Sport & Story Daily December 1, 2023

Stay Ahead of the Game

December 1, 2023

Good morning! Monday Night Football just did something they’ve literally never done before.

MNF flex: Chiefs-Patriots out for Eagles-Seahawks in Week 15
The NFL has made its first-ever flex on ESPN's "Monday Night Football," announcing Thursday that the Week 15 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots is out in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles' road game against the Seattle Seahawks (8:15 p.m. ET).

The switch reflects how far the Patriots, once prime-time darlings but 2-9 so far this season, have fallen. The Patriots' game against the Chiefs at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough will now be played that Sunday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. ET (Fox).
espn.com

Arrest warrant issued for Buffalo Bills LB Von Miller for alleged assault of pregnant person
An arrest warrant was issued for Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller on Thursday in Dallas for allegedly assaulting a pregnant person, the Dallas Police Department announced.

According to a police statement, Miller and the alleged victim got into a verbal argument, whereupon Miller allegedly assaulted the victim, based on a preliminary investigation after Dallas police responded to a "major disturbance call" on Wednesday.
nfl.com

NBA Fines Luka Doncic for Flopping; Dallas Mavs Star Responds with Hilarious Practice Costume
Although Luka Doncic had a near-flawless Tuesday night, as he poured in 41 points, nine rebounds and nine assists with zero turnovers in the Dallas Mavericks' 121-115 win over the Houston Rockets, he ended up having to pay a chunk of change for a flop that occurred early in the game.

On Wednesday, the NBA announced that Doncic was assessed a "postgame flopping fine" of $2,000 for a play early in the first quarter where the Mavs' superstar shot a 3-pointer over Rockets' Dillion Brooks while falling down with what appeared to be no contact.
si.com

MLB’s Controversial Running Lane Rule Could Die in 2024
Is the most controversial rule in baseball about to die?

Around this time last year, I wrote how the MLB Joint Competition Committee was exploring ways to simplify or eliminate the running lane to first base. Now, the committee has made a formal proposal that has entered the required 45-day review period. By Christmas, we may have seen the last of the running lane rule as we know it—but not the lane itself.
si.com

NFL's first Black Friday game averages 9.61 million viewers on Amazon Prime Video
The NFL and Amazon Prime Video's first attempt at a Black Friday game ended up being the most-watched game of the day, even though the audience came in lower than what some had estimated.

The Miami Dolphins' 34-13 victory over the New York Jets averaged 9.61 million viewers according to Nielsen. Viewership peaked at 11.18 million from 5-5:15 p.m. EST.

It was Amazon's second-least viewed game of the season, behind the 9.56 million that tuned in for the Chicago Bears' win over the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 9.
yahoo.com

Sports Content Expected to Increasingly Migrate to FAST Channels
Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) usership is growing–fast. Ampere Analysis reported that 37% of U.S. internet users used an AVoD service in Q3 ’22, up from 17% in Q3 ‘19.

The emergence of/growth in internet connected televisions (i.e., distribution), and the increasing costs associated with unbundled content are spurring adoption.

However, much of the programming on digitally native platforms, like Roku, PlutoTV, Xumo and Samsung TV Plus, remains entertainment focused. No major sports or sports media property has allocated live rights to a FAST channel, and few have invested in building out otherwise compelling content offerings for them.

Existing contractual limitations and the need to manage Pay TV affiliate relationships have prevented rights owners from fully embracing the opportunity. Any potential upside has been outweighed by the corresponding risk (think: damaging future rights negotiations).

But as purchasing power—and reach—within the Pay TV universe continue to dwindle, the expectation is rights holders will find a way to get comfortable with sports content living in more places. And FAST channels are expected to be among them.

Read more at JohnWallStreet >>>

Metta and his Artest Management Group will help Sparket drive new partners for its proprietary sports betting platform
Sparket announced today a strategic investment from Metta World Peace. The growing B2B sports betting startup is adding the former NBA champion and his team to its cap table at a time when it's experiencing significant growth, having launched with Red Rock Resorts in June on its STN Play iCasino platform along with a string of recent partnership announcements.
prnewswire.com

NFL reveals announcers schedule for Week 13
A rarity in NFL Week 13 as CBS’ first team of announcers, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson, have the week off after calling games on Thanksgiving and Week 12 Sunday.
yahoo.com

The NBA has ‘hideous’ new courts, yet people are tuning in to watch
From the Chicago Bulls’ bright red courts to the New Orleans Pelicans’ purple and neon green scheme, bold — and highly polarizing — basketball court designs are helping the NBA draw viewers for its first-ever regular season tournament.

The tournament was created as a result of a perpetual problem facing the basketball league. The beginning of the season tends to garner the eyeballs of new and returning fans, and the end-of-season NBA Playoffs to determine the year’s champion tend to have strong ratings. But with an 82-game season, it can be hard to keep fans hooked during the mushy middle, around Christmas and New Year’s Day — especially when the NBA is competing against the NFL and college football season.
cnn.com

J.J. Watt—yes, that J.J. Watt—broke the news of Zach Ertz's split from the Cardinals
J.J. Watt seems to be enjoying his first year of retirement from the NFL. He's certainly kept busy.

He recently began his second year of fatherhood. He and his wife, Kealia, a former professional soccer player, bought an ownership stake in Burnley F.C. – which was recently promoted into the Premier League. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has also donned an analyst's hat for CBS Sports, opining on and explaining the game and league that made him famous.

Thursday, Watt expanded his media exploration by getting the scoop on the release of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, formerly Watt's teammate with the Arizona Cardinals.
usatoday.com

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