BLOOMBERG NEWS' Soshnick & Novy-Williams noted former Disney Chair Michael Eisner is predicting that major sports properties like the NFL and NBA will "eventually leave broadcast television." Eisner said, "With the financial wherewithal of Apple, the aggressiveness of Amazon, the creativity of Netflix, the existence already of ESPN and ESPN+ -- you’re going to see a very difficult time ahead for the U.S. broadcasters. I wouldn’t be surprised if all sports of that level eventually leave broadcast television.” Eisner "didn’t offer a timetable for such a migration" (BLOOMBERG.com, 6/20).
BANDING TOGETHER: SI.com's Jacob Feldman noted SB Nation workers last week "ratified their first collective bargaining agreement, which applies to all Vox Media sites." The three-year deal "sets new minimum salary and raise requirements, gives workers a cut of profits if Vox sells their work to third parties, and comes with a commitment to diversity in the hiring process." New hiring standards in particular "could make a significant difference in a sports media field that remains overwhelming white and male" (SI.com, 6/20).
GOLD STANDARD: Wednesday night's Concacaf Golf Cup match featuring Mexico-Canada delivered 2.9 million total viewers on Univision and Univision Deportes, becoming the top-rated men's soccer match of any network in '19. The match peaked from midnight-12:30am ET. The match was the No. 1 program of the day in L.A. and Houston among adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 (Univision).
