CBA / Other Hockey Business Stuff

[Knives Out]

I don't know what changed related to NHL.tv but last season it was possible to see the postgame analysis, interviews and stuff. This season, once the game is over, I got a "The game has ended" in my face and that's it.

I do love that since last season we no longer get that annoying and jarringly silent COMMERCIAL BREAK IN PROGRESS during, so now I get to see real american TV in effect!

low low low low

[BigAl]

The Bally app only has commercials about half the time.

[Jason]

[Knives Out]

Never heard of them.

[Troy McClure]

Oh no.

[Troy McClure]

I hope it goes back to CCM.

[Knives Out]

It really is CCM or bust, because the ADIDAS jerseys have been the best I've seen so far.

Hopeful that they become super discounted (like the RBK ones did - which were pure ass) once the new manfacturer starts swinging its dick.

[ScubaSteve]

It'll be Fanatics LOL

[Math]

Yeah, I really like the Adidas ones, their cut are great. Reebok sucked, Koho were okay. So I guess all-in for CCM. Or back to the vintage Ultrafil Maska: my Darcy Wakaluk jersey is the thickest and the heaviest I have but it is perfect to prevent mosquito bites in camping.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

I've never owned a jersey. I'm waiting for them to be sponsored by Uggs.

[ScubaSteve]

Interesting. The Caps have acquired their RSN from NBC. Makes sense for that group since they own the local NHL, NBA, and WNBA franchises. But I wonder what their break even point is for them to start their own Monumental+ streaming service for Caps and Wizards vs. the TV contract money they were previously getting. If they have to charge $50/month, I doubt a lot of people will pay that. This will be an interesting test for the future of sports broadcasting, since obviously the RSN model is failing.

[Jason]

https://awfulannouncing.com/bally/sincl ... -rsns.html

Sinclair reportedly hires investment banks in potential lead-up to sale of Bally Sports RSNs
Sinclair is taking a step that usually leads to a sale.

But a report today from an influential financial service called Reorg Research suggests that a Chapter 11 bankruptcy would be a worst-case scenario for leagues and teams that have deals with Diamond Sports.

In such a scenario, the report says, “Diamond would likely not be required to make ongoing postpetition payments to counterparties under the rights contracts until either the assumption of a particular contract (at which time Diamond would be obligated to cure any past defaults, including nonpayment) or confirmation of a plan (at which time the counterparty would be entitled to payment in full of an administrative expense claim for postpetition value provided to the debtors).”

That means that in Chapter 11, Diamond will be allowed to continue showing games without making payments to teams — even during a long restructuring that takes 18 months. That would be a debacle for the teams and the leagues.

[Troy McClure]

How does this end any way but bankruptcy?

[ScubaSteve]

Sinclair never wanted to get into the RSN game in the first place. They accepted the deal because when Disney was acquiring Fox, the antitrust feds declared that Disney having ESPN plus all regional sports networks would amount to an antitrust violation, so the RSNs had to be carved out of the deal. Sinclair jumped in to take the RSNs (which all lose money) as a "you owe me one" favor to both the feds and Daddy Disney. I was told by a trusted source that their goal from the outset was to wind down, consolidate, and shutter the RSNs as their broadcast rights contracts ended. So like when Bally Houston's deals with the Astros and Rockets, they just won't renew those deals and any remaining assets or smaller deals will be rolled into Bally SW, and there will only be one for all of Texas, with the goal of shuttering and consolidating even further from there. No money will be spent improving broadcasts. They're just running out the clock until they can shutter the whole thing and move on. If they can sell off the whole thing and get out of the RSN game even sooner then I'm sure they're pursuing that, but I can't imagine anyone would want to buy the RSN money pit. But either way, the writing is on the wall for the way regional sports have been broadcast for the past 30-40 years. That's why you see risky ventures like the Caps starting their own streaming service.

For a team like the Stars, a non-trivial amount of their total revenue comes from their broadcast rights deal. If Bally Sports goes into bankruptcy and doesn't have to pay the Stars for 18 months or more but the Stars aren't able to escape that contract and find a new broadcast partner, you're going to see a lot more bitching about money from the fat man.

[Math]

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/346 ... son-begins

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Slippery slope.

Soon enough they will all be like Nascar.

[Jason]

[B Kat]

I had that thought. At least in Detroit a regional could make money. Hope that works out.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

I really can't believe Bally's is the most popular hamburger in that many states.

[Troy McClure]

The cord cutters can now buy streaming access to Stars games.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Nice

[ScubaSteve]

$20/month, huh?

[Troy McClure]

$20/month, huh?

I think their contracts with the cable companies require them to charge a bigger number than what you'd expect to pay for it.

[slaps]

$20/month, huh?

The only other streaming option (legit) is AT&T, which is like $120/month.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Worth it to see Stars greats like John Klingberg.

[wonko80]

I tried DirectTV Stream last season, and it sucked balls just because their interface was terrible. Was $80ish at the time (could be higher now).

[mookie1010]

I tried DirectTV Stream last season, and it sucked balls just because their interface was terrible. Was $80ish at the time (could be higher now).

Same - I think I'll go ahead and pay for the year at this point. The directv stream *poo poo* was really bad. File management and game replays off of the DVR were annoying.

[ScubaSteve]

I was a day 1 DirecTV stream customer when it was called DirecTV Now. The app sucks and is bare bones but it was $35/month when it first came out in like 2017 or 2018. Plus their channel lineup was superior to Youtube or Sling. It was totally worth it at the time, but I bailed when it got up to $65/month. The cost/benefit stopped adding up. I think their cheapest subscription is like $80/month.

[wonko80]

I was a day 1 DirecTV stream customer when it was called DirecTV Now. The app sucks and is bare bones but it was $35/month when it first came out in like 2017 or 2018. Plus their channel lineup was superior to Youtube or Sling. It was totally worth it at the time, but I bailed when it got up to $65/month. The cost/benefit stopped adding up. I think their cheapest subscription is like $80/month.

To get the regional sports you have to be on a higher tier.

[slaps]

AT&T owns DirecTV, in case you’re wondering why it went to *poo poo*.