Each week we take a look at the world of the Irish and international sports media, the stories, the numbers and the organisations that are, more than ever before, our window on the world of sport…
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KENTUCKY DERBY SHOWS BOUNCE BACK OF SPORT ON TV
The ‘Run for the Roses’ as the Kentucky Derby is known was back on the first Saturday in May last weekend and back in favour with the TV and streaming audience.
An average viewership of 14.4 million was not quite at the 2010 highpoint of NBC’s 15.2 million but it was well ahead of last year’s Covid postponed race held in September. The importance of being front of mind for a particular weekend is well understood in sport and so it proved again. The 2020 figure was almost one third off the pace at 9.26 million.
Added to a crowd of 51,838, the biggest in a year at any US sports event, it was a positive return to near normal for Churchill Downs.
140,000 streamed the race live while the viewing peak cam in the 15 minutes during which the race was run, hitting a high of 15.7 million.
As an indicator of the value of sport to a big media concern like NBC, US ad industry experts estimated the ad sales during the programme were worth $35 million.
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GAELIC GAMES BACK ON SCREEN
RTÉ, TG$ and eir Sport have revealed their strong line ups of sporting action to get the Allianz Leagues underway this weekend.
TG4 will show 25 games live over the next six weeks with four on the opening weekend, including Cork Vs Waterford from Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
RTÉ have revealed their first three weekend games with two hurling and one football in the first three weeks as well as the return of The Sunday Game with all highlights.
eir Sport will see out the final year of its contract with a total of ten games including Dublin at home to Kilkenny on the opening day on Saturday.
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JOIN US FOR STREAMING SPORT IN 2021
Our next Sport for Business Conference which will look in-depth at the world of Sports Streaming.
No single factor has emerged as a bigger opportunity for sport, and a bigger positive for fans than the growth of awareness of what streaming is capable of.
From professional leagues to local clubs, streaming technology has democratised the ability to deliver live sporting content to audiences at local and global level.
On the morning of Thursday, May 27th we will look under the covers of what the streaming revolution will mean for sporting bodies, sponsors, fans and media companies.
Each of the four conferences we have hosted this year has attracted strong audiences of hundreds of sporting and business leaders from across Ireland and around the world.
Sport for Business Streaming Sport in 2021 will be the same.
We will be announcing our line up of subjects and speakers over the coming days and weeks but you can reserve your spot by registering at the link below.
REGISTER TO JOIN US, FREE IF YOUR ORGANISATION IS A MEMBER OF SPORT FOR BUSINESS
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VERIZON MEDIA SOLD TO PRIVATE EQUITY
Verizon Media has been one of the biggest names in sports streaming including as a partner of the NFL in a $2 Billion deal running to the end of the 2022 season.
It has now been sold by its parent company to Appolo Global Management for a sum understood to be in the region of $5 Billion.
Verizon Media will be rebranded under the Yahoo Sports banner.
What impact this has on the expansion of streaming as a mainstream source of media rights is anybody’s guess but it will certainly not be a dampener.
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INDIAN CRICKET LOSSES WILL BE HUGE
The postponement of the Indian Premier League in Cricket, which we reported in our Return to Stadia Column yesterday will have a major impact on the flow of media rights.
No decision has been made yet on whether the tournament could be revived and completed later this year but players have been sent home as the country struggles with a surge of Covid-19 infections and deaths.
It seems insensitive to speak about money in such circumstances but when the numbers are so big it cannot be ignored. The contract which Star Sports has to broadcast the League is worth almost $500 Million each year and it is almost certain that a substantial rebate will be due. Whether this creates additional money that can be invested elsewhere is uncertain.
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PODCAST OF THE WEEK
Eamon Dunphy got part of the old RTÉ gang back together last week, well Didi Hamann and himself, to have an acerbic look at the hot mess that was the European Super League. He followed up by having Richard Fitzpatrick on to look at the influence of Florentino Perez, the successful businessman and President of Real Madrid.
“It is absolutely absurd that we should have a 74-year-old Billionaire telling us we should shorten football matches and purporting to represent the voice of a young generation of fans,” said 75-year old Dunphy in typically flying form.
RTÉ, Sky Sports, OTB, TG4, Nemeton TV, TVM, Iris Productions, Pundit Arena and Balls.ie are among the more than 250+ members of the Sport for Business network of sporting and business organisations working together across a number of key areas.
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