Welcome to the 32nd Media Mailbag for The Athletic. Writing a mailbag – self-centered as it is – is always a fun exercise. Thank you for submitting your questions about the website and the app. There were almost 150 questions so this will be a two parter. Part 2 is out later this week.
Note: Questions have been edited for clarity and length.
The NFL gets its future players for free from the colleges. If a player is drafted and/or forms a team as a free agent, what are the chances that the NFL team will have to pay a “development fee” to the college from which the player is from? – Jo D
Same as I won an Oscar for best actor.
Thanks for the ESPN recommendations (“30 for 30”)! I’ve seen them all and was wondering if you had any other recommendations for sports, movies, documentaries and even podcasts. — John R.
Fox Sports has an upcoming serialized audio documentary that looks promising. Tom Rinaldi researched the story of Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr., a promising hitter for the California Angels in the 1970s who was murdered during the 1978 MLB season. The title of the audio series is “Wesley” and the series is scheduled for release sometime in July. Rinaldi served as executive producer alongside Gabe Goodwin and Scott Turken of Blue Duck Media, which hosts a number of Fox Sports podcasts. Goodwin and Turken are former ESPN producers, and Goodwin serves as executive producer and occasional on-air guest for Michelle Beadle’s podcast (“What Did I Miss?”), part of the podcast network The Athletic.
Richard, I’m a big fan of your work. However, every time you address Amazon and the NFL, I wish you were addressing the fans about something even more important than the announcers or even the production. Will this be the only NFL game to watch live every week? To date, Amazon has not offered Thursday’s game as an on-demand option. If this is the only NFL game that can’t be taped and time-shifted, that’s TERRIBLE news for fans and takes the game back to the pre-VCR mid-1980’s. —Jason H
An Amazon spokesman said time-shifting will be available for Thursday Night Football.
What happens when a coach is on TV and then gets hired by a team? (Must) the station issue a permit? Is it involved? – AviB.
Sticking with the national outlets, typically talent agents negotiate a deal that allows the former coach to leave the broadcast job without penalty for a job that will lead the coach back to professional or varsity sports. The pro team or college would not need to seek permission unless the contract specifically prohibits the coach from speaking to a non-broadcast organization about a job.
If you had the power to change one rule of gameplay in each major sport to improve the viewer’s viewing experience, what would you change? — Josch C.
NFL: Less of a rule change and more of an improvement: I’d like the ability as a viewer to switch between watching the game from the traditional cameras to an All 22 look whenever I want.
NBA: Taking a 4-point shot in the last two minutes of a game.
NHL: Make two to four regular games per season play only 3-on-3.
MLB: Close the distance between bases to bring the stolen base back into play.
MLS is moving to Apple TV in 2023. Will it be a blessing or a failure in attracting new fans? (Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today)
As an MLS fan, I’ve been at odds with the new Apple deal. All games on one platform with no power outages is amazing. But I’m concerned that this will affect the League’s ability to draw new eyeballs. What are your thoughts? —Adam A
Athletic’s football department did an excellent job of analyzing the deal and what it means to fans. My thoughts? I don’t think the deal will significantly improve the status of MLS in the United States. Well, that’s very different from how MLS should have done it. you should have. The money was too big to pass up. Taking a long-term gamble at Apple isn’t a bad gamble for a niche pro league in the US. If you’re a die-hard MLS fan, chances are you’ll pay for Apple TV+ and you’ll probably be very satisfied. But I don’t think MLS will grow significantly domestically with this deal. I think the bigger hope is a surge of football interest before and after the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
What are the odds of CBS televising college football beyond 2023? I prefer FOX and CBS when it comes to Big 10 media, or might you see the Pac-12 on CBS? — John S.
I think there’s over a 75 percent chance that CBS will air college football games after 2023. What they radiate will be the big question. They are interested in the Big 10 along with all the other players (ESPN, NBC, Amazon, Apple, etc.). Whatever becomes of the Pac-10/12 and the Big 12, I think CBS would be interested, too. I would make ESPN the favorite for Pac-10/12 if it stays in its current form (which is highly unlikely).
Why can’t we all admit that the only thing that matters when it comes to the Big 10 and SEC adding new members is whether the additional schools will expand the conference’s media deal enough for the existing members to unite achieve sales boost? If Oregon and Washington can’t expand total compensation enough to justify splitting earnings 18 ways instead of 16, then it’s a non-starter. —Jason D
This is all about money. Nothing more.
Is there an incentive for the TV partners to renegotiate the ACC deal? It appears it’s cheap inventory right now, and if the ACC collapses, it’ll make it easier for the SEC to poach the schools it wants. —Pat T
Can you give us some insight into how a network assesses the value of a team being added or subtracted from a college football conference? For example, how would you assess the impact of moving USC and UCLA to the (Big 10) conference? What data is used in deriving these estimates? And how accurate were estimates of previous moves like Nebraska’s exit from the Big 12? – Jeff P
John Canzano recently had an interesting column in which former Fox Sports Network President Bob Thompson put the value of Stanford’s media rights at $45 million and Oregon at $30 million. Estimates would include market size by population and media ranking, viewership and potential viewership of the entering teams. The Athletic’s Matt Fortuna had a good input on Notre Dame’s move in relation to the ACC and the ACC/Pac-12 conversation.
When will LIV Golf get a TV deal? Who is likely to pay for media rights? – David C
The LIV Golf series seems to have picked up some steam lately but is still without a media rights deal in the US and is currently giving away its product for free on YouTube & Facebook. I’m curious what do you think the prospects are of striking such a deal, given that CBS, NBC and ESPN are all likely to be out given their contracts with the PGA Tour? — Christopher V
I came here to ask the exact same type of (LIV) question. How long can they really stay without a TV deal? Yes, they have very deep pockets, but they can only lose money until the plug is pulled. What about FS1 or such a network? I honestly don’t know anyone who would stream DAZN for LIV Golf. – Merry M.
I think LIV will sign a media deal in 2023. I agree with all of the above readers who recognize that it will not be a company that has ties to the PGA. My rationale: If you think sports media will leak LIV because of allegations of the Saudi government’s complicity in the September 11, 2001 attacks, or their alleged involvement in the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, or their treatment of gay people, don’t Introduce me to ESPN and Turner working with the NBA working with China and Fox’s World Cup coverage from Russia. I think LIV will sell their US rights cheap and someone will bite.
LIV Golf is currently operating without a US TV deal. Could that change in 2023 and beyond? (Soobum Im / USA Today)
I know I’m one of the few really excited to see Pierre McGuire returning to television. Do you think there’s a chance he’ll get a deal in the US? — Dane D
McGuire has just edited the NHL draft for Sportsnet (Canada). I think he’s much more likely to end up with a Canadian broadcasting job. However, I could imagine him doing a hockey podcast for a well-known US sports media brand.
Every baseball fan hates having their team’s game broadcast on national television. It used to be prestigious, but now it’s often so bad that you mute the sound and try to sync the TV to the team’s radio show. Do MLB executives know this, and if so, do they care? — John H.
I haven’t read any positive comment online about MLB streaming on Apple and Peacock. How do you hear how the league feels so far? I understand the streaming platform is the future, but MLB isn’t the NFL. You must be a diehard to look for it online. Just a few thoughts now that we are in mid season. —Brian W.
I don’t think EVERY fan hates this, but I think the league executives have essentially given the fan base a middle finger by selling their national inventory to so many media partners. If you’re a baseball fan who wants to watch every national game, you need to subscribe to ESPN, FS1, MLB Network, Apple TV+, Turner Sports, Peacock, and YouTube TV. Ridiculous. I think MLB is happy to have a relationship with the streaming companies because they know the potential for long-term money.
Is there an advantage for NBC in the (Big 10) negotiations since the (Big 10) covets Notre Dame, which has such a strong relationship with NBC? – Matt C
How does the future possibility of adding additional teams as the conference realigns affect the Big Ten’s negotiations on their media rights deal? For example, if Notre Dame were to join in a few years, will the contract/payout be changed, existing teams just take less, etc.? In the latter case, payouts are fixed and existing teams take less as new members join, as well as the likelihood that conference membership will change significantly in just a few years. Does this provide an incentive for shorter media contracts? — Colin K
The Athletic’s Pete Sampson addressed the calculus of Notre Dame joining a conference, as did The Athletic’s staff, including granting rights to the ACC. Would NBC Have an Advantage in the Big Ten Negotiations? Unless Notre Dame says they won’t join the Big Ten in football unless NBC gets involved, I don’t think so, and why on earth would they say that?
Do you think college football’s conference rebalancing will have a significant long-term impact on television viewership? — Jonathan C.
Most certainly. I think viewership at the non-Power 2 conferences will take a significant dip outside of the off-conference matchups against Big Ten or SEC schools. Conversely, I expect the expansion of the CFP playoffs to be all but certain and that will bring viewers between 10 and 20 million viewers for these early round playoff games. The two superconferences are designed to be highlighted in the best linear television time slots, and there are only a limited number of these linear time slots that exist.
What is the business reason for not making a game-only sound option (no commentators) for sports streaming? I only see it in biathlon, but I’d like to see it in the NHL or NBA. —Michael S.
The business reason is that most people have shown over and over again that they prefer speakers. It hasn’t been monetized where outlets consistently would.
Does the fact that the color analysts for two of ESPN’s top products (Saturday Night College Football and “Sunday Night Baseball”) have additional announcing jobs (Amazon and YES) say anything about how Disney views ESPN as long-term ownership? — Joshua G.
Honestly, it just tells me that Kirk Herbstreit and David Cone – and their talent agents – enjoy money and work. It also says that Amazon (for Herbstreit) and ESPN (for Cone) were smart to go after well-respected announcers who were signed elsewhere and figured out a way to make this work.
In addition to his regular ESPN college football duties, Kirk Herbstreit will join Amazon as an NFL analyst for Thursday Night Football. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)
Who is your favorite person you have ever interviewed? And who have you not interviewed yet but are dying to? —James P
That’s a really tough question because I’m incredibly fortunate to have worked for Name Places, which has allowed me to meet some very interesting and well-known people. I conducted a one-on-one interview with Pelé in a private screening room at the Museum of Modern Art. That was very cool. I was part of a group of journalists interviewing Mikhail Gorbachev in his office in Moscow. Very memorable. I interviewed Heidi Klum in Lower Manhattan when she was being painted by Joanne Gair, a famous New Zealand makeup artist. Again quite memorable. Someone I would love to interview but probably never will? MichelleObama.
How much of an impact does Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson have on ratings compared to the TNT crew of (Charles Barkley), Shaq, Ernie (Johnson) and Kenny (Smith)? I have to imagine if TNT had the NBA Finals, the ratings would really boom even more. I keep reading about how Van Gundy and Jackson are ruining the game and even the halftime show for ESPN is beyond repair. Any thoughts on this? – The giant
What do you think the future of national commentary teams is for the NBA? A lot of fans really don’t seem to like many of the main national commentators. —David S
apples and oranges. Inside The NBA is a cable sports studio show that airs before and after games. The viewer universe is millions smaller than an NBA Finals game on ABC. If TNT aired the NBA Finals, viewership would be lower because the reach would be smaller. Has nothing to do with broadcasters. Well, as always, the channels you like are subjective. I think ESPN’s NBA game broadcasters are generally very strong, and I consider Mike Breen to be as good as any NBA play-by-play caller in history. The ESPN/ABC NBA Finals halftime show is miles behind Inside The NBA for me as a viewer. But that has been the case for a long time.
Who do you think will end up on Sunday Ticket? — Trento W.
See the point below in “The Ink Report”.
F1 TV ratings in the US have soared in recent years thanks to the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive. The group behind this documentary, Box to Box Films, is now producing one centered around the Tour de France. Where would a TV ratings surge similar to F1 leave pro cycling in the US TV sports hierarchy? What other sport would you like to see similar treatment in? — Clark E.
If professional cycling could match the viewership that Formula 1 now achieves – which consistently tops a million race-day viewers – it would be game-changing for the sport. You’d get a nice media rights deal. For context, the Tour de France drew 1.05 million viewers on NBC for the penultimate stage of the 2019 race, the largest live audience for the event since 2013 (1.08 million). But that’s an outlier number. The entire race in 2019 averaged 359,000 viewers on NBC and NBCSN. Last Sunday, USA Network coverage of the Tour de France averaged 347,000 viewers. I think Formula 1 is a much more attractive TV sport in the US than cycling because F1 stars are far better known than cycling stars. Here is The Athletic’s introduction to this year’s tour.
What would be your ideal tennis commentary team? — Shaun D
A combination of Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Mary Carillo, with Carillo serving as the play-by-play persona. Agassi and Roddick are the best I’ve heard when doing broadcast analysis. If you want a traditional tennis caller, add Chris Fowler or Ian Eagle.
Will Toronto Ever Win a Playoff Hockey Round? — Aaron M.
The Ink Report
1. I spoke to ESPN Director/Producer Russell Dinallo and Host/Reporter Jeremy Schaap this week about an amazing E:60 documentary the two ESPN employees worked on together. They (and also editor Lauren Saffa) tell the story of Barry Bremen, a Detroit-area novelty salesman who was known as “The Great Imposter” in the late 1970s. Bremen has pulled off a number of high-profile sports pranks, including going onto the pitch at the 1979 NBA All-Star Game to play with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone and Dr. J on the court shooting layups and bringing down baseball’s 1979 All-Star Game to Shag flies in the outfield for 30 minutes and poses as the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader at a Cowboys Washington game. The stunts landed him on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The David Letterman Show and The Today Show. This may interest you : The best video games are also books, such as magic and 80 days. Bremen died of cancer in 2011, but that’s where the story begins in many ways. More than three dozen people have now learned through a sperm donation that Bremen is their biological father. Through genetic testing and the painstaking efforts of one of the children to trace their parentage, they found out about each other – and about Bremen. The Great Imposter and Me debuts July 12 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and will be available for on-demand streaming on ESPN+. Here’s our conversation.
2. The MLB draft has never had the cache of the NFL, NBA, and NHL drafts, but the MLB network has invested significant resources in producing a ton of content over the past several years. The first 80 picks of the 2022 MLB Draft will air Sunday at 7 p.m. on MLB Network from Los Angeles. ET. MLB.com will stream Day 2 (Monday) and Day 3 (Tuesday) starting at 2 p.m. ET. On-air talent includes Greg Amsinger (Host), Dan O’Dowd (Analyst), Harold Reynolds (Analyst), Carlos Collazo (Baseball America), Jim Callis (MLB Pipeline), Jonathan Mayo (MLB Pipeline) and Scott Braun (host), Lauren Gardner (reporter), UCLA head coach John Savage and Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello.
Last year I wrote about how MLB Network Coordinating Producer Marc Weiner approaches MLB draft production. As the contact for his station’s coverage, Weiner is tasked with producing a television show where the majority of his viewers are unfamiliar with the selections. In many cases, MLB network analysts, moderators and reporters introduce first-time draft picks to fan bases across the country, particularly those selected after the first round.
3. Roger Goodell told CNBC last week that the “Sunday Ticket” package will be moving to a streaming service. The decision is expected by autumn. CNBC, Apple, Amazon and Disney/ESPN+ have reportedly all submitted bids to become the league’s exclusive Sunday Ticket retailer. Goodell also told CNBC that the NFL will launch its own streaming service called NFL+ for the upcoming season. When it comes to fruition, expect plenty of NFL movie content to begin with.
• WWE’s Vince McMahon agreed to pay four women $12 million in hush money. By Joe Palazzolo, Ted Mann and Joe Flint of The Wall Street Journal.
• Browns, Baker Mayfield and trying to figure out where it all went wrong. By Jason Lloyd of The Athletic.
• From NFL QB to mushroom farmer: Jake Plummer’s life-changing journey into the mushroom kingdom. By Parker Gabriel of USA Today.
• Via The Athletic’s Tim Britton: 17 stories of Keith Hernandez’s impact on the Mets as a player, captain and host.
• College football has been betrayed by the adults charged with protecting it. By Sally Jenkins in the Washington Post.
• The WNBA announces major changes to the All-Star Game, but familiar fan frustrations remain. By Chantel Jennings of The Athletic.
• What happened to Andrew Luck? Our new series looks at his rise to his shocking retirement. By Zak Keefer of The Athletic.
• How Istanbul became the global hair transplant capital. By Alex Hawkins of GQ.
• Elon is outside. By Matt Levine of Bloomberg.
• “Our babies see people getting shot while they’re in a playground and there’s no counseling,” said a South Side resident. By Robert Klemko of the Washington Post.
• The women who built grunge. By Lisa Whittington-Hill for Longreads.
• “Dad, that’s it. She’s dead’: Another losing day in Ukraine. By Cara Anna and Mstyslav Chernov of Associated Press.
• Putin’s war was never about NATO. By Natalia Antonova of Foreign Policy.
• The good news: Johnson is on his way out. The bad news: look who’s on the way. By Marina Hyde of Guardian.
• Cassidy Hutchinson kept her manhood cheap. By Tim Miller of The Bulwark.
• Teachers go to the “stupidest colleges” – who said that and why does it matter? By Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post.
• He had a dark secret. It changed his best friend’s life. By Sam Dolnick for The New York Times.
• Uber has broken laws, duped police and secretly influenced governments, a leak reveals. By Harry Davies, Simon Goodley, Felicity Lawrence, Paul Lewis and Lisa O’Carroll from The Guardian.
• James Caan was unlike any other leading actor. By Alan Siegel of The Ringer.
• One day after Shinzo Abe’s assassination, people are asking, “Why did this happen in Japan? By Miho Inada and Alastair Gale of The Wall Street Journal.
• The lottery attorney gained his trust and then lost his mega-millions. By Simon van Zuylen-Wood of Bloomberg Businessweek.
• The piece I remembered most this week: She died in a Manhattan penthouse but was buried on an island for the poor. By Mary Jordan of the Washington Post.
(Photo above: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)
How can I watch the Big Ten Network for free?
Big Ten Network’s TV Everywhere service is now part of Fox Sports. To watch live streaming of television games airing on Big Ten Network, FOX or FS1, please visit FoxSports.com or download the Fox Sports App. To watch live streaming of non-televised matches, please visit B1G+.
What is the cheapest way to get the Big Ten Network? Check out Big Ten Network with Sling If you’re looking for the cheapest way to stream Big Ten Network, Sling could be your best bet. Read also : PETER DRURY JOINS NBC SPORTS AS A KEY COMMENTATOR IN THE Premier League.
Can I Stream Big Ten Network online?
Big Ten Network’s TV Everywhere service is now part of Fox Sports. To watch live streaming of television games airing on Big Ten Network, FOX or FS1, please visit FoxSports. To see also : Games in the Metaverse: Key Ideas | ArentFox Schiff – JDSupra.com or download the Fox Sports App.
How can I watch the Big Ten online for free?
Watch BTN for free
- DIRECTV STREAM – Offers a 5-day free trial.
- Vidgo – Offers a 1-week free trial.
- FuboTV – offers a 1-week free trial.
- YouTube TV – Offers a one-week free trial.
Can you get BTN Plus for free?
Customers can watch soccer and even less popular events like wrestling or women’s hockey. Die-hard fans have been wondering if Big Ten Plus offers a free trial period. The short answer is no. However, if you’re a paying cable or streaming subscriber, you might be able to get a free trial of Big Ten Plus or Big Ten Network.
How do I watch Big Ten Network on Hulu?
Watch Big Ten Network Network online | Hulu (Free Trial) Watch Big Ten Network with any Hulu plan starting at $6.99/month. For new subscribers only. No hidden fees, equipment rentals or installation appointments.
Is Big Ten Network on any streaming service? Big Ten Network’s TV Everywhere service is now part of Fox Sports. To watch live streaming of television games airing on Big Ten Network, FOX or FS1, please visit FoxSports.com or download the Fox Sports App. To watch live streaming of non-televised matches, please visit B1G.
Can I get BTN on Hulu?
Hulu Live TV subscribers can watch college football games on ESPN, ABC, BTN, FOX, FS1, CBS, and SEC ESPN Network.
Can you watch Big 10 Network on Hulu?
You don’t need a cable to watch The Big Ten Network (BTN). You can watch BTN through any of the following streaming services: Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Vidgo, and DIRECTV STREAM.
Is BTN plus on Hulu live?
BTN does not broadcast football matches. To broadcast soccer games live for Cable Cutters, you must have access to a streaming service such as the Fox Sports App, Hulu Live, ESPN, or the network that is broadcasting the game. BTN provides access to football match replays.
What channel number is the Big Ten Network?
BTN HD is on channel 610.
Where can I find the Big Ten Network? The Big Ten Network is available across North America through satellite providers like DIRECTV, DISH Network and Shaw Direct (Canada), telcos like Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse, and via cable in 22 of America’s top 25 media markets.
How can I watch BTN on my TV?
You can watch BTN through any of the following streaming services: Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Vidgo, and DIRECTV STREAM. The network features games from the Big Ten Conference and original programs that highlight what’s going on at these campuses.
What channel is the Big Ten channel on?
Big Ten Network is on DISH channel 410. The Big Ten Network’s biggest games air on DISH channel 410. More than 650 events are televised from the conference each year, including dozens of championship events. Channel 405 is also where you can watch match analysis and college town culture.
What channel is Big 10 Network on Xfinity?
Editor’s Note: The Big Ten Network is on channel 1313. While many residents may not have noticed, Comcast removed the Big Ten Network from its cable offering in Southwest Florida in April, limiting it only to states with Big Ten universities.
Who’s in the Big Ten Conference? The east consists of Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Rutgers, while the west includes Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin.
What schools belong to the Big Ten Conference?
The Big Ten universities are the Universities of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, MINNESOTA, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, as well as Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and Rutgers.
Why is it called the Big 10 conference?
The conference uses the character combination “B1G” in its branding, noting that it “allows fans to see ‘BIG’ and ’10’ in a single word.” The Big Ten member institutions are predominantly large, flagship research universities that have large financial resources and are academically respected.
What is the Big 10 called now?
| Big Ten Conference | |
|---|---|
| members | 14 2 affiliated members (2 future members in 2024) |
| sports advertised | 28 men: 14 women: 14 |
