPHICS
CIRCLE MEDIA
NASHVILLE TN
Responsible for editing a variety of content, including but not limited to: acquired and original programming, network promos and graphics. Experience with Adobe editing suite and Motion graphics is a must. Create original programming for the linear network, AVOD platforms and social media as needed. Min of 2 yrs exp in broadcast/digital editing. Full info HERE (11/2)
MANAGER OF BRAND COMMUNICATIONS >>
FOX SPORTS / LOS ANGELES, CA: Communicate with outside voices, media, and other influencers to raise the profile of FOX Sports, its programming, executives & talent – garnering press coverage, securing speaking opportunities and conference participation to raise brand awareness. Full info HERE (10/28)
ACCOUNT MANAGER – ADVANCED TV >>
VEVO/NY, NY: Provide expertise on Vevo capabilities, products & offerings across programmatic & CTV. Shape new capabilities, strategies, products & partnerships across the exploding programmatic ecosystem. Understand marketplace trends to grow incremental revenue streams. Full info HERE (10/28)
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, SALES >>
VEVO/CHICAGO, IL: Develop, grow & manage local/regional book of business throughout the Midwest. Forecast/track/report sales performance, including budget, dates & probability to close. Full info HERE (10/28)
MANAGER, AD OPERATIONS >>
VEVO/CHICAGO, IL: Manage & drive development of Chicago Ad Operations team. Ensure successful campaign implementation and performance & proactively think about potential roadblocks to meeting campaign performance goals. Full info HERE (10/28)
SENIOR ANALYST, TV AUDIENCE RESEARCH
E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
ATLANTA, NYC
Report & evaluate existing metrics, develop new metrics and reports, & provide strategic recommendations to assist with driving decision-making & measuring performance for key stakeholders. Perform analyses for network programming & competitive analysis for programs on other networks. Minimum 3+ yrs Media and/or TV audience research experience. Full info HERE (10/28)
SENIOR MANAGER OF PROMO PLANNING AND STRATEGY >>
FOX SPORTS/LOS ANGELES, CA: Responsible for strategy & scheduling of all Sports promotional content, including promo spots & graphic elements. Accountable for maintaining reporting database of FOX Sports contractual & Marketing Promo Priorities. Collaborate with In-Game team members to strategically schedule in-game elements for all broadcast sporting events. Full info HERE (10/27)
LEAD MOTION GRAPHICS DESIGNER >>
MARQUEE SPORTS/CHICAGO: Lead graphics efforts to elevate sports viewing experience across multiple platforms. Design work for live television events and programs, advertiser features, brand marketing efforts and more. Experience as a motion graphics designer or animator at a media company, sports property, brand, or agency. Full info HERE (10/27)
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