Is Netflix Strategy Anti-ESPN?

The Athletic Says Netflix’s Programming Strategy Makes Them “Anti-ESPN”

January 23, 2025

As Netflix Stock Surges, an ‘Anti-ESPN’ Sports Strategy Emerges
The Athletic’s Dan Shanoff report: “Market research firm Antenna estimated that Netflix drove more than 650,000 new subscribers in the days surrounding the NFL games. According to Antenna, the Paul-Tyson fight drove more than 1.4 million subscription sign-ups.

“The company laid out its sports programming strategy in its letter to shareholders released Tuesday:

“‘We’re not focusing on acquiring rights to large regular season sports packages. Rather, our live strategy is all about delivering can’t-miss, special event programming,’ the company said.

“That positions Netflix as a sort of an ‘anti-ESPN.’”
^{The Athletic}

Penske Takes Over Nashville IndyCar Promotions
Penske Entertainment has "taken over the promotions" of the NTT IndyCar Series season finale at Nashville Speedway. The change comes after Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Music City GP promotions team put on the Nashville Grand Prix street race from 2021-23 and "saved the event from being lost" in 2024 when local construction for the new Titans stadium forced a move out of its downtown location.
^{RACER via Sports Business Journal}

ANC to Sell/Service LG Electronics Boards, Beginning With Some NFL, MLB Venues
LG Electronics and ANC are now quietly operating under what the two companies are terming a marketing “alliance,” where the electronic giant’s scoreboards, ribbon boards and other venue hardware systems will be sold and serviced by ANC in what the two parties termed a "long-term deal.” Their early joint projects included large pending installations in two NFL and MLB venues (deals done within the last six months).
^{Sports Business Journal}

NFL Asked Patriots to Take Down Social Media Account, Kraft Sports VP Says
The New England Patriots are very active on all social media platforms. As Nick O’Malley of Masslive writes, “However, they’re not on Bluesky, a rising competitor to X that’s gained steam in recent months. But it’s not for lack of trying, according to the head of the team’s internal content team.”

“Right now we’re not allowed to,” the vice president of content for the Kraft Sports + Entertainment group Fred Kirsch said during a recent episode of the ‘Patriots Unfiltered’ podcast. “We had an account briefly on Bluesky but the league asked us to take it down because it’s not an approved social media platform for the NFL yet.”
^Masslive

NBC Officially Names Mike Tirico Lead Announcer for its NBA Coverage
NBC announcer Mike Tirico, who called NBA games for 15 seasons on ESPN from 2002-2016, is returning to the NBA as NBC Sports' lead play-by-play voice when its coverage of the league begins with the 2025-26 season this October. Tirico, who is also the lead play-by-play voice of "Sunday Night Football" and the host of NBC's Olympic coverage, is expected to work one or more games per week once the network's coverage of the NFL and Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games conclude in February 2026.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Justin Thomas Sends Memo to PGA Tour Members, Stresses Accessibility in TV Broadcasts
"We're incredibly lucky to have many passionate people tuning in to watch us every week, but let's be honest—this game can feel a little distant at times," Thomas wrote. "The more I think about it, the more I feel us giving more access and insight can make a WORLD of difference.”

While Thomas admits that stepping out of "our comfort zones" isn't easy, research shows that "on-course personality" is the biggest driver for young fans' (18-34) interest in the game.
^Golfweek

Mike Golic, Mike Golic Jr. Leaving DraftKings
Mike Golic and his son, Mike Golic Jr., will reportedly have a new home for their content when their contract expires in 2025. The father-son sports analyst duo is departing the DraftKings Network in the coming months, a DraftKings spokesperson confirmed to Front Office Sports.
^{Front Office Sports}

Jets Hire Lions DC Aaron Glenn As Head Coach
The New York Jets have their next head coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After welcoming Aaron Glenn on Tuesday with the objective of not letting him leave the building until there was an agreement in place for him to take the job, the Jets appear to have succeeded one day later.

Glenn, who recently turned down a Patriots interview, most recently served as defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions and has worked for three other NFL franchises in coaching or scouting capacities before this role, including for the Jets previously as a personnel scout.
^{ESPN via Sports Illustrated}

Raiders to Hire Bucs Assistant GM John Spytek as New GM: Sources
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek as their next GM, according to team and league sources. Spytek has worked for the Bucs since becoming their director of player personnel in 2016.

Spytek will replace Tom Telesco, who was let go along with head coach Antonio Pierce earlier this month after a 4-13 season.
^{The Athletic}

Jacksonville Jaguars Fire GM Trent Baalke a Week Into Head Coaching Search
The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking for a new general manager after firing Trent Baalke, team owner Shad Khan announced Wednesday afternoon. Khan originally decided to stick with Baalke after firing Doug Pederson on Jan 6. But on Wednesday, one of the Jaguars' second-interview candidates for the head coaching position, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, decided to pass on the interview to stay with Tampa Bay.
^{The Florida Times-Union}

Report: Dallas Withdrew 2029 CFP Title Game Bid Due to Hosting Space Concerns
Dallas' decision to withdraw as host the 2029 College Football Playoff championship game was not due to a “scheduling conflict,” according to sources cited by Lia Assimakopoulos of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS via SBJ. Assimakopoulos reported the “primary reason” for withdrawing the bid was “construction on the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center,” which began in June 2024 and is not expected to be completed until 2029. Committee members indicated that they were “concerned there would not be enough space available to accommodate the fan fest associated with the national championship game.”
^{Dallas Morning News via Sports Business Journal}

Ohio State’s Title Isn’t As Simple As $20 Million in NIL
FOS’ Matt Brown writes, “There are a lot of reasons why Ohio State won the first national championship in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff era. It boasted one of the most complete defenses and a balanced offense. It had 1,000-yard running backs and arguably the best wideout room in the country paced by freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. It showed it could win games with both methodical drives and spasms of explosive offense. 

“It’s tempting to boil that all down to the school’s reported ‘NIL payroll’ of $20 million, believed to be near the top in the country.”
^{Front Office Sports}

College Football Season is Over. College Sports Chaos Continues.
The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty writes, “Trump’s second term could have lasting effects on college athletics, an industry feeling sharp growing pains amid prolonged transition. And the title game, won by Ohio State, is that industry’s main event, the best illustration of how two things can be true at once: At the very top, college sports are a moneymaking machine for schools, coaches, sponsors and elite athletes, among others. Yet college sports, from top to bottom, have maybe never had a less certain future, making the coming year critical. Some of that will be directly related to Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress.”
^{The Washington Post}

Sources: SEC, Big Ten to Hold Second AD Meeting to Explore CFP Format Changes and More
The meeting — set for Feb. 19 in New Orleans — comes a week before CFP commissioners meet in Dallas to discuss the future of the playoff, its format and the transition into a post-settlement world with athlete revenue sharing.

Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger writes, “The SEC's and Big Ten’s gathering marks a second step in the budding relationship between two leagues that announced a partnership last spring. Their athletic directors met in Nashville in October, a historic event and one of the first gatherings of two major conference administrators in recent NCAA history.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

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