ESPN extends MLB deal

[jbdphi]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012...0828?feedType=RSS&feedName=marketsNews&rpc=43

Amazing how much money is being plowed into live sports. I just finished that ESPN tell all book which was a very good read and it talked a lot about various rights deals as ESPN grew and grew and grew. My big takeaway from the book was that I highly doubt ESPN makes a serious offer for NBE programming this time around. It's very similar to their negotiations with the NHL a few years ago. They committed massive money and time slots to other programming and they won't have the capacity to carry the NBE in a manner in which the NBE will want. All that plus there is really nobody at ESPN who would be a "champion" for the NBE like the NHL had and that still wasn't enough for the NHL to get a decent offer.

I still believe pretty strongly that there will strong demand outside of ESPN however. Can't wait to see how it all shakes out.

 

[whaler11]

NBC isn't locked out of baseball with this, the Fox and TBS packages will also be up. That amount is staggering for a sport losing ratings and with a terrible demographic. Baseball Tonight is the lowest rated show on ESPN.

Sports rights fees are like any other financial bubble - it will be ugly when it pops.

 

[ZooCougar]

Being locked out of baseball is like being locked out of pro bass fishing.

 

[zls44]

Baseball Tonight is the lowest rated show on ESPN.

Actually, on most nights, its the highest rated program on ESPN. Usually around a .75.

 

[zls44]

Being locked out of baseball is like being locked out of pro bass fishing.

Don't worry, NBC has bass fishing all sewn up.

 

[ZooCougar]

Don't worry, NBC has bass fishing all sewn up.

Actually ESPN literally owns Pro Bass Fishing. I'm surprised you didn't know that.

 

[whaler11]

Actually, on most nights, its the highest rated program on ESPN. Usually around a .75.

Every source I've see shows the opposite. Have one?

 

[zls44]

Every source I've see shows the opposite. Have one?

I can say with relative certainty I know more about BBTN's ratings than anyone else here. I get them e-mailed to me every day at 9 AM.

Actually ESPN literally owns Pro Bass Fishing. I'm surprised you didn't know that.

Not anymore.

http://blog.wired2fish.com/blog/bid/40696/B-A-S-S-Sold-to-McKinnis-Logan-and-Copeland

 

[whaler11]

I can say with relative certainty I know more about BBTN's ratings than anyone else here. I get them e-mailed to me every day at 9 AM.



Not anymore.

http://blog.wired2fish.com/blog/bid/40696/B-A-S-S-Sold-to-McKinnis-Logan-and-Copeland

Well the numbers you see are very different than what is available publicly. Certainly the broadcast ratings for games have sunk relative to other sports.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Actually ESPN literally owns Pro Bass Fishing. I'm surprised you didn't know that.

When I was in college, bass fishing, was the only thing on ESPN on the weekends during the day.

 

[MattMang23]

When you were in college, UConn was losing football games to EO Smith.