LGST 207 Midterm 2 Flashcards
First televised sporting event
Princeton v. Columbia 1939 baseball game.
NY Times criticized baseball on TV–> criticism has followed sports on TV since the beginning
Relationship between TV and sports at the beginning
TV needed sports, as sports helped increase TV demand, as people bought TV’s to see their teams play
Broadcast TV Business Model
Deliver an audience to advertisers, receive money from advertisers for doing so
National networks provide schedule of programming (entertainment, national news, sports) and local affiliate affiliates with the network and airs their local shows and syndicated shows
Big difference with cable is the lack of a cable subscription necessary, although retransmission fees help the broadcast channel receive a small amount from the cable companies
Network Rights Fee Model
Network pays sports leagues annually in long term contracts to air their games. Sells advertising to recoup investment
Why does a good rating matter
More viewers results in advertisers willing to pay more, so the value of the property increases with good viewership
Sports Importance to Broadcast (FOX example)
FOX Gets the NFL, the NFL helps it be a successful network by:
- Promoting the other shows on FOX
- Affiliates compete to switch to FOX to be able to air the local football team
- Advertisers bundle their ads, advertise on other FOX programming, results in more ad revenue
Broadcast Overview
Broadcast TV is the traditional TV model with no cable subscription necessary to watch these channels. The network makes money through advertising. Sports programming is often beneficial for a network in getting good affiliates and good ratings for its other programming
Cable TV Revenue
Dual revenue streams (monthly subscriber fees and advertising revenue)
Subscriber fees
Channels sell their content to MSOs (Comcast, Time Warner, Fios…) at a wholesale price and the MSO sells the channels to the consumer at a higher retail price
Affiliate fees for each channel vary based on demand (ESPN the highest)
Satellite TV
Similar to cable but stresses the choice and quality and focuses on sports
Cable TV Overview
Cable TV came onto the scene in the 1980s with ESPN and cable news networks, but seems to be falling after an incredible rise due to cord-cutting. The cable model is a boom to channels as they get revenue from affiliate fees as well as ad revenue. This has put a financial burden on the consumer who have to pay high cable bills.
Digital Media
Direct subscriptions that deliver a highly targeted audience to advertisers for a fee (Netflix, Twitter, Hulu, Amazon Video)
Increased presence as it is popular with millennials
Rating, Share, Sweep
Rating is percent of households watching a given program
Share is percent of households using their TV watching a given program
Sweeps are Feb, May, July, Nov (2,5,7,11)
Sports on TV summary
TV as a whole is down, and sports down too, but sports and TV need each other and are important to one another
Every major move by a league is based on TV repercussions and the national/regional sales of TV rights are essential for league success
Also sports are helpful so affiliates want the network
Why do sports mesh well with TV
Need to watch games live (no DVR), high levels of engagement and passion, fairly predictable ratings, gives advertisers a direct pipeline to middle class and more wealthy consumers, specifically allowing great access to highly desirable 18-34 year-old men
Why have media rights gone up recently
More networks and platforms bidding for the package, live sports bring high ratings and reach young men better than anything else, more finely target audiences, TV everywhere multi-platform concept gives properties more rights to sell.
However, could be a bubble with such a sharp increase and so many cord cutters and people who don’t use cable
I think it will keep going up as digital players make more aggressive bids
Is Sports Broadcasting Worth the Cost?
Huge rights fees, and networks are losing money from sports alone. However, seen as an investment to help get the channel affiliates (broadcast) or subscribers (cable). Also major promoter for the network’s non-sports programming.
Factors ESPN Considers in Acquiring Content
New deal or renewal Strategic value Length of contract (as long as possible) Across all platforms Driver ratings (reach X time spent viewing) Strengthen brand Volume of content (highlights) Time of year Price
RSN
Regional sports network that MLB, NBA, and NHL teams play on. Traditionally owned by cable and media companies (Fox, Comcast) but some teams have taken over their own RSN’s
Why do teams take over their own RSN
Additional revenue stream, cuts out the middle man and gets the advertising directly, also creates and enhances asset value of the franchise
Additionally, standalone properties not subject to revenue sharing
So, helpful in making more money and growing exposure
Media Big Picture
Ever since sports began on TV, there has been criticism. In the beginning, TV needed sports to increase TV’s demand. Broadcast TV is the traditional TV model where networks make money through advertising. Networks like sports to get good affiliates and good ratings/promotional opportunities for its other programming. Cable TV has a dual revenue stream, with subscriber fees and advertising revenue. As a whole, TV is down, but sports and TV need each other. Every decision a league makes involves TV repercussions, and TV is needed to promote a brand. They go hand-in-hand, as sports survives the DVR epidemic and is the last form of must-watch TV left. As more channels and opportunities to consume content are created, there has been an increase in media rights. This is also because live sports bring ratings from a young audience that other programming cannot do. While channels don’t make money off of sports individually, they are used to help promote their other programming and channels have seen great results from having sports. RSN’s are becoming increasingly important with more teams launching their own RSN’s to take out the middle man.
NBA’s Goal of Emerging Technology
Experiment with unproven digital technology to shape fan experience in the future (not profit today, but get a headline and wants to be seen as innovative)
Partnership with the emerging technology companies and associate themselves with them. Promoting their brand across a variety of platforms to change the consumption of their product.
How NBA Uses Emerging Technology
Finding scale on new platforms:
- Augmented reality (part of smartphone that doesn’t require an extra device like VR, NBA Pop-a-shot or Snapchat foam finger)
- Voice (get player voice and all-star voting on Alexa
- Chatbots (audience has high willingness to purchase stuff thru chatbot)
Current status of emerging technology in NBA
Mostly entertainment not profit, but with right business model and technology, profit and value will come
NBA Emerging Tech Big Picture
The NBA is experimenting with new technologies to help promote fan engagement. They are focusing on augmented reality, voice, and chatbots. While they are not profitable yet and mostly seen as entertainment in their current states, with the right business model and with technology, profit and value will come. Also, it allows for young people and the new platforms to partner with the NBA and want to promote the brand.
Major Sport
Highest level of competition, legacy/history, biggest media deal in the sport, seminal event, authenticity, integrity
What it means for an emerging league to be successful
Not necessarily wins or profits, but meeting the goal that the league sets
Need to pay to be on TV rather than being paid
Categories of Niche/Emerging League
Minor league
Major League (but niche sport)
Indoor league (of major sport)
Women’s league
Minor League
Not the top level of competition in the sport
Meant for player development, entertainment, and grassroots marketing
Major League (Niche Sport)
Top level of competition in a sport with a large number of recreational participants but not on the same level as the four major ones. Major League Lax
Indoor League
Indoor variation of popular outdoor sports
Less talented athletes
Modified playing rules
Ex: Arena Football
Women’s League
Women only version of the sport
Revenue of Emerging Leagues
Main difference is the smaller scale of everything and the lack of significant (or any) media rights
Still getting gate receipts and concessions, and build brand off of that until can convince for broadcast revenue and sponsorship
Sponsorship–allow conservation of league resources, league gets exposure via sponsor’s activation. Not as much money though
—>Similar to major leagues but on a much smaller scale. Big difference is broadcast revenue, as media rights are significantly smaller, as not nearly as many people want to watch niche and emerging leagues. They mostly rely on gate receipts and concessions to build the brand.
Expenses of Emerging Leagues
Same as regular leagues (salaries, stadiums, operations, staff costs)
Emerging Leagues Low Salaries Because:
insufficient revenues, lack of unionization by athletes mostly, single-entity league structure for some of them results in less money being received by players
Single entity structure–> Work for the league, not competing for players, so lower salary
Emerging League is Successful Way 1
Audience appeal:
interesting to watch and play (helpful if audience is familiar with sport from having played it). Transcendent athletes helpful
Emerging League is Successful Way 2
Media/TV Presence:
Provides exposure needed to grow interest and attendance (can increase sponsorship rates and facility driven revenues)
Opportunity exists because of the expansion of cable TV
Emerging League is Successful Way 3
Deep Pocketed Ownership:
Need to be able to fund the team and afford everything
Emerging League is Successful Way 4
Located in Appropriate Markets:
Not necessarily the biggest, but pick where specific sport would do the best
Emerging League is Successful Way 5
Strong Leadership:
People at the top need to be able to handle problems and lead well to solve potential problems
When is an Emerging League a Failure?
When league thinks they are the best, competes for the best players and spends way too much money on a few old, washed up former stars, but the league is clearly not the best, so not enough demand, and then can’t sustain their player costs. (Seen with the XFL)
When enter a market that cannot sustain a competitor league (XFL)
Instead, should admit not the best level of the sport and try from there
Thoughts from looking at examples of emerging leagues. Comment on WNBA
Competitor leagues respond to problems in established league and make their own league not have these problems, but it is hard to replicate existing sports without having the best talent in the new league. Lack of a market
Also, note: WNBA backed by the NBA and be on NBC and get NBA sponsors, allows for it to stay in business. Beats the ABL (even though ABL had better players) as ABL couldn’t sustain the costs and didn’t have the NBA backing.
Big Picture of Emerging Leagues
Major leagues have the highest level of competition with some sort of legacy and authenticity in the league. Emerging and niche leagues exist in the form of minor leagues, major league but niche sport, indoor league, and women’s league. These leagues all have different goals, but they are successful if they can meet their goals, which is not necessarily wins or profits. Revenues are same categories as major leagues, but on a much smaller scale. The biggest difference is broadcast revenue, as this is so important for major leagues and significantly smaller for niche and emerging leagues. They mostly rely on gate receipts and concessions to build the brand. Expenses are the same but much smaller salaries because of the lack of revenue. To be successful, these leagues must have an audience appeal, media presence, rich ownership, be located in the appropriate markets, and have strong leadership. They are failures when they spend way too much money on players at the beginning. From the examples, we see it is hard for such leagues to be successful because they lack the talent and demand that major leagues have.
Sponsorship
Use of certain rights associated with a property to achieve certain marketing objectives (gain the rights to use team property for a specific thing)
Includes intellectual property, lease of real property, efficient media purchase, brand marketing platform (leverage other marketing assets)
Licensing
Renting or leasing of an intangible asset to extend a trademark or character onto products of a completely different nature
Line of consumer products, maximize revenue strategy, part of brand strategy, extends consumer engagement beyond game consumption
Sponsorship vs. Licensing
Licensing involves using the intellectual property of the team, player, or league and selling the product and giving the licensor a royalty
Sponsorship is more affiliating your brand with a property to achieve marketing objectives
Licensee
Brands (Nike, Rawlings, etc…)
Licensor
Leagues, teams in local markets, players
Intellectual property
Category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect (copyrights, patents, trademarks)
Trademarks
Recognize sign, design, or expressions which identifies products or services different from other. Can’t use the trademark unless sponsor or licensee