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| Tuesday November 26, 2024 |
| Good morning! It’s Tuesday, November 26, and this is your monthly Cynopsis sports newsletter. |
 NBA, WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY SHAKE HANDS |
| The legal dispute between the NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery has been resolved. WBD and TNT Sports previously argued that they reserved the right to match any agreement the league made with a third party while it was deciding its next media rights partnerships per a matching rights clause. The NBA struck a deal with NBCUniversal, Disney and Amazon, and when TNT Sports sought to match the Amazon deal, the league cited Prime Video’s streaming reach in addition to the specific language of the clause as reason to decline the offer. The two took the disagreement to the courtroom, but now they’ve reached a conclusion.
The NBA and WBD agreed to an 11-year deal that’ll kick in at the start of the 2025-26 season. TNT Sports and its brands (Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and more) will get a global license to create, produce and distribute new and existing NBA content across its platforms. TNT Sports will also be able to produce and distribute NBA content across the WBD portfolio as well as meaningful promotion, sales and creative commitments across both NBA and WBD platforms.
Though TNT Sports won’t be distributing games in the U.S. once the NBA’s new deal begins, it did get the live game telecast rights in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland and Latin America, excluding Brazil and Mexico. “We look forward to building on our longstanding partnership with TNT Sports and working together to promote NBA content across key WBD and NBA platforms,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. The NBA and TNT Sports have been partners since 1984.
It’s a unique situation, and the settlement does have some interesting aspects. As part of the deal, TNT Sports will continue to create and produce its iconic studio show “Inside the NBA.” However, the show will be distributed on ESPN and ABC starting next season. TNT sports will still use the program’s talent for other WBD/TNT Sports content. Additionally, TNT Sports made a deal with ESPN to broadcast 13 Big 12 football games and 15 Big 12 men’s basketball games per season, building on the two’s agreement to have TNT air two first round College Football Playoff games in December.
“At TNT Sports, we take great pride in our Inside the NBA show and know its success is both a reflection of the iconic talent on set and the incredible people behind the scenes who consistently demonstrate the creativity and craft of our great team. We are thrilled to continue to produce Inside the NBA for ESPN and ABC, ensuring fans are able to keep enjoying the magic of this show during the NBA season,” TNT Sports CEO/Chairman Luis Silberwasser said. |
| NHL TEAM VALUATIONS |
| After releasing the NFL team valuations back in September, CNBC unveiled its official 2024 NHL Team Valuations. It reported that the 2023-24 season saw the NHL record hockey-related revenue of $6.3 billion, up 8.6% higher than the previous season, and national sponsorship revenue was a record-high $250 million.
Leading the way were the Toronto Maple Leafs, valued at $4 billion with revenue of $324 million. The New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens followed at a value of $3.5 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively, as the Los Angeles Kings ($2.85 billion) and Boston Bruins ($2.75 billion) rounded out the top five. Toward the bottom of the list were the new kids on the block, Utah Hockey Club with $1.2 billion in value and the Ottawa Senators, which came in at $1.18 billion, and the Buffalo Sabres with $1.15 billion. The Winnipeg Jets barely edged the Columbus Blue Jackets for the last-place spot, with the Jets having $1.1 billion in value and the Blue Jackets with $1 billion. |
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| What a night it was for Netflix as it streamed the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match. Despite issues with buffering and loading with their streams, Netflix claims the fight became the most-streamed sporting event ever with a peak of 65 million concurrent streams (38 million in the U.S.) and an average minute audience of 108 million live viewers globally from opening to closing bell. It’s important to note that the numbers are first-party data and not verified by a third-party such as Nielsen, but the event was the No. 1 title on the streamer for the week with 46.6 million viewers (total hours viewed/runtime). The fight generated more than 1.4 billion owned impressions across Netflix’s global social channels. Additionally, the fight between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor averaged an estimated 74 million live viewers globally and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history with an average minute audience of 47 million in the U.S.
With the second half of the NFL season is in full swing, ESPN reported reaching nearly 100 million fans through the first half of the season with “Monday Night Football.” Through nine weeks, 95.4 million fans have watched a portion of MNF, with the average coming in at 14.4 million viewers across 11 games. “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” is averaging 982,000 viewers per episode through seven shows. “Monday Night Countdown” recorded 1.2 million viewers per show through Week 9. |
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| CLARK JOINS GROUP FOR NWSL EXPANSION TEAM |
| WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark is growing her presence in a sport other than basketball. The Indiana Fever star joined the ownership group that’s seeking to bring an NWSL expansion team to Cincinnati. Cincinnati is one of the finalists for the next round of NWSL expansion alongside Cleveland and Denver, and the group is anchored by the owners of MLS club FC Cincinnati. “Her passion for the sport, commitment to elevating women’s sports in and around the Greater Cincinnati region, and influence as an athlete and role model for women and girls around the world, make her a vital part of our compelling bid to become the 16th team in the NWSL,” the group said in a statement. |
| GETTING TECHNICAL |
| You might’ve seen the news of ESPN, the NFL and Disney putting on an animated NFL telecast inspired by “The Simpsons,” but who’s behind the technology? Sony’s Beyond Sports is working with the three entities to produce “The Simpsons Funday Football” for the Monday Night Football game between the Bengals and Cowboys on Dec. 9. Beyond Sports will use a combination of data processing and real-time visualization technology to insert well-known characters from “The Simpsons.” The technology also uses a VR headset to capture the real commentators’ upper body movements and facial expressions to create 3D animations. The Bengals-Cowboys telecast will utilize tracking data supplied by Sony’s Hawk-Eye innovations and NFL Next Gen Stats, which also contribute to 3D recreations. It’ll be the league’s second animated telecast after airing “NFL Toy Story Funday Football” last season for the Falcons-Jaguars game in London.
“Sports leagues, broadcasters, and content producers must continually develop innovative options for reaching and retaining newer audiences that are accustomed to enjoying content experiences customized to their tastes,” Sander Schouten, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Beyond Sports, said. “We are focused on meeting the expectations of each demographic by being visible on the platforms they are using and speaking in the way they want to be spoken to when it comes to their viewing habits.”
The animated titles must be going well for ESPN. Disney, ESPN and the NBA are putting on “Dunk the Halls,” the first real-time animated NBA game that’ll use Sony’s Beyond Sports technology. Set in Main Street, USA at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, the game will feature the Spurs vs. Knicks on Dec. 25 at noon. The alternate cast will air on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+. It’ll also be the first time an NBA game will be streamed on Disney+.
UFC named IBM its official global AI partner. It’s the first time UFC is entering the marketing category with a brand partner. At the core of the partnership is UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx, which uses data and AI to provide audiences with more timely, in-depth information such as insights and advanced analysis of live bout, fighter tendencies, projections of possible outcomes and method of victory. The two will work on Insights engine, a tool expected to debut in early 2025 with branded insights, stats and graphics that’ll be integrated into key touch points across UFC consumer platforms. |
| PARTNER UP |
| LFP, the governing body that oversees soccer leagues in France, signed a five-year deal with WSC Sports to make AI-tailored content experiences that spotlight Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Ligue 2 BKT2 and the Trophée des Champions. LFP will use WSC Sports’ AI-fueled sports content technology to overhaul its content creation and distribution processes. WSC Sports will also analyze every match within those three competitions in real time to help automate the creation, management and distribution of video content. That’ll allow it to create a variety of personalized content across different durations, formats and aspect ratios that LFP can then use across its platforms and channels. LFP joins a list of WSC Sports partners that includes 490 leagues, teams and broadcasters such as ESPN, YouTube TV, the NBA, Serie A and Bundesliga.
Orlando City SC and the Orlando Pride tapped LED display manufacturer Absen to boost fan engagement at Inter&Co Stadium. Working alongside Revel, a digital signage and content management leader, Absen installed displays that extend from the stadium’s entrance to the seats. Revel’s System on a Chip technology helps streamline display management by eliminating the need for separate media players, which also helps with cohesive branding, live stats, replays and everything Orlando City and Pride wish to showcase. Absen’s technology includes more than five million pixels that also boast energy efficiency.
Youth sports-focused NBC Sports Next inked a comprehensive video streaming partnership with Emerald Acres Sports Connection, a 150-acre, multi-purpose youth sports facility in Mattoon, Illinois. SportsEngine Play will be the facility’s exclusive video and streaming partner, showing competition via smart cameras that will be installed at each indoor and outdoor playing surface. Each camera will be able to follow gameplay automatically thanks to smart technology. The site, which is scheduled to open in December, will host thousands of youth sports clubs and teams each year. Officials are projecting over 500,000 visitors on an annual basis, resulting in nearly 60,000 hotel room nights and $23.8 million in direct spending.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and snowboarding superstar Shaun White signed a multi-year media rights deal with NBC Sports. NBC and Peacock will air The Snow League, the first professional winter sports league dedicated to snowboarding and free skiing that was launched by White earlier this year. The inaugural event will take place from Aspen on March 7-8. Peacock will stream the four events live before encore presentations air on the NBC broadcast network. Broadcast times and location will be announced closer to the start of the competition. |
| SPONSORSHIP NEWS |
| Kroger is moving its primary NASCAR sponsorship to Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing starting with the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series racing season. Kroger has been a primary sponsor in the Cup Series since the 2010 season when it joined JTG Daugherty Racing. RFK Racing will begin fielding a third Ford Mustang this upcoming season upon the addition of Ryan Preece to the team, who’ll drive the No. 60 Kroger car.
Progressive Insurance is now a national marketing sponsor of Professional Bull Riders. It’s a multi-year deal that will span PBR’s individual competition tour PBR Unleash the Beast, which opened its regular season mid-November. Progressive, dubbed the official auto, home and recreational insurance title sponsor of PBR, will activate a myriad of assets including the use of the PBR logo in marketing and advertising, TV-visible arena signage, custom content on PBR digital channels, outdoor activations and an in-arena text-to-win sweepstakes promotion. Progressive will also sponsor a to-be-announced event in the upcoming Unleash the Beast series.
DirecTV extended its agreement to be the title sponsor of the Holiday Bowl. The MVPD began sponsoring the game last year, and this year’s game will take place Dec. 27 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. |
| NIL DEALINGS |
| State Farm signed USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins to an NIL deal. Watkins will star in a new State Farm commercial alongside the well-known mascot Jake from State Farm. The partnership follows State Farm’s partnership with Caitlin Clark last season. |
| NEED A DRINK? |
| Former Kentucky basketball player and current Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo is returning to the Bluegrass for a new Maker’s Mark blend. Adebayo, alongside his mother Marilyn, launched “Bam & Marilyn’s 1 of 1” which will be available at select retailers in Miami at a suggested retail price of $69.99. The former Wildcat and his mother visited the Maker’s Mark Distillery earlier this year to participate in the Private Selection program, which allows folks to purchase a barrel and explore their own “taste visions” of Maker’s Mark. |
| GOING SHOPPING |
| The CW Network and Shopsense AI introduced shoppable TV to ACC college football broadcasts. Viewers can look at merchandise and gameday essentials directly from their mobile devices using Shopsense’s Commerce Operating System. The on-screen enhancement will be added to other live sports, scripted series and unscripted programming across the network. Shopsense AI launched its enterprise platform in April. |
| ON THE CIRCUIT |
ESPN Events’ State Farm Champions Classic, which has helped open the men’s college basketball season since 2011, has been extended through 2028. The event is headlined by a doubleheader consisting of powerhouses Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State, with State Farm having been the title sponsor since the event’s inception. Locations for future games in 2026-28 are still to be determined, but the matchups have been set.
2025 (Madison Square Garden in NYC): Kansas vs. Duke, Michigan State vs. Kentucky
2026: Michigan State vs. Duke, Kansas vs Kentucky
2027: Kentucky vs. Duke, Kansas vs. Michigan State
2028: Kentucky vs. Michigan State, Duke vs. Kansas |
| NOW PLAYING |
| Manchester City FC released a documentary about the club’s four consecutive Premier League titles. “Together: 4-in-a-Row” gives a behind-the-scenes look at City’s 2023-24 season, featuring interviews with manager Pep Guardiola, Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, club captain Kyle Walker as well as executives Txiki Begiristain, the club’s Director of Football, Ferran Soriano, CEO of City Football Group, and others. The doc is available on the subscription offering CITY+, which is available for £30/year or £4.99/month. |
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| COMING UP |
| Jason Kelce is getting a late-night show. “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce” will be a personality-driven, one-hour show that draws inspiration from traditional late-night TV shows. It’ll start with five scheduled episodes that’ll air Friday nights and Saturday mornings, with the premiere set for Jan. 3 at 1am on ESPN. Kelce will conduct the show from Union Transfer in Philadelphia. Each episode will also be available on ESPN+, ESPN’s YouTube channel and Kelce’s YouTube Channel. Replays will air on ESPN2.
ESPN will air around 100 live hours of NCAA Gymnastics across its platforms this season. That includes over 60 meets and will culminate with the 2025 NCAA Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championship, with the final set for April 19 at 4pm on ABC. The semifinal round will be April 17 on ESPN2 (Semifinal I taking place at 4:30pm and Semifinal II at 9pm). New to ESPN platforms this year: the 2025 NCAA National Collegiate Men’s Gymnastics Championship on April 19 at 6:30pm on ESPN2.
ESPN and TNT Sports are taking all 11 College Football Playoff Games to theaters, signing a theatrical distribution agreement with Theater Sports Network in a deal that includes all four CFP First Round games, the CFP Quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl, the CFP Quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl, the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game, the CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl, the CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, the CFP Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic and the CFP National Championship. Last year, ESPN showed games on over 400 screens across 28 movie theaters. |
| RISK MANAGEMENT |
| Sports and finance leaders John Abbamondi and Shiraz Rehman created LongBall, a company dedicated to helping sports industry stakeholders better manage risk. The company’s first product, Disability+, pays out MLB clubs if a player underperforms for any reason including injury with an IL placement of any length, minor injuries without an IL placement, mental health issues, loss of skill and fatigue. |
| ANNIVERSARY |
| All Sports Television Network is marking four years since its inception. The network, which was created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, offers free OTA programming dedicated to sports. That includes both live events in addition to original programming, with a specific focus on a target audience that focuses on adults 18+. Approximately 66% of All Sports’ audience falls between the age range of 18 and 34. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| LIV Golf is bringing on John Ruzich as its Chief Legal Officer and Denise Taylor as Head of Product & Technology. Ruzich, who joins from the live event company Legends where he was CAO and CLO, will oversee all legal functions across the LIV Golf League and its 13 teams. Taylor will head up the league’s department for global technology solutions and products. She joins after having stints at AEG, Legends and Tottenham Hotspur FC. Both Ruzich and Taylor will be based in New York.
ESPN upped Alex Farmartino to VP, Production for ACC Network and NCAA Studio. He’ll manage day-to-day operations of ACC Network as well as the “College GameDay” franchise for men’s and women’s basketball and select NCAA Championship studio content. Farmartino has been involved with ACC production for over two decades and was part of the ACC Network’s launch in 2019. |
| ON THIS DAY |
1917: The NHL is formed as the successor to the National Hockey Association. There were five teams—the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Maroons, Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators and Quebec Bulldogs—but with Quebec ceasing operations during the first season, only four remained before the league expanded into the U.S. in 1924.
1975: Red Sox center-fielder Fred Lynn becomes the first rookie to win the AL MVP award. Lynn, who of course also won the Rookie of the Year honor, batted .331, had 21 home runs and posted 105 RBIs that season.
2010: After falling behind 24-0 in the first half of the Iron Bowl, Cam Newton led a second-half effort that saw Auburn defeat Alabama 28-27 in what was coined “The Cam-back.” Newton finished with 216 yards and 3 TDs before going on to win that year’s Heisman Trophy as well as the BCS National Championship.
2023: Max Verstappen wins his third straight world F1 drivers’ championship after securing a record 19th GP win in Abu Dhabi. |
COUNSEL, LEGAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS >>
MLB NETWORK/SECAUCUS, NJ: Responsible for a variety of matters, including services agreements, production related agreements, talent agreements, software and other technology related agreements, licensing and programming agreements, third party rights clearances, distribution agreements, contract summaries, confidentiality, and general contract matters. Full info HERE
SENIOR INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN PROJECT MANAGER
BEACON MEDIA GROUP
NY/NJ
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DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA
CSI SPORTS
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
Proven track record of monetizing digital assets on various social media platforms. Work closely with our production team in creating content and comprehensive marketing plans to increase market share. Full info HERE
INTERNATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVE
CSI SPORTS
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
Create and execute sales strategies and proposals- generating new sales from past, current and future leads by networking, building relationships and identifying valuable sales opportunities. Manage existing accounts and excel at identifying clients’ needs. Requires a self-driven individual who is passionate about the sports and media industry. Full info HERE
NATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVE
CSI SPORTS
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
Looking for another self-motivated, highly disciplined National AD Sales Executive that enjoys the sales process from beginning to close. If you bring the enthusiasm and determination we will supply the opportunity to make this the best position you’ve ever had. Full info HERE
LEAD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE >>
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TV HOST >>
QVC/WESTCHESTER, PA: Credible while entertaining candidate w/exp hosting TV, digital, radio, spokesperson or live events. Masterful storyteller, enthusiastic & a love for products and shopping a must. Must be quick on their feet w/ability to improv & engage as well as have an elevated sense of style. Full info HERE
ACCOUNT REP: MPT NATIONAL CORPORATE SALES
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION
REMOTE
Call on current and prospective sponsors, providing high-quality customer service, in a manner consistent with standard industry practice, for the customer/client accounts for which they have cultivated or have been assigned as well as build sustainable, long-lasting relationships with existing clients. Full info HERE
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF AD SALES >>
HAYSTACK NEWS/NYNY, LA, CHICAGO: Responsible for developing large, meaningful partnerships to drive strategic and creative solutions for clients. You relish the opportunity to help advertisers build their brands by supporting the world’s most premium news publishers. Full info HERE
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
INTERSECTION
LOS ANGELES, CA
Drive new revenue for our media around Los Angeles and beyond as well as building relationships with prospects and clients. Full info HERE |
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