(03-05-2013 06:33 PM)Tiger8589 Wrote: Turnberry,
I have a question. I read somewhere that at least some of the FOX RSN have language written into the contracts that would allow FOXSports1 to broadcast some pro games as long as FOX RSN has deals in place for those pro teams. I ask because the language would have been put in before the launch of FOXSports 1. If that's the case it's brilliant IMHO.
For example FOX RSN has deals with both the Pistons and Grizzlies, as long as not on a night where another entity has exclusive rights to a certain night and time slot FOXSports 1 would be able to televise the Pistons vs Grizzlies on FOXSports 1. Is this true?
On a side note: I firmly believe once FOXSports 1 becomes a destination channel for whatever fan that is going to be the go to channel regardless of what ESPIN may or may not be showing. Much like what happened with CNN. Viewers left and never went back. Not saying they just overtake ESPIN but I do know one thing FOX viewers are loyal once you get them to switch....same goes for the OTA Fox.
Sports fans want an alternative to ESPIN and i'm not just talking the hardcore message board types either. ESPIN executives are smart and cutthroat but at the same time so is FOX and both know the business better and what it takes to succeed better than others.
Tiger,
I have not read any of the Fox RSN contracts with “local” NBA teams in their region but seriously doubt that any of that content could be distributed nationwide on Fox Sports 1. Fox RSNs can deliver teams “local” to their region through the basic cable tier. If you are a big fan you can purchase the sports tier from your cable or satellite provider to watch games delivered through the other Fox RSNs. A portion of the cost of the sports tier you would have to purchase goes to the NBA as part of a rights fee to give you access to those out of region games. The NBA has already sold their nationwide rights to ABC/ESPN and TNT for a great deal of money. As part of those contracts they not only get their pick of the best games they also are granted the right to deliver the games nationwide. I assure you that if Fox Sports 1 sought to pay the NBA more for the right to deliver games from the FOX RSN’s on a nationwide basis that ABC/ESPN and TNT would go berserk and fight it tooth and nail. Fox Sports 1 will have to wait for the existing rights agreements to expire to bid and that is some years out. I also doubt there is a provision in the current contracts which would allow for the current nationwide rights holders to sell games to Fox Sports 1. Even if there were, that is not going to happen as you can tell by ESPN’s language in recent press releases that they know they are now going to have a serious competitor in Fox Sports 1.
You are very right in that ESPN knows that the landscape is changing rapidly for them. Their days of sports television dominance are coming to an end. It will not happen overnight as they still have greater household penetration and a more established and stronger brand. As noted in an earlier post, NewsCorp knows the cable business extremely well and has many ways they can quickly catch up with ESPN in homes served. Perhaps more importantly, they have the cash on hand to give ESPN a fight in any rights acquisition battle. If you are aware of all the tactics NewsCorp employed in growing Fox News so quickly then you know what they will probably use to grow Fox Sports 1. It is obvious that CBS and NBC do not have the desire to seriously compete with ESPN and Fox in the 24 hour network sports business. It still is mystifying that with all the money Comcast has that they have not been more aggressive with the NBC Sports Network. Olympic rights though are very expensive and they are probably hindered by that. Also the NBC broadcast network is mired in last place.
You noted one thing in your post that the public has begun to notice over the past few years and despise and that is the “ESPN Attitude”. It not only runs through their programming but in the culture of their business as well. I am talking about their condescending and often snarky attitude, acting as if they sit above the sports world and in fact have the power to direct what goes on within that world. I am not only talking about the talent and analysts you see and what they say within programming as well as the constant self-promotion. As an attorney who has been involved with media rights negotiations over the years, I have had to deal with both Fox Sports and ESPN. Both are very predatory, but clearly ESPN is the worst. Their total dominance in the sports television business has created their distasteful attitude. They knew that if you wanted exposure for your athletic conference or sports event you had no choice but to deal with them. I laugh every time I see the news conference or read about an athletic conference signing a rights contract with ESPN. You see or read about the conference heaving all of this syrupy praise on ESPN about how great and wonderful they are. But trust me; if you get many of these guys alone, having a drink or on the golf course, you quickly find out that it is much the opposite. They have no love or kind words for ESPN. For many, negotiations with ESPN has in the past been more them dictating to you what you get and when you get it…….and by the way, you should be happy you are getting anything at all. You quickly understand why so many conferences were thrown scraps in the past like having their games played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights before sparse crowds. They had no choice but bend over and take it because they were led to believe that you were not a viable FBS conference unless your games were on their channel. All of that is about to change. New technologies, including the host of available digital platforms like connected television, are changing all the calculus. Fox Sports 1 will only hasten that change.
If you are interested, you may want to read Phil Mushnick’s columns three times a week in the New York Post. He has been one of the few columnists who regularly call out ESPN for their attitude and assorted wrongs. You can access his columns at
http://www.nypost.com/columnists/philmushnick .