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ESPN 98.7 FM to be no more come August 31, 2024

Not the same thing as outright ownership of the talent, show, and IP

The leagues control everything with their teams. They can impose blackout rules. The leagues also get spots in their games.
ESPN pays for the broadcast rights. Is it cheaper for them to shut down espn radio and just distribute their content to who ever wants it.
 
ESPN pays for the broadcast rights. Is it cheaper for them to shut down espn radio and just distribute their content to who ever wants it.

Do you know how much they pay for those rights and what the profit margin is? If you don't, then you don't know if it's cheaper.

Do you know what their deal is with GKB? They handle sales of ESPN Radio. They already have a syndicator who distributes their content to whoever wants it. Did you know that? Do you know what that deal is?

Disney knows how much it costs and what is cheaper. It's their company. Maybe they know something you don't.
 
WEPN has been on FM for 12 years and really hasn't profited from that move. They are barely making enough to pay for the LMA. That's why they're letting it go.
The LMA was so badly lopsided in Emmis' favor but it was a drop in the bucket for Disney (didn't they lease WQEW from the NYT for over a decade before they finally bought it?).

Of course GKB is going to look at such a punitive lease and want out as soon as they possibly could, because 1) GKB has a digital-first strategy and 2) they aren't Disney and can't see this as a mere budget line item. Helps that Emmis wanted to go private at the same time.
 
Do you know how much they pay for those rights and what the profit margin is? If you don't, then you don't know if it's cheaper.
Do you know? You may very well be right, but without facts you're on pretty much the same footing as Don CT on this matter.
 
Do you know? You may very well be right, but without facts you're on pretty much the same footing as Don CT on this matter.
If the contracts were public information, they would be shared. You can't provide facts for things that aren't public. Many of the contracts are also part of television rights deals such as MLB, NBA and the college football playoff.

This whole subtangent has nothing to do with the future of 98.7. The decision to end the LMA was made by Good Karma and not ESPN. ESPN exited direct radio station management a few years ago and outsourced all advertising sales for the radio network to Good Karma as well last year.
 
It could be is what I’m saying. If they want out of the radio business but want to produce content. Just produce national games and nothing else. Don’t worry about the talk shows.
Stop it. As multiple people have said, It's NOT happening. They have a contract with Good Karma to produce content for the network and it exists in too many forms to promote the brand. ESPN Radio isn't just a radio network. Its programming is utilized for television simulcasts, podcasts, multiple satellite radio channels and makes the company a lot of money still.
 
What does Westwood one do when no game is on?
Westwood One has a big array of programs it offers.


The games are something a station can opt in on and add to their schedule.
 
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