Gold believes a digital platform could get an exclusive deal with a major U.S. sports league soonMARC BRYAN-BROWN
The evolving landscape for sports media rights is a hot topic within the industry right now. While no major U.S. league has signed an exclusive broadcast deal with a digital platform, Evolution Media Capital Head of Sports Media Alan Gold during a panel at the '19 Dealmakers in Sports conference said he believes that could change within the next two years. "Everyone is now waiting for 2021," Gold noted. "It's a key year, because there's about $66 billion of TV deals coming into the market. ... Everyone's been sort of waiting for this day. Over the next year or so, I think if the Amazons, the Facebooks, the Apples, etc., if they don't lean in now, it's going to be another generation for them." ESPN Exec VP/Programming & Scheduling Burke Magnus added his thoughts, emphasizing that a flexible approach is going to be needed as the space changes. "The 'one-size-fits-all' conversations don't really exist anymore," he said. "Every single circumstance is very unique, from the biggest of the big to a new league or event."
LET THE GAMES BEGIN: NBC Sports Regional Networks President David Preschlack said his company has "already started the experimentation process" when it comes to new broadcasting ideas. He highlighted a direct-to-consumer deal for 20 NBA games for fans in the Portland market, and also referenced the NBC Sports Gold digital platform, which offers over 120 EPL games that are not available on any other NBC linear channels. As for the properties to bet on if they were stocks, Preschlack said rugby, Gold said ONE Championship (MMA) and Magnus said the NBA.
