Skip to content
All about sports. — Content — Broadcast — hockey — mixed-martial-arts — Video — Media — Ott — Football — Tennis

Local Sports Rights Remain Stagnant at 2025 NAB Show, Mirroring Previous Years

In the face of challenges, traditional sports cable networks struggle, while broadcast television is hailed as the resurgent hero of sports television.

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
In the face of struggles, traditional sports TV networks (RSNs) experience setbacks, while...
In the face of struggles, traditional sports TV networks (RSNs) experience setbacks, while broadcast TV emerges as the revitalized contender in the sports television industry.

Local Sports Rights Remain Stagnant at 2025 NAB Show, Mirroring Previous Years

In the ever-evolving world of sports, the landscape has undergone a colossal shift, largely influenced by the happenings surrounding Diamond Sports Group. This transition has necessitated a drastic expansion of sports rights deals, ushering in local broadcast as a viable platform unlike years past.

recent years have witnessed an intriguing parade of sports rights agreements between local broadcasters and professional teams, college leagues, or even larger coalitions like the WNBA. Glen Dickson, contributing editor of TVNewsCheck, moderating the "Rebuilding a Sports Business on Local Broadcast" panel at the Programming Everywhere Conference, asked panelists to gauge the progress of this burgeoning sector.

Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, likened the current state to the second inning of a baseball game, highlighting that many of the first deals struck with over-the-air broadcast are only a few years old. "It's still very early," he said, "as many teams that have been with regional sports networks (RSNs) for decades are still figuring out if over-the-air broadcast is the right platform for them."

Similarly, panelists agreed that we're still in the opening stages of this new era of sports broadcast rights. Teams need to regain and cultivate fans as they did in the past by making sports content widely accessible via mass media and broadcast. Moreover, teams have to adapt to an advertising-based model in contrast to the previous distribution model.

Scott Shapiro, executive vice president of corporate development at Sinclair, pointed out that the audience for sports is increasing at a faster pace than the monetization, indicating the early stages of this market transition. Ratings, according to Lawlor, are highly effective, with sports programs consistently drawing massive viewership.

Pat LaPlatney, president, and co-CEO of Gray Television, corroborated this, citing an Atlanta Braves game that boasted 10 times the ratings compared to the same time period in the past. Shapiro was impressed by the younger demographic gravitating toward sports broadcasts onlinear TV and suggested local news tie-ins to boost viewership.

The future of streaming, Shapiro stated, is still up in the air, though this opinion was not unanimous among panelists. Some estate strongly in favor of the complementary nature of streaming and linear broadcast. Frank Cicha, executive vice president, programming, Fox Television Stations, expressed satisfaction at no longer competing with teams like under the RSN model. "We tell the teams how they want their brand portrayed," he said.

Rick Young, senior vice president, head of global products, LTN, couldn't pinpoint the exactly what inning this new era of local sports represents, but acknowledged that LTN has teamed up with various broadcasters since the commencement of the metaphorical spring training. Live MC services can connect a main market with additional markets, making sports highly adaptable to customization.

It is expected that the global sports broadcasting market will balloon to $53.4 billion by 2025, with live sports content remaining a primary driver across various platforms.

  1. In the budding sports broadcast sector, the increase in sports content across media platforms is a significant aspect.
  2. As we navigate through this new phase in sports broadcasting, streaming platforms are emerging as potential game-changers.
  3. The traditional broadcaster's role in sports is being challenged by the rise of Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services.
  4. The interplay between sports, media, and video is shifting, with broadcasters adopting strategies like sports-betting to attract viewers.
  5. The wide array of sports Now available for streaming, including football, basketball, racing, tennis, and mixed-martial-arts, caters to a diverse audience.
  6. The growing popularity of online sports analysis is transforming the way fans consume sports content, with platforms like LTN providing live services.
  7. In this evolving landscape, local broadcasters are grappling with the challenge of adapting to new distribution models, moving away from their reliance on regional sports networks (RSNs).
  8. Against this backdrop, local broadcasters are exploring innovative partnerships to strengthen their sports content offerings, such as Gray Television's association with the Atlanta Braves.
  9. The burgeoning sports broadcast sector is witnessing a renewed focus on making sports content accessible worldwide, catering to a global audience.
  10. As the sports broadcasting market gears up for a potential surge to $53.4 billion by 2025, broadcasters are embracing the opportunities offered by sea changes in the sports industry.

Read also:

Related

Latest