May 10, 2024

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The expected acquisition by Netflix of rights to the NFL’s two planned Christmas games in 2024 is a big step for both the streamer and the league. … The hype train is gathering steam in Pittsburgh, where highly touted prospect Paul Skenes is making his MLB debut Saturday. … Big money is on the line this weekend in both men’s and women’s golf, and in NASCAR. … Plus: More on Pimlico Race Course, Good Morning Football, venture capitalist Courtney Reum, and rookie bets.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]] and David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Reported NFL-Netflix Deal Is Notable, but Isn’t a Big Multiyear Commitment [[link removed]]

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Boomer Esiason’s status as a prognosticator of the sports media business is now going through the roof.

On Wednesday, the former NFL star and recently departed [[link removed]] CBS Sports analyst predicted [[link removed]] the NFL would sell its pair of 2024 Christmas Day games to Netflix, by far the biggest player in streaming but heretofore a more limited player in live sports.

The comment took many by surprise but now is potentially coming true. Puck reported [[link removed]] late Thursday that “it looks like Netflix will wind up carrying the two NFL games.” The deal, should it happen, will mark a further escalation of the league’s strategy around the holiday, which began in earnest in 2022 and grew much more serious [[link removed]] last year with a high-profile tripleheader that crushed [[link removed]] the NBA’s rival slate of games in viewership. Fueled by that success, the NFL earlier this spring put these games up for auction [[link removed]], with bidding said to have started in the $50 million range.

More Holidays, More Streamers

That the NFL is even playing on Christmas this year, however, is still noteworthy, as the holiday falls on a Wednesday, normally not a day of the week when the league plays. But the NFL is pursuing a series of precise scheduling moves [[link removed]] to keep its Christmas presence.

The developing deal with Netflix also signals a rising interest by the NFL to experiment with various streamers for many of its tentpole events. Over the past two years, the league has placed Black Friday [[link removed]] and wild-card games [[link removed]] on outlets such as Amazon and Peacock, and now operates [[link removed]] the residential portion of NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube. Given the unprecedented level of disruption across the media landscape, it’s smart business for the NFL to see where consumer patterns are heading while still keeping its core status on linear television. But for fans, it simply adds to the number of different streaming subscriptions one must have to see every game.

With the 2024 NFL schedule projected to be released next week, a formal announcement of the Netflix pact could be days away.

From the Other Side of the Table

Netflix, meanwhile, is extending its pattern of more modest steps into live sports. The company—which has an industry-leading 269.6 million subscribers but is phasing out [[link removed]] its practice of reporting such totals—has made a big multiyear play for the WWE [[link removed]] and its weekly flagship show, Raw.

But its other moves in live sports have largely been one-offs such as its acquisition of live rights to an upcoming Jake Paul–Mike Tyson fight [[link removed]]. On the company’s last earnings call, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos reiterated the more reserved sports programming strategy, saying, “We’re not anti-sports, but pro-profitable growth. And I think that’s the core of everything we do in all kinds of programming, including sports.”

Financial terms and production details for a live NFL presence on Netflix remain unknown.

A Rising Pirates Star and His Famous Girlfriend Are Sparking National Buzz [[link removed]]

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

One of MLB’s most challenged teams in recent years is about to get a major boost in both talent and notoriety, thanks to the arrival of phenom rookie pitcher who is one of the highest touted prospects of his generation, has already made financial history, and before throwing a single big-league pitch has one of the buzziest social media followings of any MLB player.

The Pirates have called up prospect Paul Skenes, last year’s No. 1 pick in the MLB draft, and he will make his first major league start Saturday against the Cubs. The star of last year’s College World Series championship [[link removed]] team at LSU and the tournament’s most outstanding player, expectations have only grown since then for Skenes. Since he completed his college career and was selected by Pittsburgh, Skenes secured a $9.2 million signing bonus that beat the prior league record by nearly 10%. He then backed up those expectations by posting a 0.99 ERA so far this year in the minor leagues and striking out 45 batters in 27.1 innings.

Beyond simply racking up statistics, Skenes has captured the attention of fans in part through frequent social media sharing of game video of his electric fastball reaching 100 miles per hour and his wipeout slider. His online fame is further burnished by his relationship with girlfriend Olivia Dunne, a star LSU gymnast and also a national champion, who has a combined TikTok and Instagram following of more than 13 million—as well as the status as one of the leading figures [[link removed]] for college name, image, and likeness rights.

Some news stories about the promotion of Skenes from MiLB to the majors have led [[link removed]] with Dunne, and a TikTok clip [[link removed]] chronicling his finding out about being called up has generated more than three million views.

A Team in Need

The arrival of Skenes is already giving a sizable jolt to a Pirates organization that has frequently struggled on the field, and to a fan base increasingly wary of the financial commitment of owner Bob Nutting to competing. Since the team’s last playoff season, in 2015, the Pirates have posted just one winning year. Despite recent moves to solidify both local broadcast coverage [[link removed]] and the area around PNC Park [[link removed]], the Pirates still have MLB’s second-smallest payroll [[link removed]] at less than $83 million.

The debut of Skenes will be carried nationally on the MLB Network, and locally, asking prices for tickets start at $40 for lower-level seats, and quickly move into triple digits. For Friday’s game, many of those same seats are comparatively selling for about half as much.

“Skenes’ arrival feels like Day 1 for the Pirates. A re-set. A new beginning for a crappy franchise,” wrote [[link removed]] Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Mark Madden. “Skenes is all Pittsburgh is talking about. It’s everywhere. We know exactly what he is. Skenes offers a rare, legitimate ray of hope for the Pirates.”

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WEEKEND PRIZE POOL Dash to Darlington

Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Front Office Sports tees up every weekend sporting slate with a ledger of the purses and prize pools at stake. Here’s what’s up for grabs this weekend:

PGA Tour, Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $20 million First place: $3.6 million

PGA Tour, Myrtle Beach Classic

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $4 million First place: $$720,000

LPGA Tour, Cognizant Founders Cup, New Jersey

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $3 million First place: $$450,000

NASCAR Cup Series, Goodyear 400, Darlington Raceway

When: Sunday Purse: $8.1 million First place: Individual payouts are no longer disclosed STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Pimlico renovations ⬆ Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed into law a long-discussed plan [[link removed]] to renovate Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes. The effort will supply $400 million in state bonding to help renovate the 153-year-old facility, and the upgrades will see the 2026 Preakness Stakes relocated to Laurel Park before returning to Baltimore the following year.

Good Morning Football ⬆ The NFL Network show that is on a spring and summer hiatus has its first national syndication partner: Fox TV stations, which operate in 29 markets around the country, will broadcast the extension series of GMFB beginning Sept. 2.

Courtney Reum ⬆ The 45-year-old U.S. venture capitalist, who is the brother-in-law of Paris Hilton, made his professional soccer debut [[link removed]] for Portuguese second division side Länk Vilaverdense earlier this week after he became an investor in the team that is being relegated this season.

Rookie bets ⬇ Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (above) and Giants receiver Malik Nabers have called off a $10,000 wager between the two first-year NFL players that revolved around one of them winning Rookie of the Year. Nabers cited [[link removed]] the league’s gambling policy in explaining the decision.

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Conversation Starters Attention gamers: The PlayStation store has added deluxe-edition artwork for EA’s College Football 25 game. Check it out [[link removed]]. Shaquille O’Neal, president of Reebok basketball, and Candace Parker, the new president of Adidas women’s basketball, shared a moment of mutual respect. Watch here [[link removed]]. During his first NFL presser, Bills receiver Keon Coleman went viral by sharing that he purchased his coats off the sale rack at Macy’s, saying, “I shop like my momma. I get my coats in the summertime.” Apparently impressed by his frugal approach, Nike sent him a care package [[link removed]] of winter coats. Editors’ Picks Exploding Demand for Preseason Broadcasts Catches WNBA by Surprise [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]Five of 11 preseason games were available on WNBA League Pass. UCLA Might Have to Pay $10M a Year to Subsidize Cal Athletics [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]UC Board of Regents will consider approving a proposal for mandated subsidies. Toronto Set to Be WNBA’s 14th Franchise, First Outside U.S. [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The league commissioner had previously named Toronto as a possible expansion city. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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