The Powers That Be: Daily Who Needs Sports, Anyway?
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Jun 13, 2025 
John Ourand, an expert on sports broadcasting rights and author of Puck's Varsity newsletter, joins guest host Julia Alexander to dive into the implications of Warner Bros. Discovery's corporate split. They discuss the drop in NBA Finals ratings and its potential link to viewer fatigue. The conversation also highlights the NBA's struggle to nurture new stars following the retirements of legends like LeBron James. With rights negotiations changing, they explore how these shifts affect both traditional and emerging broadcasting platforms.
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WBD's Sports Rights Uncertainty
- Warner Bros. Discovery's sports rights split creates uncertainty about future streaming strategies.
- They might license sports rights to ESPN or Fox, rather than leveraging them on their own streaming platform.
Zaslav's Sports Growth Skepticism
- David Zaslav dismissed sports as a major growth driver for Max, which differs from Peacock and Paramount Plus.
- This reflects WBD's weaker U.S. sports assets compared to competitors with NFL and Olympics rights.
Nielsen Ratings Evolve Rapidly
- Changes in Nielsen's ratings methodology affect how sports viewership is understood.
- Incorporating out-of-home and panel data challenges traditional ratings interpretation.