- Even after TNT’s “Inside the NBA” is officially outside the NBA after WBD's deal ends this spring, it will always be the template for an entire industry of talking heads, my colleague Tom Friend writes for this week's cover story.
- SBJ also profiled the 25 studio shows driving conversation and turning their stars into household names.
- Tony Hinchcliffe, who made inflammatory and racist comments at MSG last night during a Donald Trump rally, doesn't have any more planned appearances on Disney airwaves, sources tell me. In Week 8 of the college football season, the comedian appeared on the digital-only hour of "The Pat McAfee Show," as well as "College GameDay," and made reference to the contestant attempting a field goal kick as a "prepubescent lesbian." ESPN declined comment on the matter.
- As part of a leaguewide deal with the NFL, Cosm will produce and show "TNF" (Prime Video), "SNF" (NBC) and "MNF" (ESPN) games -- as well as select matchups on Fox -- in its immersive venues through the remainder of the 2024 regular season, reports SBJ's Rob Schaefer.
- Dodgers-Yankees is delivering the uptick that was expected for Fox, with the network having its best Fall Classic since 2017, notes SBJ's Austin Karp, who also pointed out to me the strong role Univision played in Game 1's audience. With Fox Deportes and Univision both showing the game, that Spanish-language viewers accounted for 8.5% of the overall Game 1 audience. When Fox Deportes had the Spanish telecast on its own for Game 2, that audience was 2.7% of the overall number.
- My boss Abe Madkour in his Forum this week writes about the influence and importance of ESPN’s “College GameDay.” Madkour: "It’s become a must-watch for avid and casual viewers, but also for the leaders connected to the sport because, whether you like it or not, it sets the agenda for that Saturday. While Pat McAfee may be an acquired taste, it’s hard to question his talent and that it plays well on college campuses." He also notes that halfway during the season, Disney is the "clear winner when it comes to drawing viewers on the strength of its new deal with the SEC."
- The first year of the expanded CFP has further stoked interest among advertisers in college sports, with media companies including Disney, Fox, NBCUniversal and Paramount all seeing brands lock in advertising deals for multiple years.
- Kristen Lappas spent 12 years at ESPN and is now a director at Words + Pictures, the company led by former ESPN stalwarts Connor Schell and Libby Geist. Lappas has won two Emmy Awards for short sports documentaries; directed “30 for 30” documentary “ Dream On” and last year directed the Prime Video docu “Giannis: The Marvelous Journey.” She talked to SBJ about her own journey.
- In an op-ed for SBJ this week, media consultants Ed Desser and John Kosner write, "For most of the last four decades, sports media options were broadcast and cable TV, period. These delivered maximum audiences, and usually, the largest potential revenue. National rights were placed on big broadcast and cable networks; local/regional rights on broadcast stations and RSNs. With competition and some luck, you’d generate fair market value. Easy-peasy! ... Today, choosing a platform is not simple at all."
