Wedge
Moderator
Posts: 19,862
Joined: May 2010
Reputation: 964
I Root For: California
Location: IV, V, VI, IX
|
NFL is even more important to TV networks than you think...
... according to this article.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/20...ronavirus/
Quote:They are invested, of course, in the planned returns of Major League Baseball, the NBA and other sports, but none carry the importance of the NFL, which accounted for 41 of the top 50 rated telecasts of any kind in 2019. The lack of certainty has led to uncomfortable conversations among executives.
“It’s practically the only thing on the minds of the networks,” said John Kosner, a former ESPN executive who is an industry consultant. “If you lost an NFL season, you’re looking at a financial hemorrhage.”
All four networks that broadcast the NFL — CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC — declined to comment on contingency plans or how they are thinking about the 2020 season. But a senior ESPN employee recently lamented that there is no fallback plan even worth considering if the NFL cannot play, because nothing can replace the content or revenue that comes with it, according to a person with knowledge of the discussion. At Fox Sports, at least one executive has told an employee that no NFL season would mean trouble for the network, according to multiple people familiar with the discussion.
No network is more dependent on the NFL than Fox, which pays more than $1.5 billion each year for two NFL packages: one on Sunday afternoon and the other on Thursday night. The NFL, including pre- and postgame coverage, accounted for nearly 40 percent of the minutes spent viewing the network last year, according to research firm MoffettNathanson.
|
|
07-03-2020 01:28 AM |
|
PirateTreasureNC
G's up, Ho's Down ; )
Posts: 36,249
Joined: May 2004
Reputation: 617
I Root For: ECU Pirates,
Location:
|
RE: NFL is even more important to TV networks than you think...
Not surprised.
I wonder how rerunning classic NFL games works for all the parties involved, especially since CBS and FOX do regional coverage for teams/conferences. Then, what can ESPN, ABC, NBC, and NFLN re-air for national broadcasts.
|
|
07-03-2020 04:01 PM |
|
Wedge
Moderator
Posts: 19,862
Joined: May 2010
Reputation: 964
I Root For: California
Location: IV, V, VI, IX
|
RE: NFL is even more important to TV networks than you think...
I guess it depends on whether TV thinks reruns will generate more advertising revenue than whatever else they could show at that time.
Either way, they'll be hurting if there is no live football this fall. From the chart in that article:
Fox's broadcast network gets 45% of all of the network's ad revenue from football (39% NFL, 6% college)
ESPN gets 42% of its ad revenue from football (17% NFL, 25% college)
|
|
07-03-2020 04:56 PM |
|