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.

John Ourand • December 20, 2024

The NBA’s Long December

With aging and often injured stars—and competition from an ever-expanding NFL schedule—the NBA is struggling to find an early-season audience. Will Christmas deliver for the league this year?

John Ourand • December 17, 2024

Stephen A.-ology & Bristol Postpartum

Matthew Berry, the fantasy football purveyor and former ESPNer, talks candidly about “needle-movers,” the Bristol star system, the changing nature of talent deals, and building Fantasy Life.

John Ourand • December 13, 2024

ESPN Prepares the Deion Playbook for Belichick

For the past two seasons, Fox executives cashed in by betting on Deion Sanders’ ratings potential. Now ESPN, which has rights to the ACC, will run the same play with Belichick’s Tar Heels.

John Ourand • December 10, 2024

The Zaz Shocker & The Reinsdorf Mess

News and notes on the latest deal intrigue consuming the sports media industrial complex: Brian Roberts’ surprisingly generous deal for Zaslav’s cable networks and the simmering R.S.N. warfare in the Second City.

John Ourand • December 6, 2024

Stephen A. Backs Up the Brink’s Truck

The true value of Stephen A. Smith’s soon-to-be historic ESPN deal isn’t the $20 million annual salary or the half-decade term. Rather, it’s what’s not included.

John Ourand • December 3, 2024

Stream Weavers

As they play chicken with their valuable sports content, legacy media companies are projecting out customer behavior, the future of A.V.O.D.s, cash management, and the decline of cable. Michael Nathanson tries to game it all out.

Baratunde Thurston • November 25, 2024

BradyGPT

A head-spinning conversation with Puck’s John Ourand about how A.I. is personalizing live sports, supercharging prop betting, and helping broadcasters go global. Could A.I. commentators be next?

William D. Cohan • November 24, 2024

The Legend of the Celtics L.B.O.

The true story of how Wyc Grousbeck, perhaps the least well-capitalized owner in sports, had the chutzpah to buy the Celtics in one of the greatest deals in modern sports history.

John Ourand • November 22, 2024

About That Tyson-Paul Netflix Number…

The broadcast guys are calling bullshit on Netflix’s Tyson-Paul ratings. But Nielsen isn’t unbiased, either. Alas, as streaming reorients the industry toward self-reported data, the only constant is that nobody’s numbers really add up.