1) Can anybody right the ship at Pinkham United?
Kudos to the FT and Ankura; this is a great way to do native content. The ‘Can you run a Premier League football club?’ game is doing the rounds on most of the older-skewing social networks. As if you didn’t know, it’s quite a difficult job; but this gamified approach to explaining Premier League financial rules should (might!) bring a greater general understanding of the plight of a football leader.
2) Does anyone fancy running the World Rally Championship?
The commercial promotion rights are up for grabs again.
3) What’s the biggest story nobody’s really talking about this week?
India’s out-of-the-blue and under-the-radar ban on gambling is an enormous development and has left Indian cricket administrators scrambling.
4) Have we reached the end of the exclusivity era?
Simon Denyer is characteristically brainy but plain-speaking (brain-speaking?) on a recent episode of the Unofficial Partner podcast. His PEAK Sport Media agency was behind LaLiga’s recent round of international media sales, which included an eye-catching deal with Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger podcast production company. Explaining PEAK’s approach, Denyer describes a new and vibrant media landscape that includes multiple and various types of media rights buyers (including the podcast platforms and influencers who have bought all sorts of rights in Brazil, and LaLiga and Bundesliga rights in the UK). With consumption patterns fragmented across different consumer demographics, there is little value in the old school exclusive media deal. Instead, there is more value to be had in identifying the precise requirements of multiple media partners and distributing rights across a broad range of partners. In today’s media era, a broader base of partners means a higher peak of value (if you will).
5) Is it just new rights buyers we should be getting excited about?
Well, no. It’s time to double down on that enthusiasm, competition fans, because it’s also the sports production space which is seeing an influx of interesting new entrants. Omaha Productions, not exactly new but certainly part of the new wave of storytelling specialist sports production houses, is bringing some Manningcast-style magic to a sponsored segment around the upcoming Ryder Cup, while Hungry Bear Media, the producer behind Gladiators and Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, is producing the NFL coverage for Paramount-owned Channel 5’s new free-to-air programme in the UK. (Also, FAO Channel 5 Director of Programming Ben Frow: if there’s somewhere I can get my hands on one of those Channel 5 varsity jackets, I’m all ears).
6) I’m really regretting those Whatsapp messages I sent last night; can I legally be held to them?
If DAZN’s experience sub-licensing rights in South Korea is anything to go by, yes you can.
7) Who is the best hire of the week?
I’ve harped on about charisma and magnetism in leaders in this newsletter before. In my opinion, there are only a select handful of leading executives in sports/entertainment/media who have that special sprinkling of je ne sais quoi; that focus, warmth and clarity that make them compelling beyond the words they speak or the decisions they take. Jeremi Gorman, officially the new CRO of Fanatics’ new advertising division as of this week, is one of those people. She’s a blast and a superb appointment.
8) Is Netflix the world’s biggest sports broadcaster?
According to IMG President Adam Kelly, it could easily be defined as that. Personally, I think Kelly’s session alongside Netflix’s sports honcho Brandon Riegg could well end up being defined as the best session at Leaders this year.
9) What’s the best way to launch an app?
This thread, by a former CBS digital leader, on the triumph of ESPN’s recent app launch is worth bookmarking.
