September 11, 2023

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The full impact of the newly completed Disney-Charter deal likely won’t be fully understood for years, but it’s already clear that sports fans — so often forgotten in these carriage fights — are among the biggest winners. Not only is tonight’s “Monday Night Football” game now available to all Spectrum subscribers, but the company’s customers are gaining greater flexibility and choice in how they purchase and consume video content.

Meanwhile, Fox Sports looks to create a new postseason tournament that could bring big changes to college basketball, and Michigan State athletics sadly grapples with yet another set of sexual harassment allegations.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

Charter Deal Shows ESPN, Disney Need Linear Carriage [[link removed]]

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The mere prospect of losing a single NFL game to the Disney-Charter Spectrum dispute helped broker a new deal between the two battling companies.

Just hours before the start [[link removed]] of ESPN’s coverage of “Monday Night Football” featuring the highly anticipated matchup of the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, Disney and Charter completed what they are calling a “transformative agreement,” ending a standoff that lasted nearly 11 days.

The deal gets networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU back on the country’s second-largest cable carrier, providing a key segment of linear carriage for Disney — Charter’s 14.7 million subscribers — and at elevated rates for the company.

A Win For Spectrum Subscribers?

Perhaps more importantly for consumers, the deal grants Charter a series of digital elements, including the ability to offer ESPN+ and an ad-supported version of Disney+ to linear-TV subscribers, as well as the forthcoming full, direct-to-consumer version [[link removed]] of ESPN to Spectrum TV Select subscribers.

Charter will also market Disney-owned streaming services to its customers, particularly its broadband-only consumers. That elevated combination of linear and streaming programming will allow Charter to offer a heightened level of choice to consumers.

After the now-concluded [[link removed]] U.S. Open and two weekends of college football [[link removed]] failed to prompt a deal, Disney and Charter’s announcement directly referenced giving Charter subscribers access to Disney programming “in time for ‘Monday Night Football.’” That restored access will be particularly impactful in New York, one of Charter’s top markets, with Monday’s Jets game.

“This deal recognizes both the continued value of linear television and growing popularity of streaming services, while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger and Charter CEO Chris Winfrey in a joint statement.

With Charter’s enhanced ability to customize linear and streaming packages for consumers, as well as most-favored-nation clauses that can promote deal parity across the cable business, Disney could ultimately strike similar agreements with other major carriers.

More March Madness? Fox Eyes New Hoops Tourney In Vegas [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Fox Sports is looking to develop a new men’s postseason college basketball tournament that could alter the sport’s end-of-season competitive landscape.

The event would involve teams from several power conferences that didn’t qualify for the NCAA Tournament, according to multiple reports.

The competition would involve 16 teams, begin in 2024 or 2025, and be staged entirely in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena between the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight and Final Four. The new tournament would feature teams from the Big 12, Big East, and Big Ten — all of which have existing rights deals with the network.

Fox vs. ESPN

The effort would heighten an existing battle between Fox Sports and ESPN, particularly within college sports. The pair of networks have already locked down a large portion of major college basketball and football rights outside of the NCAA Tournament itself, which is shown on CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery networks.

ESPN airs the NCAA-owned NIT, and if Fox Sports’ plans come to fruition, the NIT would likely lean further into participating teams from mid-major conferences. ESPN’s existing relationships with the ACC and SEC are reportedly [[link removed]] impediments to those conferences’ participation in the potential new tournament, while the Pac-12’s ongoing instability [[link removed]] has left its potential involvement uncertain.

Newly installed NCAA president Charlie Baker is said [[link removed]] to have asked conference commissioners to “back away” from Fox Sports’ efforts, in part due to concerns regarding the NIT, which has existed since 1938.

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Learn how broadcasters leverage intelligent file transfer software in the remote era. Read this guide from Signiant [[link removed]] to discover:

Examples of how pre-recorded segments, advanced graphics and quick edits are used to enhance the production of live sports The need to support both automated workflows and ad-hoc, person-initiated workflows — and why that matters How the right software aids in doing more with fewer people on site

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Michigan State Trying To Avoid $80M Buyout Amid Mel Tucker Scandal [[link removed]]

Syndication: Lansing State Journal

Michigan State has suspended head football coach Mel Tucker after allegations [[link removed]] of sexual harassment — putting nearly $100 million dollars in limbo.

MSU interim president Teresa Woodruff said [[link removed]] the school will wait until a Title IX investigation is concluded before taking further steps — which in all likelihood will result in Tucker’s firing. The Spartans will reportedly seek to dismiss Tucker with cause [[link removed]] so as not be on the hook for a massive buyout fee.

In 2021, Tucker signed a fully guaranteed 10-year, $95 million contract extension after an impressive first two years in charge of the team. Tucker currently has about $80 million left [[link removed]] on the massive deal, which was set to run until 2032.

When negotiating with Tucker, MSU had to secure the necessary funding [[link removed]] from influential alumni like Mat Ishbia, who now owns the Phoenix Suns.

It’s unclear when the Title IX investigation will conclude or what next steps Tucker could take to claim some or all of the money remaining on his contract.

Bad News For Big Ten

Tucker’s situation at MSU is the most recent unfortunate circumstance for Big Ten schools this year.

Northwestern fired [[link removed]] head football coach Pat Fitzgerald amid a hazing scandal, Iowa State is dealing with a sports betting scandal [[link removed]] among some of its players, and anonymous former players accused [[link removed]] Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck of creating a toxic culture.

Conversation Starters Novak Djokovic considered Kobe Bryant a mentor, crediting [[link removed]] the late basketball legend with teaching him about “competing relentlessly.” After winning his record-tying 24th Grand Slam title, Djokovic donned a “Mamba Forever” T-shirt featuring a picture of the two athletes. DraftKings apologized [[link removed]] for offering a “9/11 Parlay” featuring three New York City teams. AI robots roamed the crowd at the Los Angeles Chargers’ season opener to promote [[link removed]] upcoming film “The Creator.”

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The Power of 5G in Professional Baseball

As consumer spending shifts from material goods to memorable moments, sports organizations are tasked with curating unforgettable experiences for fans.

That’s why T-Mobile and the MLB® turned the 2023 MLB® All-Star Week™ into a hotbed of tech innovation [[link removed]], all powered by T-Mobile 5G Advanced Network Solutions. The duo delighted fans on and off the field with:

Real-time pitch location tracking and challenges. 5G Batting Practice HD drone and catcher mask cameras delivering unprecedented close-up and birds-eye view perspectives of the game. The groundbreaking MLB NEXT APP, offering AR-powered 3D visualizations during live play.

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Editor's Picks Networks Reaping Billions In NFL Ads As Sports Remains Bright Spot [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]Networks are pulling between $5-$6 billion annually on NFL ads. The 10 Highest-Paid NFL Quarterbacks [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Burrow's $275M extension is second to Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs deal. Josh Harris Was Commanders’ Only Option Despite ‘Really Complicated Deal’ [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Harris told FOS he was the only real option left as owner. Careers in Sports

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