Economist Podcasts Field of streams: sports viewing changes
10 snips
Jul 26, 2024 
In this discussion, Tom Wainwright, The Economist's media editor, and Oliver Carroll, the publication's Ukraine and Russia correspondent, delve into the evolving landscape of sports viewership, emphasizing the shift towards streaming for events like the Olympics. They also tackle the alarming case of journalist Evan Gershkovich, shedding light on Russia's justice system and international diplomatic tensions. Lastly, they engage with the viral phenomenon of Kamala Harris as a 'brat,' exploring how social media shapes political narratives today.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Sports as Media Glue
- Sports programming is crucial for media companies, consuming a significant portion of their content budgets.
- Live sports are a key driver of cable subscriptions, which remain a major profit source for these companies.
Balancing Act
- Broadcasters face a dilemma: moving sports to streaming attracts younger audiences but risks cannibalizing cable profits.
- They're trying to balance enticing viewers to streaming while retaining cable subscribers.
Streaming Shift
- The next year or two will see major sports content shift to streaming as ESPN and Netflix enter the game.
- Netflix, initially hesitant, is now pursuing live sports rights due to its advertising tier's need for large, simultaneous audiences.