May 31, 2024

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ESPN is looking to expand its presence even further in college football with more SEC games, but those desires will likely come with a big cost. … The NHL has this weekend to itself without viewership competition from the NBA, marking an additional boost in what’s already been a record-setting postseason. … Charles Barkley continues his outspokenness about the state of TNT Sports’ NBA media rights. … There are big purses on the line this weekend across men’s and women’s golf, and in NASCAR. … Plus: More on the Big 12, Greenland soccer, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the French Open.

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

ESPN Wants More SEC Games, but Conference Eyes a Bigger Payday [[link removed]]

Detroit Free Press

The SEC has been exploring the possibility of expanding its intraconference football schedule from eight to nine games for some time now. A year ago, leaders opted to not make a decision [[link removed]] on the move at the league’s spring meetings. This week’s gathering [[link removed]] of athletic directors and other executives in Destin, Fla., rendered a similar outcome—but with a new wrinkle.

As meetings wrapped up, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey made it clear that the conference wants Disney to fork over more money in order for schools to add another annual game against one another. This season, the company will begin paying $710 million a year for SEC games on ESPN and ABC, as the broadcast network takes over the game of the week that has been on CBS since 1996.

The Big Ten and Big 12 each play nine-game conference schedules, while the ACC plays eight. Sankey confirmed the SEC had reengaged in conversations with ESPN officials about the value of expanding its conference schedule. Right now, at eight conference games, schools can schedule an extra home game against anyone they choose, allowing for an influx of ticket, concession, and other gameday revenue. Under a nine-game conference schedule, each school would have to give up that home game every other year. If ESPN is willing to pay enough to offset that, then adding an extra conference game seems like it will be a given.

It Pays to Win

One change the SEC did make this week was how it plans to distribute revenue for schools that play in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Teams that play in the first round will receive $3 million, the second round will be worth an additional $3.5 million, the semifinals another $3.75 million, and a championship game appearance $4 million.

Grab Some Popcorn

The SEC also released some early-season game broadcast windows, with some tantalizing matchups in ABC’s new 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday slot. The first all-SEC game at that time to not air on CBS will be South Carolina–Kentucky on Sept. 7. Texas and Oklahoma will resume the Red River Rivalry as new members of the SEC in that window on Oct. 12. Georgia-Alabama will get a prime-time slot on ABC on Sept. 28.

A Rare NBA Break Creates Prime-Time Opportunity for the NHL [[link removed]]

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL this weekend, and perhaps early next week, will have a rare stretch of the calendar without any competition for viewers from the NBA playoffs—a development likely to enhance what has already been a banner spring for hockey.

The NBA, which has shared the prime-time playoff spotlight with the NHL for six weeks, is now beginning a six-day layoff following the rapid conclusion of its two conference finals series. The Celtics swept the Pacers while the Mavericks toppled the Timberwolves in five games, with the NBA Finals between Dallas and Boston not scheduled to begin until June 6.

That creates a unique opening for the NHL to capture even more of a spotlight for itself during the remainder of its conference finals. Game 5 of the Oilers-Stars series will happen Friday night, followed by Game 6 of Rangers-Panthers on Saturday, and a return to the Edmonton-Dallas matchup Sunday. The seventh games of the two series, should they be needed, would happen Monday and Tuesday. By comparison, last year’s NHL conference finals featured just one day not shared with the NBA.

Surging Viewership

Even before this upcoming stretch, the NHL has been riding a high on the ratings front. Across North America, the first round was the second-most-viewed [[link removed]] in league history. In the U.S., the first two rounds of the playoffs [[link removed]]combined to average 1.16 million viewers per game across Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery networks, up 9% from a year ago and the NHL’s best figure ever through the conference semifinals.

Viewership has been further boosted [[link removed]] by the continued presence of the Oilers’ Connor McDavid (above), by many accounts the league’s best player, and a resurgent Rangers team enjoying [[link removed]] one of its most successful seasons.

But if the Stars prevail over the Oilers, they will join the Mavericks in championship-round appearances to extend a furious run of activity [[link removed]] at the American Airlines Center, which the two Dallas teams share.

Not Really Without Basketball

Despite the extended NBA postseason break until late next week, the sports world is not without pro basketball. The WNBA has 16 games scheduled between Friday and the start of the NBA Finals. But after the Mavericks’ series-clinching win over the Timberwolves on Thursday night, the X account for Nike’s basketball division posted: “And that’s that… a week without hoops smh,” accompanied by the exasperated upside-down smiley face emoji.

Not surprisingly, the now deleted tweet generated [[link removed]] immediate outcry, particularly given Nike is an investor in the WNBA.

“A league investor tweeting that there’s a week without hoops when there is a full slate of WNBA games is wild,” posted [[link removed]] women’s basketball media personality Khristina Williams.

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F1’s Unexpected Brand for the Fans

[[link removed]]

At first glance, a Duracell partnership with a Formula One [[link removed]] racing team would surprise anyone familiar with the sport and its historically luxurious group of sponsors. But when Duracell joined forces with Williams Racing in 2023, that was just step one for the household brand as it carved out a new and unique relationship between brand and fan.

Duracell made a quick splash through clever branding that created the appearance of a battery installed on top of the F1 cars. But where Duracell really connected with fans was through social media, via consistent engagement in real time, with a lighthearted tone that fans found fun and refreshing.

Read the full article [[link removed]] to learn more about how Duracell is winning fans over through the power of social media.

LOUD AND CLEAR Say Again?

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

“Hey, did Ernie say ‘blast’ or ‘last’?”

—TNT Sports analyst Charles Barkley (above), while closing out Thursday’s postgame coverage of the Mavericks’ playoff-series-clinching win over the Timberwolves, and in response [[link removed]] to Ernie Johnson’s comment that “I cannot wait for next season. It’s going to be a blast.”

The end of the NBA’s Western Conference finals also concluded TNT Sports’ coverage for the season, and the upcoming one could be a lame-duck campaign if parent company Warner Bros. Discovery fails to retain its rights with the league. Multiple reports suggest that ESPN, NBC Sports, and Amazon are in a leading position [[link removed]] to gain NBA rights for the next contract term starting in 2025, putting [[link removed]] WBD president and CEO David Zaslav on the defensive, and initiating an even more outspoken stance [[link removed]] from Barkley on the subject. After extensive, and perhaps rueful, laughter on the Inside the NBA set, Johnson insisted he was saying “blast.”

WEEKEND PRIZE POOL Record Purse Up for Grabs

Thomas Shea-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:

U.S. Women’s Open, Lancaster Country Club, PA

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $12 million First place: $2.4 million

PGA Tour, RBC Canadian Open, Hamilton, ON

When: Thursday to Sunday Purse: $9.4 million First place: $1.69 million

NASCAR Cup Series, Enjoy Illinois 300, Madison, IL

When: Sunday Purse: $7.8 million First place: Individual payouts are no longer disclosed EVENT

Want an inside look at the incredible rise of private equity in sports? Front Office Sports has you covered with our latest event—Future of Sports: Private Equity. Our panel will include speakers from SC Holdings, Sixth Street, and Blue Owl Capital Inc. Join us June 12 at 1 p.m. ET and register now [[link removed]].

STATUS REPORT Two Up, One Down, One Push

William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Big 12 ⬆ The conference announced it will distribute a record $470 million in revenue this year, up from $440 million during the 2022–23 fiscal year.

Greenland ⬆ The Danish territory’s soccer federation has made a formal application [[link removed]] to become a member of Concacaf. Because it falls under the reign of Denmark, the 56,000-person territory hasn’t been allowed to join UEFA. But several Concacaf members, like Guadeloupe and Martinique, are territories of other European countries, theoretically opening the door for Greenland.

FIFA Club World Cup ⬇ Leading soccer players’ unions FIFPro and PFA are threatening a strike [[link removed]] ahead of the debut of next summer’s revamped and expanded tournament, citing concerns over too many matches for top players.

French Open ⬆⬇ Rain at the tennis tournament this week has caused some lengthy delays. But that has also resulted in some lucky fans getting great looks [[link removed]] at top players who would normally play on larger stadium courts.

SPONSORED BY WSC SPORTS

New AI-Tailored Content Experiences

Sports media rights holders face new challenges as the way fans consume content continues to change. There is an increased focus on short-form content [[link removed]], multiple viewing platforms, and various viewing formats.

WSC Sports [[link removed]], a trusted partner to the NBA, LaLiga, Big Ten Network, Bleacher Report, and more than 460 other sports organizations, recently announced the release of three products that empower sports organizations to meet the changes desired by fans:

AI-powered content management and creation with expanded support of all types of content, including both in and around the game (press conferences, interviews, fan reactions, arrivals, etc.) Vertical content experience in the rights holders’ O&O app, including stories, vertical swipeable video feeds, polls, and quizzes Expansion of media rights owners’ reach delivered through fully controlled access to pre-agreed, third-party sports properties generating new traffic, exposure, and revenue streams

Learn more [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters The San Francisco Giants will commemorate the 100th “splash hit” on Sunday at Oracle Park by giving the first 20,000 fans a LaMonte Wade Jr. bobblehead, complete with functioning water cannons. Watch here [[link removed]]. Topps is offering an official trading card [[link removed]] (priced at $8.99) featuring the Birmingham-Southern College baseball team, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the program. Despite the school’s closure Friday, the team has reached the Division III College World Series. Mavericks star Luka Dončić hopes Inside the NBA won’t end anytime soon, saying, “You ain’t done yet. We gotta figure out something.” Listen here [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Nike Basketball Ignores WNBA in Since-Deleted ‘Week Without Hoops’ Post [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The WNBA’s 16 games before the NBA Finals include Clark vs. Reese. ACC Attempts to Protect Media Contracts Amid Legal Battle for Its Survival [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]The conference has responded to a lawsuit filed by Florida’s attorney general. In Wake of Settlement, NCAA Considering Jersey, On-Field Corporate Logos [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]NCAA is in search of new revenue following last week’s historic settlement. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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