Austin Karp
SBJ editor/scribe
- Is the Disney-NFL Media deal going to happen before the season? Two NFL sources tell my SBJ colleague Ben Fischer they’ve received an informal heads up that there may be a special league meeting in August on the topic.
- Full 2-day @nbadraftwass.bsky.social viewership across ABC/ESPN down just 5% from 2024 After 1st round was down 14.5% on Wednesday, Thursday helped rebound. Didnt hurt that 2025 2nd round was in primetime vs. 4-7pm ET in 2024 Overall draft: just under 2.6 million vs. 2.74 million in 2024
- So what do we now know about the future of NBA TV? 🔲 TNT Sports will stop operating NBA TV after September, per source 🔲 NBA will begin operating NBA TV on Oct. 1 🔲 NBA did NOT hold talks with MLB Network about operating NBA TV, per source www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
- ESPN extends media rights deal with the Premier Lacrosse League, becomes equity investor www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
- Streaming > linear TV last month www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
- Blowout? No problem for Women's College World Series audience. Texas' win over Texas Tech on Friday in deciding Game 3 drew 2.4 million viewers across ESPN and ESPNU, marking the best WCWS game audience on record.
- Seeing around 8.91 million viewers for Pacers-Thunder Game 1. And such a good game. 11 million for Celtics-Mavs Game 1 last year. Only 4 NBA Finals series on record have averaged under 10 million (2 amid pandemic; 2 with Duncan’s Spurs) Still won the night among key demos
- NBA Playoff viewership up 3% headed into Pacers-Thunder Finals (across NBA TV, ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TTN, truTV) ESPN networks: +7% TNT networks: +1% www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
- Apple TV is emerging as the leading candidate among streamers to land more MLB rights www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
- Ok Richard, I’m finally here.
