USFSA Loses Rights Fee In Move From ABC/ESPN To NBC
By John Ourand & Tripp
Mickle
ABC/ESPN has ended its 43-year relationship with the U.S. Figure Skating Association
(USFSA), citing declining ratings and shifting demographics. Figure skating saw
a 60% drop in ratings over the course of ABC/ESPN’s most recent 10-year
deal. In its place, USFSA has entered into a three-year joint venture with NBC
that will see the network televise nine hours of figure skating, including Skate
America and the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The network will pay no rights
fee, leaving USFSA to make up for the $12M annually it is losing from ABC/ESPN
— more than 65% of its budget — by splitting media sales with NBC
and selling sponsorship packages for the first time in a decade. ESPN VP/Programming
& Acquisitions Leah LaPlaca said of the USFSA, “It’s not a good
fit for us strategically at this point.”
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Yahoo, NBC, NFL Reach New Online Deal
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Ad Sales Down For Sports Properties
November 19, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NBC Earns 11.6/18 Rating For "SNF"
November 18, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NBC Earns 13.5 Overnight For "SNF"
November 17, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NBC To Kick Off Green Week On "FNIA"
November 13, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
GM Committed To GM Place, VANOC Deals
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
LOCOG Scrapping Temporary Venues
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Hockey Canada Looking To Protect Sales
November 19, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
J&J Will Not Renew IOC TOP Deal
November 17, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
More Than C$345M In Vancouver Tix Requests
November 14, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
