Sport & Story Daily November 10, 2023

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November 10, 2023

Good morning! The NWSL sealed a historic broadcast deal, setting a record for women’s sports as the league lands partnerships with four companies…

NWSL hits big with historic $240M deal
The future of the National Women’s Soccer League is finalized, as CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps Sports officially announced broadcast deals that will give the league a hefty 40x raise over its current numbers, hitting $240 million in the life of the agreement. The NWSL will begin each regular-season weekend with Friday night matches on Prime Video. Saturdays will include a double-header on Scripps’-owned ION network. A package of regular season matches will air on CBS and stream live on Paramount+, with additional matches airing on CBS Sports Network. ESPN carries a package of matches across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes (Spanish). Read more here.

Tennis Channel, Professional Pickleball Association launch Pickleballtv network
Tennis Channel and the Professional Pickleball Association are launching Pickleballtv (or PBTV), a 24-hour network airing “30 top-level live PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) team events, original programming and a weekly studio news show.” Read more here.

Overwatch League will no longer spawn as teams vote for exit
Five years ago, Overwatch League entered the competitive gaming scene, and now the league is officially ending. The company confirmed that Overwatch esports will transition away from the franchised league model after a majority of team franchises voted to end the league. Esports Insider reports that at least two-thirds of teams voted to exit the league with team owners set to receive a $6 million termination payment from Activision Blizzard. Read more here.

Andre Iguodala named acting executive director of National Basketball Players Association
Recently retired four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala is getting back into the game, agreeing to serve as the new acting executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, replacing Tamika Tremaglio. Tremaglio has been in the role for less than two years, taking over for Michele Roberts in January 2022 and working with the players to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA. Read more here.

LeBron James museum will open Nov. 25 in Ohio
A museum spotlighting the life and career of LeBron James will open its doors this month in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. James’ foundation announced the news yesterday, titled LeBron James' Home Court. The experience will be a self-guided tour looking at his life and including “never-before-seen items along his journey from Akron to the NBA, Olympics, business, philanthropy and beyond.” Read more here.

Ari Emanuel to buy shares in Endeavor-controlled TKO Group Holdings as Vince McMahon sells almost one-third of his stake
Vince McMahon, the longtime former CEO of WWE, is selling nearly one-third of his stake in TKO Group Holdings. The wrestling impresario is unloading 8.4 million shares, which had a market value of around $700 million as of Thursday’s close. Last summer, McMahon was listed as owning 28 million shares in TKO, the newly formed parent of WWE and UFC.
deadline.com

F1 sponsorship’s ‘more sophisticated’ future: unique liveries and dynamic branding
Formula One has fostered a reputation over the past 70 years that makes it so much more than a racing series. Its international reach, covering five continents and 20 countries with races in some of the world’s most glamorous cities, sets it apart from other sporting events. F1’s reputation for big characters with bigger wallets helped it grow into the fastest business in the world through its history.
theathletic.com

UFC and Monaco Cocktails expand partnership with new multi-year agreeement
UFC and Atomic Brands locked in a muti-year expansion of their U.S. marketing partnership that showcases Monaco Cocktail’s line of ready-to-drink beverages within UFC’s biggest events, including Pay-Per-Views, Fight Nights, and the groundbreaking reality series, The Ultimate Fighter. In addition, UFC and Monaco will continue to collaborate on original content that will be distributed through UFC’s digital and social channels.
prnewswire.com

How Bud Light won UFC back: Global ambition meets a worldwide footprint
Bud Light’s partnership deal with UFC last month was a rare win for the beer brand this year, an annus horribilis dominated by a damaging consumer boycott over its collaboration with a transgender influencer. The brewer, which had first sponsored UFC from 2008 until 2017, took back the official U.S. beer rights from Modelo, the same brand that surpassed Bud Light this spring as the top-selling beer in the U.S.
wsj.com

Innovation scrum: Globant and Major League Rugby announce new sports technology deal
Globant announced a new strategic partnership with Major League Rugby that will see Globant serve as the League's exclusive Official Digital Transformation and Tech Solutions Partner.
prnewswire.com

Fox Sports NFL pregame show to originate from the US Air Force Academy on Sunday
This week’s “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show will originate from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, continuing the network’s tradition of going to military installations in honor of Veterans Day. It will feature San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich discussing his love for the academy and his time spent there, Rob Gronkowski parachuting out of a UV-18B Twin Otter aircraft at 11,000 feet live (weather permitting) and a feature by Tom Rinaldi on football player Hunter Brown, who passed away earlier this year.
apnews.com

Chiefs, Cowboys are most-watched NFL teams through first half of 2023 season
The Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys are clearly two of the more polarizing teams that the NFL has to offer. According to Sports Business Daily, the pair have been the most-watched teams in the NFL during the 2023 season.
cbssports.com

Roku Originals and UFC Team Up for New Behind-the-Scenes Docuseries “Fight Inc: Inside the UFC”
Roku and UFC announced plans to bring a three-part Roku Original documentary series titled “Fight Inc: Inside the UFC” to The Roku Channel. “Fight Inc: Inside the UFC” will celebrate three decades of UFC and give viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at pivotal moments during the organization's 30th anniversary year.
ufc.com

ESPN slates special programming ahead of Top Rank World Championship doubleheader
This weekend, ESPN will premiere three special programs ahead of Top Rank’s World Championship Doubleheader: Shakur Stevenson vs. Edwin De Los Santos. Next Thursday, Nov. 16, at 10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30 p.m. PT, Top Rank presented by AutoZone: Stevenson vs. De Los Santos will air live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.
espnpressroom.com

Formula 1 owner Liberty Media calls Las Vegas Gran Prix a “massive undertaking” but says race on the strip will be one of a kind
John Malone-owned Liberty Media is revving up for Formula One’s landmark race on the Las Vegas strip set to unspool with fanfare next weekend. Formula One, a promoter of the race, and owed by Liberty, has been prepping the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Gran Prix for a year, building a 3.8-mile track (6.2 kilometers) that starts at 10 PT Saturday after a weekend of practice and qualifying sessions. It airs on ESPN.
deadline.com

Kansas City Sports Commission announces new pro sports team
The Kansas City metro takes another step toward solidifying a role as a leader in women’s sports. This time it’s by welcoming a women’s pro volleyball team that will soon call Kansas City home. The Kansas City Sports Commission and Pro Volleyball Federation announced the new expansion team Wednesday. The league will begin play in 2024.
kctv5.com

Florida Freedom, new Professional Bull Riding team, established in Florida
Ahead of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams’ third season in 2024, the bull riding league has announced the Florida Freedom, a new team based in Florida. The Florida Freedom had been competing as the Oklahoma Freedom based in Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK, for the league’s first two seasons. The team is relocating to South Florida as the Florida Freedom with their annual homestand to be held in Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL, on August 2-4.
wranglernetwork.com

MLB payroll cuts loom as once-lucrative RSN model sunsets
The dissolution of the legacy RSN model is beginning to have real-world implications for teams that now find themselves without a local TV contract, and while alternative broadcast options abound, at least one MLB club has acknowledged that it’s belt-tightening time.
yahoo.com

Jason Benetti leaving White Sox, signs multiyear deal to be Tigers’ play-by-play announcer
After eight seasons, broadcaster Jason Benetti is leaving the Chicago White Sox and heading to Detroit as the Tigers’ play-by-play announcer. Benetti, 40, signed a multiyear contract with the Tigers, the team said Thursday. He will appear on Tigers broadcasts on Bally Sports Detroit and call at least 127 games each season.
theathletic.com

On This Day in Sports History:
1857: First American Chess Congress is won by Paul Morphy
1934: First NHL penalty shot is awarded to Montreal Canadiens forward Armand Mondou
1983: 'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler retains world middleweight boxing title with a 15-round unanimous points decision over Roberto Durán
1988: Orel Hershiser is a unanimous choice as NL Cy Young Award
1996: Terry Labonte wins 46th NASCAR Sprint Cup

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Sport & Story Daily and Sports & Story College are the sport industry’s daily resource for business news. In addition to serving up exclusive trends, Q&As, and columns, the newsletter connects reads to top platforms and stories from across the sports landscape.

Chris Pursell is the founder of staple industry events such as the Cynopsis Sports Business Awards, the Esports Business Summit, the CMO Exchange, the Tempest Awards, and the Esports Newfronts. He was previously a reporter and editor for publications such as Variety and The Los Angeles Times and launched leading business publications for Cynopsis and PromaxBDA.

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