TV's upfronts kick off this week in N.Y., with NBCUniversal and Fox slated to present new shows today. Disney, "including the new Fox cable assets," will present tomorrow afternoon, with WarnerMedia and CBS on tap for Wednesday (CNN.com, 5/13). The four major broadcast networks all have "fresh faces calling the shots on their programming after a year of massive change in the entertainment industry," with "audience erosion" a major theme over the past several years (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/13).

Sports programming "may be the main driver of viewership now, and it has slowed the cord-cutting trend." Sports is now the "cornerstone to television programming, and the tech giants are well aware of its role as a defensive wall against online disruption." Despite the "song and dance around police procedurals, soaps and sitcoms, the narratives provided" by teams like the Warriors or Patriots are "most likely what have kept TV front and center" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/13).

Discovery is buying Golf Digest from Condé Nast for an estimated $30M, "expanding its reach beyond its golf-streaming sweet spot," according to sources. The deal was announced earlier this morning. The $30M price tag is a fraction of the estimated $430M that Condé Nast "paid to buy the monthly magazine and several smaller titles" from the N.Y. Times back in '90 (N.Y. POST, 5/13). 

The USWNT drew a crowd of 22,788 fans in its "first appearance at Levi's Stadium" yesterday, a 3-0 win over South Africa, marking the "largest crowd of the year" for the U.S. team. U.S. Soccer "scheduled the game for the 49ers' 68,500-seat stadium in hopes of attracting a Mother's Day crowd" in the 30,000 range. The USWNT has played in 18,000-seat Avaya Stadium in San Jose in its "previous Bay Area stops in the past four years" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 5/13).

Meanwhile, Nike during NBA playoff coverage yesterday launched its new "Dream With Us" spot focusing on the USWNT. In the ad, "young female athletes from different sports walk out of locker rooms, and stadium tunnel in support" of the women's side. Narrated by Viola Davis, the spot also features athletes such as U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas, soccer phenom Olivia Moultrie and Mystics F Elena Delle Donne (ADAGE.com, 5/12).

There was a 43-minute delay in the ninth inning of yesterday's Yankees-Rays game due to a power outage, as the "lights at Tropicana Field flickered and then went dark" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/13). The local TV broadcast on FS Sun "lost its connection as well." One reason the delay "lasted so long" was because the Rays' operations staff "had to test the rerouted system to ensure the electricity wouldn't go out again." The outage came during the Rays' "third home sellout crowd of the season" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/13).

It was the "second time this weekend there was an issue with the lights" at the ballpark, as the lights "momentarily went out in between innings" on Friday. That game, however, "wasn't delayed" (MLB.com, 5/12).

The WTA unveiled its new global marketing effort with the tagline "It Takes," launching across the league's digital channels, social media platforms, Tour events and broadcasts. It includes a series of mini-documentary-style features on specific players. This is the first major marketing campaign for the WTA since '15. Ads will appear on TV, print and digital, and they will be customized for individual tournament locations on the WTA's 29-country schedule (WTA). The campaign concept is "based on an idea" by boutique brand experience agency Stevie & Fern, Florida (FORBES.com, 5/12).

MLS is launching a 24-hour league-specific channel on Pluto TV, the free streaming service that was acquired by Viacom earlier this year. The channel, which is expected to launch this week and simply titled MLS, will be populated with content that the league already produces or owns. This includes replays of classic games; highlights and condensed games from the previous week; talk shows and long-form content such as its "ExtraTime" podcast or documentary series "The Movement" that currently is shared on YouTube.

MLS Senior VP/Media Chris Schlosser said that MLS does not have any plans to have live programming on the channel, and it will not be creating exclusive or new additional content specifically for the platform.

The Big Ten today kicks off its annual spring meetings at the conference's HQ in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, and there is "no shortage of items that might be on the agenda." There is "sure to be continued discussion as to who will replace" retiring Commissioner Jim Delany, but that "won't be the priority" over the two days of meetings. After missing out on the CFP for the second straight season, the Big Ten’s "stance on playoff expansion could be changing" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/13).

Fanatics this morning will announce a multiyear partnership with Mets rookie 1B Pete Alonso, who will join the company’s memorabilia division, Fanatics Authentic. Fanatics will become the exclusive distributor of Alonso’s autographs and collectibles. Terms of the deal were not available (Josh Carpenter, THE DAILY). 

Former skier Lindsey Vonn will publish a memoir sometime in '20 titled "Rise: My Story" from Dey Street Books (AP, 5/13).

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers "made a cameo appearance" in last night's "Game of Thrones" episode on HBO (ESPN.com, 5/13).

 

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"Give him a chance. That’s the least people can do. He did a good job in Indiana, right? So give him a chance to see if he does a good job with the Lakers" -- Shaquille O'Neal, on new Lakers coach Frank Vogel (L.A. TIMES, 5/13).

"Maybe that's part of the secret sauce. When you consider yourself part of the club, you've lost something so for me, it's better if I fly around the perimeter a little bit" -- MLB Network host Matt Vasgersian, on occasionally sharing airtime with Bob Costas, whom he considers a mentor and friend (FORBES.com, 5/12).

"Your brain makes you human. When something goes wrong with it, it affects the core of who you were" -- Former Stanford volleyball player Hayley Hodson, who had to retire from the sport in '17 "because of post-concussion syndrome" and has an ongoing lawsuit against Stanford and the NCAA for a "lack of proper medical care" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/12).

TRIBLIVE.com writes under the header, "Future Of Fandom Is Almost Unrecognizable." A recent study called “A New Age of Sports" contains "lots of advice for sports marketers who don’t want to get left behind." Fans "don’t seem to have the allegiance to the local teams" as they did in the past, and now there are concerns the die-hard fan "could become extinct."

Also:

• Toronto now a "hotbed of hoops talent," in part due to the Raptors' success.
• The "biggest reason for lagging MLB fan interest."
• What legal online sports betting in Tennessee means for college and pro teams.
• How video games are "changing the face of college sports."
• Stronach Group "at center of best and worst of horse racing."

does Kawhi....have tears in his eyes?????

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) May 13, 2019

This is the absolute greatest stress-inducing job on the planet

— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) May 13, 2019

The Nuggets almost jumped the line, but this Blazers team has been overachieving for years.

— Adi Joseph (@AdiJoseph) May 12, 2019

Re: the unsigned Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel -- 197 days have passed since the end of last year's World Series, and the start of the free agency period. If the two wait another 21 days, for the start of the amateur draft, they'll no longer be tied to draft-pick compensation.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 13, 2019

Has anyone noticed that all the Boston @RedSox have done is WIN since coming to the White House! Others also have done very well. The White House visit is becoming the opposite of being on the cover of Sports Illustrated! By the way, the Boston players were GREAT guys!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2019

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

Best way to impress your friends...give them a personal tour of @starwars Galaxy's Edge!#stevenspielberg, #jjabrams, Kathy Kennedy with Imagineer & Galaxy's Edge creator, Scott Trowbridge. pic.twitter.com/e3jFH2Cd2b

— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) May 11, 2019

A brief hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home. 

Some of the top news items from yesterday's edition of Weekend Rap:

• Lakers hire Frank Vogel after drawn-out coaching search.
• Excitement swirls around NBA Game 7s in Denver, Toronto.
• Source: Oregon AD Mullens won't leave Eugene for Texas A&M.
• Man City takes title to end Epic Premier League season.

This week's In-Depth explores the evolving nature of data and analytics in the sports industry.

• Big ad, sponsorship sales push upcoming for '28 L.A. Games.
• Sports projects in the spotlight at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.
• Mike Slive’s legacy lives on through cancer foundation he created.

Get a jump on the big stories in this week's SBJ in the First Look podcast.

Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. States.”

“This state entered the union in 1820 after separating from another state that began with the same two letters.”

Friday night’s edition of CBS’ “The Late Show” began with a “report” about the swarm of bees that invaded Great American Ball Park and forced the delay of a Giants-Reds game last week. The two fictional broadcasters talked about it being “Hive Night” at the ballpark (“The Late Show,” CBS, 5/10). 

“What is Maine?”