John Ourand • February 18, 2025

The NBA’s All-Star Hangover

Okay, so everyone hated on the gimmicky round-robin tournament—including Draymond Green on live television—but the stink around the game obscured other successes for the league.

John Ourand • February 14, 2025

ESPN & MLB Play Hardball

The worthies in Bristol are starting to feel that they’re wildly overpaying for Sunday Night Baseball, especially given Apple’s and Roku’s far more frugal deals, and they’re threatening to exercise their out clause. Meanwhile, Netflix, Amazon, and others are warming up in the bullpen.

John Ourand • February 11, 2025

ESPN and the NFL Enter Deal Heat

Once again, ESPN and the NFL are in renewed negotiations for the former to take on the latter’s media assets. What’s changed since the last time these dance partners played footsie? More linear decline, Flagship, and maybe the Draft going up for bidding, too.

John Ourand • February 7, 2025

And on the 18th Game, Goodell Rested

As I’ve previewed before, the NFL commissioner and the league have long fantasized about the billion-dollar possibilities of eliminating another preseason contest and adding an 18th regular season game. Murmurs emanating from New Orleans suggest that the public negotiations have begun.

John Ourand • February 4, 2025

The Secret Culprit in the Luka-A.D. Trade

You’re not going to believe it…

John Ourand • January 31, 2025

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the ACC

ESPN locked down its deal with the ACC, ensuring the league will avoid Pac-12 overreach problems and keep Clemson and Florida State in the fold. But the price ESPN paid proves its sports rights market is not a bonanza for everyone.

John Ourand • January 28, 2025

The Bundle in the Jungle

DirecTV and Comcast are only the latest cable distributors to offer Venu-esque sports-and-news bundles as an antidote to cord-cutting. Michael Nathanson, the renowned media analyst, explains why the industry is on the right track—but still getting the details all wrong.

John Ourand • January 24, 2025

The NFL’s Playoff Slump

Ratings for NFL playoff games are down close to double digits so far this season, a surprising reality that has spawned all manner of business philosophizing—some of it banal, some of it quite sage.

John Ourand • January 17, 2025

Maverick Ball

Maverick Carter, LeBron’s longtime wingman and business partner, shocked the sports world with the news that he was attempting to raise $5 billion to take on the NBA. Is this a new LIV or a basketball F1, or something more quixotic?

John Ourand • January 14, 2025

The Cliff Path Civil War

Greg Rigdon, Comcast’s president of content acquisition and the architect of the dreaded “cliff path” deal for regional sports networks, turns his fire on his own sister stations.

John Ourand • January 10, 2025

Uncut Gem

Diamond Sports Group has emerged from bankruptcy reborn, renamed, and with Norby (!!)—but is it all too little, too late? Plus, news and notes on Liberty and Peacock.

John Ourand • January 7, 2025

Garden & Gun

The showdown between MSG Networks and Altice is leaving fans of the streaking Knicks out of luck and Jim Dolan running out of options. LightShed Partners’ Brandon Ross illuminates the issues and explains how an MSG Networks bankruptcy could play out, including a potential merger with YES.

John Ourand • January 3, 2025

Play It as It Lays

Professional golf is a mess, with competing leagues diluting the talent pool and overstretched PGA Tour tournaments that few are watching. But with a new crop of talent, a pro-merger golf fanatic in the White House, and a new indoor offering, could this year be a turning point?

John Ourand • December 31, 2024

What Moves the Needle-Movers?

Scott Van Pelt and Mike Greenberg on being your own brand C.E.O., the enduring thrill of getting the first shot at a newly crowned champion, and ESPN’s new open-marriage policy.

John Ourand • December 24, 2024

Netflix’s Next Step Toward World Domination

In a surprise move, Netflix has acquired the rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cup, stunning the industry and amplifying expectations about its live sports ambitions.