27 May 2008
Leagues taking more control of content
Posted by Joel under: Research .
Adweek article on how major sports leagues are making inroads into controlling more of their content. The future is unclear.
Rob Correa, svp of programming at CBS Sports, said, “It’s a long-term insurance policy for TV rights,” and noted that no one can predict what the business models for the mainstream networks will look like in five to 10 years
One thing is for sure, times are a-changin’
MLS commissioner Don Garber added that leagues are no longer solely dependent “on their relationships with their broadcast partners for revenue generation.”
The big challenge I see is how leagues balance sponsor’s needs vs. providing relevant content. Broadcasters, such as ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, etc., are pros at delivering content and balancing advertisement a skill that can’t be underestimated.
