Episode 117: NBA, NFL, Al Michaels, Shohei Ohtani and Karp’s Korner
Dec 13, 2023
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Sports commentator Al Michaels joins hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand to discuss NBA rights, the NFL's decision to flex a game into 'Monday Night Football,' and controversy surrounding inaccurate reports about Shohei Ohtani's free agency. They also feature Austin Karp's analysis of the NBA's In-Season Tournament and the NFL's regular season success.
The NBA's in-season tournament showed strong TV ratings, exceeding expectations and generating higher interest and viewership, positioning it as a potential tentpole event for the league in the future.
CBS has become a strong contender in viewership for the Sunday afternoon time slot by cross-flexing games and featuring NFC teams, challenging the notion that NFC games always attract higher viewership and emphasizing the importance of putting the best games in the best time slots.
Deep dives
Impressive TV Ratings for NBA's In-Season Tournament
The first season of the NBA's in-season tournament showed strong TV ratings, with the championship game drawing 4.6 million viewers. The numbers were comparable to a playoff game and exceeded expectations for raising awareness of the league's regular-season games. The tournament successfully generated higher interest and viewership, especially in the November time slots, despite competing with college and professional football. The numbers reflect a positive start for the tournament and suggest that it could become a tentpole event for the NBA in the future.
CBS Sees Strong Ratings for Sunday Afternoon Games
CBS has been performing well in the Sunday afternoon time slot, outpacing Fox and becoming a strong contender in viewership. Traditionally dominated by Fox due to NFC team match-ups, CBS has gained an advantage by cross-flexing games and featuring NFC teams in its schedule. The better ratings for CBS have also been attributed to showcasing high-profile quarterbacks in their games, as well as improved match-ups overall. This development challenges the notion that NFC games always attract higher viewership and highlights the importance of putting the best games in the best time slots.
Dodgers' Media Deal Provides Financial Security Amid RSN Troubles
The Los Angeles Dodgers' media deal with Charter Communications has shielded the team from the financial challenges faced by regional sports networks (RSNs). Charter is obligated to pay $334 million per year to the Dodgers, regardless of subscriber numbers. This arrangement ensures a stable revenue stream for the team, even if RSN revenues decline due to cord-cutting. The Dodgers' unique partnership with Charter demonstrates how long-term agreements and innovative structures can safeguard teams from the impact of changing media consumption habits.
John Morosi's False Report Highlights the Importance of Accurate Reporting
John Morosi's inaccurate report on Shohei Otani's potential deal with the Toronto Blue Jays serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate reporting and providing context. Morosi's report lacked the necessary context and led to speculation and confusion among fans. This incident emphasizes the need for reporters to verify information and understand the implications of their reporting. It also highlights the challenges faced by baseball writers and the pressure to deliver accurate news in a fast-paced news cycle.
On this episode of the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media podcast, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand offer their best projections about who will wind up with NBA rights. Marchand & Ourand also give a behind-the-scenes account of what actually transpired when the NFL decided to flex a game into “Monday Night Football.”
Marchand gives all the information surrounding his scoop that NBC will use Ian Eagle – and not Al Michaels – in the booth for one of its NFL playoff games. The hosts discuss the controversies around inaccurate reports about Shohei Ohtani’s free agency, including one from MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, who mistakenly reported that Ohtani was on a plane to Toronto. Ourand talks about how the most team-friendly RSN deal in the country allowed the Dodgers to afford Ohtani’s monster contract. SBJ’s
Austin Karp joins for another installment of Karp’s Korner, where he talks about the television success of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament and the NFL’s regular season. As always, Marchand and Ourand tell listener’s who’s up and who’s down in sports media this week.
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