12/03/18: FOX Sports talks MLS Cup

Good morning. It’s Monday December 3, 2018 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.

Saturday sees the Atlanta United FC square off against the Portland Timbers for all the marbles with the MLS Cup gets underway from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game gets underway at 8p, with coverage running across FOX and UniMas nationally. Cynopsis asked Zachary Kenworthy, Coordinating Producer at FOX Soccer, about the network’s coverage plans, the 2018 season and the upcoming Women’s World Cup.

Kenworthy on FOX’s MLS coverage: We’ve had a number of advancements in our MLS coverage over the past couple of seasons, from the use of our Movi cameras and wireless handhelds, to upgrades in our audio presentation, resulting in a top-notch in-game experience. There is a certain rhythm and tempo to our MLS productions that draws the viewer in, and that’s a result of the effort put in by producer Shaw Brown, director Wayne Wilson and our wider production team working in unison with our commentary duo of John Strong and Stu Holden along with sideline reporter Katie Witham. They are tireless in their preparation and in meeting face-to-face with the teams and managers before every production to give the viewer information and context you can’t get elsewhere. In terms of our production evolution there is no greater stamp of authenticity.

On the most important piece of production tech: It’s undoubtedly the implementation of the video assistant referee by the league. MLS was smartly ahead of the curve on that front, and it forced the broadcasters to change the way the game is presented, called, and subsequently the way the game is consumed. I think our lead commentators Strong and Holden, and Fox Sports in general, are among the best in the business when it comes to clearly and succinctly explaining the process and the potential outcomes when a play is being reviewed. On Saturday during our MLS Cup presentation we’ll have a direct in-game line of communication to PRO to ensure that when the big decisions are being made and the drama unfolds the viewer will be kept fully informed.

On Saturday’s matchup: The match is shaping up to be the biggest in MLS Cup history and will very likely break the attendance record for the league’s championship match. Atlanta United FC and their fans have fostered an incredible atmosphere at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and it is our goal to bring that electric quality to the viewer like never before. We will be everywhere and closer to the action than we’ve ever been, from our field-level set location, to dynamic shots on the pitch with our Movi camera, above the field with our sky cam, behind both goals, in both locker rooms, and in the tunnel. But I’m most excited about the new technology of our corner flag cameras, the first use of its kind on American soil. We’ve been working with our partners in Germany where the technology was first developed and tested this year. These cameras have been cleared by PRO to be imbedded in the corner flags themselves, affording the viewer a unique and intimate on-field perspective. Our audio team is also working tirelessly to ensure our corner mics are properly synced to those cameras and enhanced to create an impactful experience.

On MLS venues: From a production standpoint there are so many great MLS stadiums now, which is a true hallmark of the league. But for me it has to be Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Like you said, every stadium has its quirks, but the atmosphere in Atlanta is unmatched. At Fox Sports we pride ourselves on bringing the viewer into the action both visually and in terms of our audio presentation. We are excited about the potential for 70K+ fans at MLS Cup which will translate to the viewer at home in a way we’ve never seen or heard before. Following this year’s FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia we broadcast Atlanta United FC vs the Seattle Sounders on FOX, a match that is now the most-watched MLS match of any kind on any network since 2004, and the atmosphere during that game matched the occasion and the day in general on Fox Sports. We expect to go up a level or two for MLS Cup this coming Saturday on FOX.

On the Women’s World Cup: Fox Sports’ World Cup: Executive Producer David Neal started planning for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup even before the 2015 tournament had been completed, and his tireless efforts mean we’re in a great spot heading into the new year. It’s going to be a busy summer on Fox Sports, as we’ll not only be bringing viewers the Women’s World Cup but also the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup and our usual slate of MLS matches all at the same time.

PROGRAMMING

ESPN announced that the ACC Network will launch on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, with its first congference football game one week later, on Aug. 29, pitting Georgia Tech/Clemson. The 24/7 network is poised to air 1,300 live events annually across its TV and digital offerings. To promote the launch, ESPN will deploy new campaign assets complementing the spot to promote the forthcoming network. “We continue to look ahead to the launch of the ACC Network with great anticipation, and this is another step in the process,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “Showcasing all of our outstanding programs remains a top priority, and our partnership with ESPN allows fans to have greater access than ever before. I also commend our schools who have done an outstanding job in their preparations for a successful launch.”

Meanwhile, college football has its postseason plans in place, including the top four teams who will compete for this year’s national championship. Among the New Year’s Six Bowls, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will see Michigan/Florida take place in Atlanta on Dec. 29 at noon on ESPN. The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale runs Jan. 1 at 1p on ESPN and pits LSU/UCF. The annual Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual sees Ohio State/Washington out of Pasadena on Jan. 1 at 5p on ESPN, followed by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans at 8:45p with Georgia/Texas. Championship contending games see Clemson/Notre Dame in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 29 at either 4p or 8p on ESPN, with the other slot featuring the Capital One Orange Bowl as Alabama/Oklahoma square off. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be played in Santa Clara on Jan. 7 at 8p on ESPN.

Meanwhile, conference championship games delivered for the networks. CBS saw is SEC Championship programming hit a 10.5/22 for Alabama’s win over Georgia. That marks the highest-rated regular season college football game on any network in seven years, up 25% over last year’s numbers on the channel, according to Nielsen. Top markets included Birmingham at a 56/7/74, with a 33.9/57 in Atlanta, Greenville-Spartanburg at a 25.2/39, Jacksonville’s 24.5/39, and Knoxville with a 23.0/36.

Meanwhile, FOX’s coverage of the Big Ten Championship on Saturday saw Ohio State’s win over Northwestern drew a 5.6 metered market rating to lead FOX to a first-place finish in prime time Saturday night. Top markets: Columbus (46.8); Dayton (28.0), Cleveland (23.8), Cincinnati (13.9), and Birmingham (11.5).

Thursday Night Football last week saw the Cowboys’ win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 13 action set record numbers with an average audience of 22.2 million viewers across all platforms, including FOX, NFL Network, FOX Deportes,and digital channels. That ranks as the most-watched Thursday Night Football game ever and up 56% versus the 2017 10-game Thursday Night Football average and up 39% versus last year’s Week 13 Thursday Night Football matchup. The Nielsen-measured audience hit 21.4 million viewers – up 37% over the 2017 Week 13 game (15.6 million).

The NHL Board of Governors is slated to vote on the Seattle expansion application on Tuesday during meetings in Sea Island, Georgia. Twenty-four of the 31 NHL teams need to vote “Yes” for Seattle to become the 32nd team in the league. Prior to the vote, the Board of Governors will hear a verbal report of the executive committee’s findings on the market and its readiness and capabilities. “I’m very optimistic that the ownership is going to vote to give Seattle the franchise and it’s going to be the beginning of a very long run of a world-class team,” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said. “I’ll just add I’m looking forward to getting the Stanley Cup back in Seattle.”

This year’s NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award, which is presented during The Home Depot College Football Awards, will pay tribute to the impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout college football’s nearly 150-year history. The annual awards show will be live from the Chick-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta on ESPN on Thursday at 7p. ESPN college football analyst Jay Walker, former quarterback for Howard University and member of the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame, will present the award during Thursday night’s show. Accepting the award on behalf of the HBCU community are Rod Broadway, Marino Casem, Archie Cooley, Bill Hayes, and Willie Jeffries.

On the international front, ESPN International has reached a broad multimedia rights agreement to televise Italy’s Serie A TIM, one of the world’s leading soccer leagues, throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America and the Caribbean, effective 2018/19 through 2020/2021. The deal will see ESPN carry all Serie A matches – a total of 380 each season. Over 200 matches per season will air live on ESPN linear networks, including ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPN Caribbean and ESPN 2 Caribbean.

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SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

76 and the Pac-12 announced an extension of their partnership for the Pac-12 Football Championship Game. The deal sees the gas brand continue as presenting sponsor through the 2019 Football Championship Game. “The Pac-12 Football Championship Game is the pinnacle of our annual conference football season, and we are thrilled that 76 sees the value in this great event and will be continuing as our presenting sponsor,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. “76 is a leading brand and has been a fantastic marketing partner for the Pac-12 Football Championship Game, helping to drive interest and excitement around the game through their retail, television and online promotions.”

Meanwhile, the Pac-12 also announced that addition of Copia as an official member of Pac-12 Team Green, the Conference’s sustainability platform. With the announcement, Copia will serve to ensure all remaining Pac-12 championship events, the 2019 Pac-12 Sustainability Conference and other major Pac-12 events, are zero food-waste events for the 2018-19 season.

The Hawai‘i Bowl named SoFi as its new title sponsor. The 17th edition of the SoFi Hawai‘i Bowl will feature the hometown University of Hawai’i against Louisiana Tech on Dec. 22, at 10:30p at Aloha Stadium and running on ESPN. “On behalf of our executive committee and football fans across the islands, I’m pleased to welcome SoFi as our new title sponsor,” said Daryl Garvin, executive director of the bowl. “There is no place like Hawai‘i during the holidays and SoFi will quickly become a part of our holiday traditions in the islands and across the country with the ESPN telecast of the SoFi Hawai‘i Bowl.”

DIGITAL, DATA & TECH

The FanDuel Sportsbook grabbed headlined by being the first legal sports betting operator in the United States to pay out future wagers on the college football national championship, over a month before the final game is played, paying out early all tickets on Alabama to be the last team standing. “It is time to reward our loyal customers in advance of the SEC Championship game this Saturday,” the company stated. ‘With Alabama currently a -280 shot to win the National Championship, the FanDuel Sportsbook has decided to settle all futures wagers on Alabama as winners, regardless of what happens for the remainder of the season.”

Amazon reports that Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video and Twitch saw total combined viewers reach an all-time high of 2.9 million, up 45% in total combined viewers over week 13 in 2017. The average worldwide audience watching Thursday Night Football for at least 30 seconds on Prime Video or Twitch was 747K, a 109% increase over week 13 in 2017, according to the company.

ESPORTS

The Aquilini Group is going big to launch Vancouver’s upcoming Overwatch League team, naming the team the Vancouver Titans. The Titans’ colors will be blue (primary), green (secondary), and white (accents) to “represent Vancouver’s greenery surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The colour shades signify a vibrant, contemporary take on the Vancouver Canucks palette, but still allow the Titans to develop their own West Coast style.” The Titans logo features a sasquatch with the monogram of a ‘V’ in the nose for Vancouver, and a mountain range on the top of its head.

Allied Esports announced that its tournament brand, Esport Superstars, will make its debut in China with the third edition of Esport Superstars: Hearthstone on Dec. 15-16. The event will take place at Lianmeng Dianjing Tianjin Arena, one of Allied Esports’ ten global Property Network members, and will be broadcast live on China-based streaming platform Douyu and across Allied Esports’ platforms on Twitch.

INDUSTRY/ROSTER MOVES

The Fan Controlled Football League announced that NFL Super Bowl Champions Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman have joined the league as team owners. Both players will also be serving as the celebrity “Fan Captains” for their respective franchises. The inaugural FCFL season kicks off in June 2019 with all eight teams based in a single location.

The IOC set up an advisory committee on human rights chaired by Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the former U.N. high commissioner for human rights. According to the AP, “Promoting humanistic values in sport has been a core feature of the IOC since its beginning,” Thomas Bach said in a prepared statement. “Our mission, to put sport at the service of humanity, goes hand in hand with human rights, which is part of our DNA.”

THE MAIN EVENT

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ON THIS DAY in 1999: Tori Murden becomes the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean alone.

In the Know: Hank Stram coached which team to a Super Bowl victory? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Which current NFL player is still the all-time leader in receptions at Alabama? Answer: Amari Cooper. Kudos: Kyle Helm-CBS Sports/NY; Denis Barry-CBS/NY; Michael Ritz-BucStar Consulting/NY; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/Burbank

Later – Chris

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