• The KillerFrogs

ESPN Hemorrhaging

F

FBallFan123

Active Member
https://www.recode.net/2017/12/18/16790858/espn-john-skipper-disney-fox-departure-risk

ESPN boss John Skipper, one of TV’s most important executives, is leaving at a crucial time

Recode said:
Next March, ESPN is scheduled to launch ESPN Plus, its repeatedly delayed digital subscription service. While Iger has played up the launch as part of his strategy to bring Disney products directly to consumers, ESPN executives have privately worried that the service will underwhelm consumers, since it won’t have any of the big-ticket sports ESPN runs on linear TV. It also won’t have any of the lesser-ticket sports ESPN currently carries on its ESPNWatch digital platform, which it provides to pay TV customers.

Instead, ESPN Plus will carry ... something else. Think pro tennis and small-school college sports. Managing expectations and reality for this one will be difficult no matter who is in charge.
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Recode said:
It has even started to mull the notion of living without the NFL. ESPN has a deal to air “Monday Night Football” through 2021, but faced with the prospects of drooping NFL ratings, coupled with cash-rich tech competitors like Amazon, the network has been imagining what life would like without Monday night games, or any other pro football deals.

On the other hand, Disney’s Fox deal contemplates betting even more money on TV sports, by acquiring Fox’s 22 regional sports networks. If regulators sign off, Disney would end up with exclusive deals — and the accompanying bills — to show local games from 44 pro sports franchises.

The operating theory seems to be: Even in a world where pay TV is a much smaller business, sports will be a crucial part of that business, so why not own as much as possible?
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F

FBallFan123

Active Member
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2017/12/18/People-and-Pop-Culture/Skipper.aspx

John Skipper Unexpectedly Resigns As ESPN President, Cites Substance Addiction

Sports Business Journal said:
Over the past several months, ESPN has hit back on several rumors that have circulated about Skipper’s future. Just last month, at least two publications, including SBJ/SBD, had contacted ESPN PR about rumors that Skipper would be stepping down or be replaced. At the time, ESPN PR called those rumors unfounded -- Skipper quietly had signed a three-year extension, after all -- and none of the publications wrote a story.
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Sports Business Journal said:
Skipper has strong internal support throughout ESPN, but some longtime Bristol employees privately chafed at the fact that he was less inclusive than Bodenheimer and much more insular in his decision making. Over the past 12 months, Skipper admitted to mishandling certain internal and external situations, whether it was his handling of various Twitter controversies or even the failed deal with Barstool Sports. Skipper’s shocking resignation comes just five days after an all-staff meeting held in a gymnasium on the Bristol campus -- a meeting where he highlighted ESPN’s business and encouraged staffers to embrace the company’s brand.
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Sports Business Journal said:
Throughout its history, ESPN always has turned inwards to find its next president. While Skipper has had several internal candidates reporting to him, the front runner clearly appears to be Exec VP/Affiliate Sales & Marketing JUSTIN CONNOLLY. He was the exec who oversaw ESPN’s Altice affiliate deal that widely has been painted as a win for ESPN. Connolly is well regarded within the company and has had various positions, from launching SEC Network to running the affiliate department. Other Disney names that have been bandied about in the parlor game of guessing who ultimately would replace Skipper include Disney Senior Exec VP/Chief Strategy Officer KEVIN MAYER and Chair of Disney Consumer Products JIMMY PITARO. There is also a roster of former ESPN execs who could be contacted about taking over Skipper’s post, including F1 Commercial Chief SEAN BRATCHES, who competed with Skipper for the ESPN presidency back in ’11. Other former ESPNers who could be considered include NBC Sports Regional Networks President DAVID PRESCHLACK, CBS Sports President DAVID BERSON and WME-IMG co-President MARK SHAPIRO. Other potential candidates could be Exec VP & CFO CHRISTINE DRIESSEN or Facebook COO SHERYL SANDBERG, who at one point had been rumored to be a potential replacement for Iger when he steps down at Disney.
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Gary's Shirtless Revenge

Gary's Shirtless Revenge

Full Member
That re-code article is lazy journalism at its finest.

The digital network will soon, not way off, have core content on it. Some of it will be exclusive. Like, potentially, a TCU basketball game vs. TSU.

Folks just make up stuff these days, its amazing.
 
F

FBallFan123

Active Member
Interesting speculative piece by John Ourand of Sports Business Daily with some predictions for next year.

Here's some.....

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/12/18/Media/Sports-Media.aspx

Uncertainty ups the degree of difficulty on annual predictions

Ourand said:
Disney-Fox deal sails through the regulatory process
This is hardly a bold prediction, but it’s what comes afterward that’s interesting. Rupert Murdochwill roll Fox News into News Corp. and sell the broadcast network and Fox Sports to Amazon. Lots of suitors will line up to buy Fox Sports and the network — Comcast, Sinclair, Sony. But Amazon has the money and the desire to extend its reach to broadcast television.
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Ourand said:
Disney sells some RSNs to Comcast and AT&T
One area of the Disney-Fox deal that will interest regulators is the increased power Fox’s RSNs will give Disney in the sports market. Distributors hate the idea of Disney owning ESPN plus 22 RSNs — the most expensive channels by far. Look for Disney to placate some of that opposition by selling RSNs to Comcast and AT&T in the markets where they own cable systems. That means Fox’s RSNs in Detroit, Minneapolis and Miami will move to Comcast, and its RSN in Dallas will go to AT&T.
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Ourand said:
Some college conferences deal with Facebook Live
The Mountain West will reject an offer from ESPN and instead stream its football games on Facebook Live and Stadium, a decision that gives the conference full control over its start times. While the conference will have less money to distribute among its members, its fans won’t miss the 8:30 p.m. midweek kickoffs in November.
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Ourand said:
Facebook gets active with sports rights
We already know that Facebook is in the market for an executive to buy sports rights for the social media giant. While his budget of a few billion dollars sounds impressive, the company will shy away from making big, splashy purchases in favor of smaller, international rights deals. One of the executive’s first moves will be to secure Formula One media rights in specific global markets.
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Ourand said:
YouTube moves into local sports
When it comes to digital rights, the sports community’s focus has been on Amazon, Facebook and Twitter. 2018 is the year YouTube will start to make serious inroads, especially with local rights. Think, for example, of a Los Angeles YouTube channel that holds the digital rights to LAFC, the Clippers and the Dodgers.
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Ourand said:
Networks launch successful OTT sports platforms
Turner will be the first to launch a sports OTT product. ESPN and CBS will follow. ESPN’s OTT offering will be a surprise hit. ESPN has the deepest rights portfolio by far, which will give its OTT service plenty of programming that will attract subscribers. It will be interesting to see the different programming acquisitions strategy by the networks, as those weekday afternoon windows, when people are at work or school, become much more valuable.
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PurplFrawg

PurplFrawg

Administrator
ESPN mother ship is televising the Independence Bowl (FSU vs Southern Miss) right now but is also rerunning the SEC Championship game on ESPNU. Anyone else think this is demeaning to those 2 schools and the bowl?
 
M

Mean Purple

Active Member
PurplFrawg said:
ESPN mother ship is televising the Independence Bowl (FSU vs Southern Miss) right now but is also rerunning the SEC Championship game on ESPNU. Anyone else think this is demeaning to those 2 schools and the bowl?
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Not really. Well, sorta. But ESPN is a jackwagon fest to begin with. Listening to Luginbill this morning on Sirius XM "ESPN U" for their morning drive show was enough to make ya want to drive over the neighbor's cat. The dude is worse than lil greggy in not wanting to recognize TCU's ability. His bias against the big 12 is reaching insane levels.
 
Chongo94

Chongo94

Active Member
Pharm Frog said:
Don’t know him. Which is why I asked.
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He is the guy, if you remember, or maybe this will remind you if you didn't place him before, that basically started and led the mob that made the Tennessee coaching search look stupid. He's the one who started all that Schiano stuff.

Used to be good but has basically become a sports shock jock. Sucks now.
 
Pharm Frog

Pharm Frog

Full Member
Chongo94 said:
He is the guy, if you remember, or maybe this will remind you if you didn't place him before, that basically started and led the mob that made the Tennessee coaching search look stupid. He's the one who started all that Schiano stuff.

Used to be good but has basically become a sports shock jock. Sucks now.
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Didn’t know that was him.
 
F

FBallFan123

Active Member
Pharm Frog said:
Before I post something from there, how credible is the site “Outkick the Coverage”?
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You asking after the Skipper/Le Batard bar photos he posted to his twitter?

Didn’t read the story he posted after it, but I’d wait til someone else verified any allegations of sexual harassment.
 

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