SXSW got underway in Austin this weekend, and Bleacher Report Senior VP & Chief Brand Officer ED ROMAINE spent a panel explaining how BR's "mix of social engagement, rapid-fire updates, live feeds and expanding attention to betting has helped the company grow" into an "international media force valued in the multi-millions," according to Thomas Jones of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Romaine pointed out that gambling content has the "highest growth rate of followers among BR’s youngest audience." But he also said the company is "mindful of how we promote it, especially to a younger audience." He said that long-form narrative is "important." But he added, “We don’t want to lose anyone who just wants scores” (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/11). A "heavyweight NBA panel" on Saturday titled “The Future of Basketball” was moderated by author Kirk Goldsberry and included Spurs President & GM R.C. BUFORD, former NBAer CHRIS BOSH and Magic Dir of Player Development & Quality Control BECKY BONNER (STATESMAN.com, 3/10). The coverage of women’s sports was the "prominent topic" in a Friday session titled "Sidelined: Women’s Sports in Mass Media." The panelists "agreed that media outlets having diverse staffs would help" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/8).
ROLLING IT OUT: NBC News President NOAH OPPENHEIM yesterday "unveiled his network's plans to launch a free, ad-supported streaming service in May that will carry 8 hours of daily programming and be available to everyone, regardless of whether or not they have a cable subscription." He said, "We will be doing original work that will be specific for the streaming service, (while also) drawing from the reporting that takes places across all the other NBC News properties (and) other corners of NBCUniversal, E News, sports, you name it" (VARIETY.com, 3/10).
SHINING STAR: Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN on Friday night attended a screening of ALEX GIBNEY's new documentary “THE INVENTOR: OUT FOR BLOOD IN SILICON VALLEY.” He was also at Vox' annual SXSW dinner at the company's Austin HQ (POLITICO, 3/11).
