It's early for this conversation, but considering that there a considerable dearth of activity on this board, I thought it would be an interesting conversation to have. Does anyone want to make any sort of prediction as to where the broadcast rights for the new Seattle NHL team will land? It seems like a fairly linear battle between iheart and Bonneville media, but KIRO AM is king around this region for live sports coverage. How about TV?
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What local broadcast group is likely to pick up the rights to the new NHL team?
- Thread starter fordranger797
- Start date
One word: Cable. Don't expect to see regular season games on broadcast TV. Except if they show up on NBC's network coverage.
That makes sense. Root Sports has been king in this area for local sports coverage. I don't think we've had a local Mariners game air on broadcast TV in this area since 2006...
If the team pays for the talent and owns more than 70% of the radio ad sales, there will just be open bids for broadcast rights. Expect the usual local groups to be in the scrum: KJR (iHeart) and KIRO. SXM won't need to bid individually, because of their deal with the NHL, so they may be the only way to hear games on the 'radio'.
Root or FOX Sports RSN will battle it out for the cable rights.
Either way, with the almost complete loss of sports-related revenue in 2020, the bidding bar will be set pretty low. None of these groups or networks have the ability to go all-in with a blockbuster bid like the old days. There are too many unknowns to make assumptions that by when the first puck is dropped, all sports will be back up to full strength and the virus a distant memory.
Root or FOX Sports RSN will battle it out for the cable rights.
Either way, with the almost complete loss of sports-related revenue in 2020, the bidding bar will be set pretty low. None of these groups or networks have the ability to go all-in with a blockbuster bid like the old days. There are too many unknowns to make assumptions that by when the first puck is dropped, all sports will be back up to full strength and the virus a distant memory.
Root will get it. The others can’t clear all the games. But as Kelly says there are still a lot of unknowns here in early summer 2020.
Very good points. What makes me wonder about the future of this deal: the rights to the Seattle Sounders ended up on KJR after many years with KIRO. Is that a direct result of the budget being used elsewhere (Seahawks, Mariners)? Not to say that iheart automatically has the budget to make a bid on a sports contract, but if they are looking to get back into the live/local sports coverage, it would be an opportunity.
I wouldn't assume the Sounders moving to KJR was purely a budget concern. Stations who carry multiple teams have to weigh the potential for selling ads on any particular sport broadcast with the amount of work around carriage of those broadcasts. Sometimes you have to cut one sports broadcast out, to save the ones who make you the most money. Some of those considerations include things like game overlaps. Since the NFL and MLB season schedules have been turned on their collective heads, trying to get schedules realigned for 2021 will be a challenge. If this pandemic thing continues into 2021, then professional sports schedules will be all out of whack and presenting game conflicts or more cancelled games. Having a contract with a multiple teams presents a problem when the schedules are up in the proverbial air.
I don't know this for sure, but I'll bet that Pro Soccer here in the U.S. probably doesn't garner as large a radio audience as baseball or football. Nor will the ad rates equal what a station could get for spots on traditional MLB, NFL, or NBA games. If that's the case, the choice to not fight for the Sounders broadcast rights, is as no-brainer.
Seattle is as enthusiastic a soccer city as there is in the US, and the Sounders have been very successful. I wouldn't be surprised if the audience and ad rates are more competitive with the Mariners' (not the Seahawks', of course) than you might think. Any verification on this from anyone in market?
I'm not saying the Sounders don't sell tickets. I question the numbers for those listening to the games on the radio. That's what ultimately sets the ad rates.
MLB, NFL and NBA radio broadcasts have a long standing track record of radio. MLS in the U.S., not so long.
Are Sounders games still being aired locally on Joe TV? That would certainly make you wonder about how much ad revenue they pull in.
...I'm more of a pessimist
Naw, nhl will happen...there are too many dollars in play. That said it may indeed be delayed by a year.
It makes me wonder if all sports, not just hockey, will accelerate expansion plans once things settle down (whenever that is). They all have a lot of money to make up, and one way to do that would be to expand. Could we see the NBA return?
The NHL will happen in Seattle. Too much money has been invested for it not to. I too wonder about the NBA, and if they suddenly want to accelerate the process of putting a team in Seattle. We've gone from losing the Sonics to effectively being blackballed by the NBA, and now somehow back on the radar.
As it relates to the NBA, I seriously doubt there will be any expansion opportunities. The Owners would all have to be on board with expansion, and they're not. Sure, they individually would get a piece of the expansion fee pie, but that pales in comparison with what would occur as expansion devalues their team(s).
Remember what Steve Balmer paid for the LA Clippers? Imagine what the Golden State Warriors would be valued at.
While expansion may not happen, I think it is safe to say that relocation is imminent. There are a handful of teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans that may eventually look for a new home. Seattle could be in the conversation, though Las Vegas would probably be the more likely candidate.
Yes, Sounders games are still on JoeTV when ESPN or Fox Sports don't carry them. I believe the broadcasts are self-produced and that the team buys time on JoeTV. Outside of Seattle, these broadcasts were streamed on YouTube TV (in WA) and ESPN+ (outside WA).
Regarding games on the radio, the team went away from a TV simulcast years ago to a dedicated radio production, so I think they value it as an OOH alternative to catch the games. If they can't make a deal with Bonneville or iHeart, they could stream the audio from the website and go without terrestrial. The Oakland A's in MLB were scheduled to do such this year before the pandemic.
Regarding games on the radio, the team went away from a TV simulcast years ago to a dedicated radio production, so I think they value it as an OOH alternative to catch the games. If they can't make a deal with Bonneville or iHeart, they could stream the audio from the website and go without terrestrial. The Oakland A's in MLB were scheduled to do such this year before the pandemic.
It's hard to fathom a time where live sports broadcasting is relegated to online streaming services. The vast majority of the audience of a sports broadcast on terrestrial radio are people in their vehicles.
According to this article, they're having second thoughts about that decision:
https://www.athleticsnation.com/202...ant-rumblings-oakland-as-radio-streaming-cast
Although no deals have been announced yet.
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