Playfly’s CEO explains why leagues are looking to consolidate local sports rights
Local sports rights have gotten more complex and confusing as the regional sports network business changed. The leagues are now looking to simplify that offering.
Craig Sloan, CEO of Playfly Sports, explains the rationale behind sports leagues seeking to consolidate local sports rights. The decline of regional sports networks, fueled by cord-cutting and a drop in cable and MVPD penetration below 40% of all TV homes, has left sports fans facing difficulties in watching their favorite local baseball, hockey, or basketball teams.
This confusion, Sloan asserts, could potentially result in decreased ratings and challenges in securing ad revenue for these teams. However, Sloan remains optimistic, highlighting the continued robust ad marketplace for sports as the primary content driving sales at this year's upfront marketplace. Sloan further predicts that the growth of streaming will further elevate its share of sports viewership, as linear TV faces an ongoing erosion of its audience.
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