This is a guest post by Chris Russo, a recognized industry leader and innovator in the world of digital sports. He previously served as head of digital media for the NFL, VP of marketing for NBC, and founder/CEO of Big Lead Sports. Russo now serves as a managing director at investment bank Houlihan Lokey, focusing on sports and media transactions. He is also the founder of Fifth Generation Sports, an executive education company, and an adjunct instructor at the NYU School of Professional Studies Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media and Business.
The digital sports landscape has been in a period of rapid evolution for the past decade. This past summer, it appears that the rate of the change is reaching top speed. In May, Turner Sports launched a groundbreaking new eSports league. In June, it was reported that Disney would invest $1Billion in the MLBAM technology company — signaling the beginning of an OTT revolution in sports. In July, NBC announced its acquisition of youth sports platform SportNgin, validating and further spurring growth in the amateur sports technology space. Also in July, Twitter acquired rights to live MLB and NHL games. Finally, in August, Governor Cuomo signed legislation that legalizes and regulates daily fantasy sports in New York state.
Given these developments and the rapid change occurring in the industry, it has become difficult for sports executives at every level to stay smart about the latest trends and business opportunities driven by the digital transformation of sports. There is a real need for executive education in this area, so in collaboration with the NYU School of Professional Studies, I have developed an executive course focused on sports business in the digital age. “Digital Transformation in Sports” will be presented this fall on five consecutive Monday evenings, beginning on October 17.
Some of the topics we will cover include:
- Emerging television business models, including OTT platforms
- Digital fan engagement via social media and mobile content consumption
- Fantasy sports, eSports, and the future of sports gambling
- Advertising, sponsorship, and brand activation in the digital age
- Sports data, analytics and next generation statistics
- Entrepreneurial sports ventures and start-up companies
Our goal is to enable sports executives, educators and brand marketers who work in sports sponsorship and marketing to better monetize digital assets, deploy new technologies that enhance fan engagement and assess upcoming digital trends to stay ahead of the competition. The course will also introduce students to new companies that are positioned to change the sports landscape. More information and registration can be found here.
