August 14, 2024

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

POWERED BY

The 2023 NFL season delivered huge ratings. CBS Sports is relying on the league to keep growing in 2024 despite one factor that tends to drag down numbers.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

CBS Hoping Chiefs, Stars, and Slime Can Deliver Even Higher NFL Ratings [[link removed]]

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

There is a rather high bar for the NFL and its domestic broadcasters to improve television ratings this season after a banner 2023 that included across-the-board increases in viewership and an all-time record [[link removed]] for Super Bowl LVIII.

The challenge grows further because of the U.S. presidential election set for November, something historically shown [[link removed]] to be a drag on sports ratings.

But CBS Sports still sees a path for additional audience growth in the 2024 season. Speaking Wednesday with reporters to preview its NFL coverage, network executives laid out several factors it will rely on during the upcoming season:

Growth of the NFL’s overall popularity: During 2023, the NFL represented [[link removed]] 93 of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts on U.S. television, across all programming, up from 82 in 2022 and 61 in 2018. In an increasingly fractured society, the NFL is perhaps the closest thing to monocultural programming, with no letup in sight. “This sport—every day, every season, it distances itself, against all forms of media,” said David Berson, CBS Sports president and CEO. “The stars that are being built, the product on the air, the fact that they’re willing to innovate … they’re doing a really good job.” All Chiefs, all the time: The two-time defending Super Bowl champions were already a focal point [[link removed]] of the 2024 NFL schedule. But CBS Sports will air nearly half of the team’s slate, with a minimum of eight Kansas City games to be shown on its network. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that the Chiefs feature the league’s biggest star, quarterback Patrick Mahomes (above, right), and tight end Travis Kelce, boyfriend of global pop icon Taylor Swift. Quarterback star power: While Mahomes will certainly be a point of emphasis, CBS as the primary home of the AFC will regularly air other signal-calling stars in the conference such as the Bengals’ Joe Burrow, the Bills’ Josh Allen (above, left), the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, and the Texans’ C.J. Stroud. The balance of QB power has swung decidedly toward the AFC in recent years. Broadcast TV trends: Macro-level media disruption has fueled a sharp rise [[link removed]] in over-the-air television as a refuge for cord-cutters and cord-nevers. That trend plays directly into the hands of the NFL and networks such as CBS, which have made broadcast TV a foundation of its coverage for decades.

“The media landscape is complicated, and a lot of entertainment [content] is moving to other platforms,” Berson said. “But sports, you still have to see it live. Every day, sports become more important, and the NFL is far and away the leader in that respect.”

The Slime Is Back

CBS Sports will once again air a kids-oriented NFL game production on Nickelodeon, reviving an effort that began in 2020 and was deployed twice last season, including in Super Bowl LVIII. The next effort will be during one of two wild-card games the network will show in January.

“I don’t know if there’s anything that’s been more innovative in coverage of the NFL in a long time,” Berson said of the alternate broadcasts on Nickelodeon. “This is genuinely bringing in an incremental audience and cultivating the next generation of fans.”

From One QB to Another …

Perhaps the biggest change in NFL coverage this season will be the on-air debut of Fox Sports analyst and NFL icon Tom Brady. CBS Sports’ top NFL analyst, Tony Romo, had strong praise for his counterpart.

“I’m excited for him,” Romo said. “To have one of the greatest players ever, if not the greatest player, do this, it’s only going to be a positive.”

SPONSORED BY ALLIED SPORTS

The Shift From Sponsor to Storyteller

As the sports sponsorship industry climbs toward a projected $190 billion global market value by 2030, Allied Sports is on a mission to help buyers and sellers unlock its true potential through the power of storytelling.

The key to unlocking that? Empowering brands to move beyond simply borrowing assets by crafting campaigns rich in empathy and utility that give them a reason to belong within fan communities.

Learn more [[link removed]] about how Allied Sports is leading modern marketers in the shift from Sponsor to StorytellerTM.

Rob Manfred’s Decade As MLB Commissioner, and What Comes Next [[link removed]]

H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

A league commissioner tenure that almost wasn’t has become one of the most impactful in sports history—with large-scale changes still to come.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred (above, right) was elected to his post 10 years ago today, the result of multiple votes in a lengthy and sometimes-fractious owners meeting in Baltimore that required the longtime league employee overcoming a pocket of opposition led in part by White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

But a decade later, Manfred has firmly placed his stamp on the game, and he is now perhaps challenging his predecessor and mentor, Bud Selig (above, left), in overall influence. Among Manfred’s key points of impact:

Pace of play: Arguably his greatest success, Manfred last year introduced a series of rule changes led by the introduction of a pitch clock, which immediately resulted [[link removed]] in a 24-minute reduction in average game times and 9.6% boost in attendance. Those gains have held [[link removed]], and then some, so far this season. Youth participation: Seeing a clear link between playing baseball as a child and lifelong fandom, Manfred made promoting both organized and casual play an immediate focus of his tenure, creating efforts such as the Play Ball program and the MLB Little League Classic. That has helped foster the highest level [[link removed]] of baseball participation since 2008, and increases [[link removed]] in youth consumption of the sport on platforms such as MLB.TV. International play: Under Manfred, MLB and the MLB Players Association have created [[link removed]] the MLB World Tour, a multiyear global effort that will bring games to Latin America, Asia, and the U.K. Continental Europe remains a thorny challenge for MLB, but the league’s efforts around the world mirror the accelerating globalization by other major U.S. sports leagues. Labor: A bruising 99-day lockout before the 2022 season represented the sport’s longest work stoppage since the 1994–1995 strike that wiped out a World Series. The MLB-MLBPA relationship remains a complex matter, and economic imbalance between clubs is still a serious concern. But the resulting labor deal created many meaningful changes, including player compensation boosts, a new draft lottery, an expanded postseason, and a universal designated hitter. Minor leagues: One of Manfred’s more controversial moves has been a large-scale overhaul of the affiliated minor leagues, which was completed in early 2021 and included a reduction of teams from 160 to 120 and imposed much more stringent facility requirements on the remaining clubs. But the moves have elevated the standards of play and helped [[link removed]] shorten the window for some draftees to reach the major leagues and increase the stature of MLB prospects. The Final Stretch

In July 2023, Manfred signed [[link removed]] a four-year contract extension that he says will be last, setting up an end [[link removed]] to his tenure in January 2029.

In his remaining time, he will grapple with many pressing issues, including a reformation of the sport’s local media [[link removed]] model, proposed new stadiums for the Rays [[link removed]] and A’s [[link removed]], potential expansion, and another round of labor negotiations with the MLBPA.

ONE BIG FIG Light the Lamp

Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

$2 billion

The valuation of the Lightning in a sale that is being processed, first reported by Sportsnet [[link removed]]. A source confirmed with Front Office Sports that the deal is “moving forward,” though it is unclear when the deal will be finalized. The buyer is reportedly Doug Ostrover, cofounder and CEO of Blue Owl Capital, though current owner Jeff Vinik is expected to retain a significant ownership stake and maintain full operational control, at least for the next few years.

Vinik purchased the franchise in 2010 for $175 million. In December, the Lightning were valued at $1.25 billion by Forbes [[link removed]].

The sale would be the largest in NHL history, following the $1.2 billion sale [[link removed]] of the Coyotes earlier this year. It would also be just the second exit for a private equity firm in sports as a source tells FOS that Arctos Partners is including at least a portion of its 30% stake in the sale. The first exit came from Dial Capital when the NBA’s Suns were sold to Mat Ishbia early last year.

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Flutter ⬆ The stock price of FanDuel’s parent company is up 8% on Wednesday after the company announced Q2 sales and profit that beat Wall Street’s expectations, and also raised its outlook for the rest of the year. CEO Peter Jackson added that FanDuel does not plan to match the surcharge that rival DraftKings announced earlier this month. On Tuesday, following FanDuel’s announcement that it would not add the surcharge, DraftKings reversed [[link removed]] its decision.

Grace College ⬆ The private institution based in Winona Lake, Ind., announced a partnership with medical technology company Zimmer Biomet that would place the company’s logo on all of the school’s varsity athletic uniforms. The college competes in the NAIA, and it is the first college sports association to allow sponsored logos on uniforms. The NCAA is considering [[link removed]] the move.

Conor McGregor ⬇ UFC CEO Dana White said [[link removed]] during the season debut of the show Dana White’s Contender Series that the Irishman (above) will not go back to the Octagon this year. McGregor, 36, has expressed a desire to return in 2024, and he responded in a now deleted post on X saying that “December is the date.” The former two-division champion has not competed in an MMA fight since July 2021, when he broke his leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier.

LPGA ⬆ The FM Championship, the tour’s first event in Boston starting Aug. 29, will see extended coverage on ESPN+, according to Sports Business Journal [[link removed]]. There will be about 40 hours a week of featured group coverage, which is part of the LPGA’s deal with ESPN through 2025.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS EVENTS

Jay Williams Joins Tuned In 2024

Tuned In [[link removed]], Front Office Sports’ media franchise, led by senior media reporter Mike McCarthy, appears across FOS platforms through editorial coverage, social storytelling, and newsletter segments.

On Sept. 10, Tuned In will come to life as a one-day event in New York City with the biggest newsmakers in sports media.

The daylong event will feature intimate discussions with leaders within the sports media space—ranging from athletes and on-air talent to media moguls and league executives who are instrumental in shaping the future of how fans view sports.

Joining the impressive speaker lineup is Jay Williams, CEO and cofounder of Improbable Media, entrepreneur and investor, and ESPN personality. Check out the full lineup for the event or get your tickets [[link removed]] now.

Conversation Starters Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli reportedly offered [[link removed]] Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. a five-year deal worth $1 billion. Atlanta Dream vice president and part-owner Renee Montgomery gave a bold prediction about the WNBA’s next media-rights deal at the FOS Huddle at the Hamptons event. Take a look [[link removed]]. Construction has begun on the $125 million Swing Racquet + Paddle sports facility in Raleigh, N.C. Set to open in 2026, it features 15 padel courts, 28 tennis courts, a Ping-Pong lounge, 25 pickleball courts, and four beach volleyball courts. Check it out [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Miss. Prosecutor Who First Brought Charges in Favre Case Under ‘Late Stages’ FBI Bribery Probe [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Owens says the investigation could be related to his real estate dealings. Former NBA Flameout Royce White Cements Political Career With Minn. GOP Senate Primary Win [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]White was a 2012 Rockets lottery pick but never played for them. Boxer Imane Khelif Names Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling in Cyberbullying Lawsuit [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The gold medalist’s gender was falsely questioned during the Olympics. 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]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]

Copyright © 2024 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

460 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor, New York NY, 10016