Neutral Corner
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Is the sports rights bubble leaking?
- Thread starter Neutral Corner
- Start date
Cord cutting at work.
PCLoadLetter
Well-Known Member
There may well be a bubble leak... but you'll have to do better than "Thursday Night Football increased by 50%, but the Tennis Channel couldn't find anyone to sublet a French Open package."
Bottom line: it's hard to sell things nobody wants.
Bottom line: it's hard to sell things nobody wants.
sgreenwell
Well-Known Member
It seems impossible that sports right fees will just increase forever and forever; people once thought the same thing about housing. However, along with "live" reality TV shows, they do seem to be the most immune to DVR and delayed viewing. I could see where some of the rights packages come in at equal or slightly lower than projections.
Of course, I also think the eventual end game for most of the established media rights owners - whether we're talking the past library of MLB games or all of NBC's "Must See TV" and late night programs - is having their own digital media service, a la the WWE Network. Anything that isn't big enough to stand on its own will ally itself with one of the big media servers, until we eventually get some mergers and fewer companies... Until the next technological innovation makes the process repeat all over again.
Of course, I also think the eventual end game for most of the established media rights owners - whether we're talking the past library of MLB games or all of NBC's "Must See TV" and late night programs - is having their own digital media service, a la the WWE Network. Anything that isn't big enough to stand on its own will ally itself with one of the big media servers, until we eventually get some mergers and fewer companies... Until the next technological innovation makes the process repeat all over again.
dixiehack
Well-Known Member
The very top properties will keep cashing big checks, but the second tier and below is going to free fall. NHL, auto racing, Triple Crown races, golf that isn't the Masters or US Open, college conferences outside the Big 10 or SEC (maybeeee Pac-12) could all be looking at harsh reckonings.
JohnHammond
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The bubble is hitting a few teams because they wanted to launch their own networks or have a significant minority stake in an existing RSN. Dodgers RSN will be bankrupt within two years, but the Dodgers will still gave a good TV deal, even if the team has to take less money.
PAC-12 Network also in trouble because it wants too much for crappy content. No one wants to watch an Oregon State vs. Colorado football game, or pretty much anything else that isn't top football or men's basketball games.
PAC-12 Network also in trouble because it wants too much for crappy content. No one wants to watch an Oregon State vs. Colorado football game, or pretty much anything else that isn't top football or men's basketball games.
