{"id":513405,"date":"2022-11-21T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-tnts-posturing-means-for-nbas-future-on-tv\/"},"modified":"2022-11-21T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T11:00:00","slug":"what-tnts-posturing-means-for-nbas-future-on-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-tnts-posturing-means-for-nbas-future-on-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"#What TNT&#8217;s posturing means for NBA&#8217;s future on TV"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2d41943cbeb\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2d41943cbeb\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-tnts-posturing-means-for-nbas-future-on-tv\/#%E2%80%9CWhat_TNTs_posturing_means_for_NBAs_future_on_TV%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;What TNT&#8217;s posturing means for NBA&#8217;s future on TV&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-tnts-posturing-means-for-nbas-future-on-tv\/#Quick_Clicks\" >Quick Clicks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-tnts-posturing-means-for-nbas-future-on-tv\/#Will_Apple_and_MLS_grow_the_game\" >Will Apple and MLS grow the game?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhat_TNTs_posturing_means_for_NBAs_future_on_TV%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;What TNT&#8217;s posturing means for NBA&#8217;s future on TV&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<p>Warner Bros. Discovery CEO <strong>David Zaslav<\/strong> made some noise last week by intimating that Turner Sports might not do a new agreement when its deal with the NBA ends in three years.<\/p>\n<p>This caused my phone to buzz as sports <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> folks <strong>wondered whether, after four decades, Turner and the NBA could be headed toward a breakup<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What Zaslav said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>From The Wall Street Journal\u2019s <strong>Joe Flint<\/strong>:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c<\/em><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JBFlint\/status\/1592510313106374656\"><em>Sports is hard<\/em><\/a><em>.\u201d \u2014 Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on rising costs and ratings challenges. Sports once \u201clifted all the boats.\u201d Says we have favorable deal(s) on March Madness, NHL and baseball playoffs. On NBA he says, \u201cWe don\u2019t have to have NBA.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c<\/em><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JBFlint\/status\/1592510898140479488\"><em>It has to be a deal for the future<\/em><\/a><em>, it can\u2019t be a deal for the past.\u201d \u2014 Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on next NBA rights deal.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-david-zaslav.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"David Zaslav attends NRDC's &quot;Night Of Comedy&quot; Honoring Anna Scott Carter at Casa Cipriani on September 20, 2022.\" class=\"wp-image-24726917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-david-zaslav.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-david-zaslav.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-david-zaslav.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>What he previously said: <\/strong>During a WBD earnings call on Nov. 3, Zaslav spoke about the NBA, and this was a part of it:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWe love the NBA. But we\u2019re going to be disciplined. In the end, if there\u2019s an NBA deal, it\u2019s going to be a deal that\u2019s very attractive for us and very attractive for Adam [Silver, NBA commissioner]. But we have a lot of tools in that we have a lot of sports assets that no one else has. We got a global sports business that nobody else has. And we have a platform, a high-quality platform like HBO Max that could generate 30 million people watching within a short period of time for a great piece of content. Imagine what that could do with sport. And we\u2019ve had very good luck with sport in Europe. So I think it\u2019s an opportunity. We like the NBA, but we\u2019re going to be disciplined. I\u2019m hopeful that we can do something very creative.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>What he\u2019s done: <\/strong>TNT signed <strong>Charles Barkley<\/strong> to a 10-year deal that immediately raised his salary significantly from $10 million per year. TNT also signed the rest of the iconic \u201cInside The NBA\u201d crew to extensions. This was an <strong>indication of TNT\u2019s plans and how much the network wanted to keep the NBA<\/strong>. The language in the Barkley deal, I\u2019ve been told, calls for his contract to be revisited if TNT loses NBA rights, though it is not immediately clear what that would entail.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What Zaslav\u2019s comments mean: <\/strong>They mean something, not everything. I would hone in on these two quotes for real guidance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt has to be a <strong>deal for the future<\/strong>, it can\u2019t be a deal for the past,\u201d Zaslav said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/Charles-Barkley-contract.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Charles Barkley (r.) and Kenny Smith (l.) on TNT during NBA All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 19, 2022.\" class=\"wp-image-24285877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/Charles-Barkley-contract.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/Charles-Barkley-contract.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/Charles-Barkley-contract.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>Charles Barkley and Co. recently signed contract extensions with Turner Sports.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NBAE via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>This suggests Zaslav would like the <strong>NBA to help drive HBO Max sub<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">script<\/a>ions while likely trying to keep Turner\u2019s revenue stream<\/strong>. This is what ESPN is doing in every new deal, securing rights for all of its platforms.<\/p>\n<p>The future for global companies such as WBD is <strong>to try to sell subscriptions globally, which might be what Zaslav is partly thinking<\/strong> when he talks about Turner\u2019s future relationship with the NBA.<\/p>\n<p>ESPN\/Disney, Amazon, Apple and other companies likely will be interested in the same concept. It will cost a lot, and, ultimately, I think the NBA will have more than just two distribution partners. The current partners could slim down their number of cable <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>s. For TNT, think maybe just Thursdays, but not Tuesdays.<\/p>\n<p>There is also the matter of the new in-season tournament that the NBA hopes becomes a thing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-steph-curry.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three-point shot over Jericho Sims #45 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on November 18, 2022 in San Francisco.\" class=\"wp-image-24726919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-steph-curry.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-steph-curry.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-steph-curry.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>Global superstars such as Stephen Curry put the NBA in a good position to negotiate its next set of rights deals, which begin with the 2025-26 season.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Turner will be very active in retaining NBA rights, but there are no guarantees, especially as Zaslav emphasizes <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/stratechery.com\/2022\/warner-bros-discovery-and-the-nba-the-zaslav-doctrine\/\">profit as opposed to just growth<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cut &amp; spend: <\/strong>One final point. WBD is in the midst of layoffs, which started with 70 behind-the-scenes employees who worked on sports. There is a feeling the company may be cutting before doing some more big spending.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quick_Clicks\"><\/span>Quick Clicks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The World Cup started poorly for Fox Sports, which isn\u2019t entirely the network\u2019s fault because it didn\u2019t have anything to do with the bribery that led Qatar, a country that demeans the rights of women and gay people, to be the host. Still, though, it wasn\u2019t great. With the World Cup moved from the summer to the winter and the NFL king in the U.S., the opening game aired on FS1, not Fox, which diminished its importance. FS1 is a network that routinely doesn\u2019t send announcers to other games, which tells you how much it values production and says a lot about how much we should value the network. <strong>John Strong<\/strong>,<strong> Stuart Holden<\/strong> and <strong>Jenny Taft<\/strong> were on hand for Ecuador\u2019s 2-0 victory over Qatar, but there was no post-game show. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AndrewMarchand\/status\/1594382384799047685\">When the Qatar supporters section was shown<\/a>, there were no women in sight. Fox Sports chose to ignore this while the network runs ads about how Qatar is so great. Again, some of this is due to circumstances that Fox did not create, but it just feels smaller than it should. And, even for those who love soccer and are used to it being run poorly, it is ugly that a country that disdains equal rights is the host. Fox probably needs to address it a little, if not a lot.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/qatar-world-cup-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Qatar fans enjoy the pre match atmosphere prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. \" class=\"wp-image-24727050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/qatar-world-cup-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/qatar-world-cup-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/qatar-world-cup-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>Notice something missing from this photo?<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2026 <strong>LeBron James<\/strong>\u2019 alternate broadcast of Amazon\u2019s \u201cThursday Night Football\u201d was pretty good. As with most of these secondary listens, it is not perfect if you are really into the game. James was mostly joined by non-football players \u2014 <strong>Dez Bryant<\/strong> and <strong>Jalen Ramsey<\/strong> were the exceptions. The key to this version of \u201cThe Shop\u201d was <strong>Jamie Foxx<\/strong>. This is kind of self-explanatory \u2014 he\u2019s Jamie Foxx. He\u2019s very funny, so that added a lot. Ramsey gave the show a viral moment by saying James <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AAiDnr-D-K0\">will be accused on Twitter of lying<\/a>. It was good because, with everyone in person, it gave the feel of hanging out with LeBron and friends for a game. It didn\u2019t give you the same level of expertise as the Manningcast, but it did enough that it may be worth checking out again when TNF has a bad game in Raiders-Rams on Dec. 8. \u2026 Among the layoffs from WBD was Turner Sports PR man <strong>Jay Moskowitz<\/strong>. Moskowitz is a thorough, hard worker.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_Apple_and_MLS_grow_the_game\"><\/span><strong>Will Apple<\/strong> and<strong> MLS grow the game?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>The pricing for streaming all MLS games on Apple TV+<\/strong> next season was released last week, and it <strong>immediately raised eyebrows<\/strong> around the entire sports media stratosphere.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The numbers:<\/strong> Let\u2019s go through it, citing the company\u2019s \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/newsroom\/2022\/11\/apple-and-major-league-soccer-announce-mls-season-pass-launches-february-1-2023\/\">Apple Newsroom<\/a>\u201d press release:<\/p>\n<p><em>Starting February 1, fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month during the season or $99 per season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month and $79 per season.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-cup.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Los Angeles FC forward Gareth Bale (11) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Union during extra time in the 2022 MLS Cup championship game.\" class=\"wp-image-24726913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-cup.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-cup.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-cup.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>Gareth Bale (center) celebrates with Los Angeles FC teammates during their win in the 2022 MLS Cup.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Golazo!: <\/strong>I think <strong>most people have a fundamental misunderstanding of subscriptions<\/strong>, and I think Apple does not.<\/p>\n<p>Apple says these games will be available on billions of devices around the world. So when I predictably conducted a very unscientific poll, the idea that <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AndrewMarchand\/status\/1592934157243805696\">people <\/a><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AndrewMarchand\/status\/1592934157243805696\">won\u2019t subscribe<\/a> \u201cwon.\u201d Among the first 5,000 who responded, only 4.6 percent said they would subscribe.<\/p>\n<p>But this is <strong>what is misunderstood about subscription businesses: You don\u2019t need everyone<\/strong>. You really don\u2019t need most. And what you want to do is get as much money as possible from your diehard fans who are willing to pay the most. So let\u2019s do some simple math. Let\u2019s use the results of our unscientific poll (which admittedly has a bias toward engaged American sports fans), round up to 5 percent and say Apple has a billion devices out there. That would be 50 million subscribers. (Easy math, because I was a journalism major.)<\/p>\n<p>There is no way they are getting 50 million subs! You are correct. No chance.<\/p>\n<p>However, I\u2019m using that outlandish number to show how Apple could recoup the $250 million per year the company is paying MLS for the rights (MLS is covering the production costs, so the league probably nets more like $200M, give or take).<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-don-garber.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Commissioner of Major League Soccer Don Garber looks on from the sidelines prior to the match between Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC.\" class=\"wp-image-24726914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-don-garber.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-don-garber.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-don-garber.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>MLS commissioner Don Garber<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>If we use the easy math (again) of $100 per subscriber, <strong>Apple\/MLS only needs 2.5 million subscribers to get to $250 million per season<\/strong>. I\u2019m not saying they will hit that benchmark, but we are talking about the ability to reach the entire world with no blackouts. We shall see if they can.<\/p>\n<p>In understanding subscription economics, and factoring in that soccer is the world game and Apple says there are <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2021\/1\/27\/22253162\/iphone-users-total-number-billion-apple-tim-cook-q1-2021\">more than a billion people<\/a> who actively use an iPhone, it is <strong>conceivable that Apple can reach .25 percent of those users to subscribe to MLS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>So as a business proposition for Apple, it may make some sense. Heck, I get a monthly bill from Apple for $1 for storage for my kids\u2019 phones that I\u2019m not positive they use. You almost think they may be able to reach .25 percent of Apple devices by mistake.<\/p>\n<p>You could base these calculations on a ratio of Apple TV+ subscribers instead. Apple doesn\u2019t officially give out how many subscribers it has, but the internet has the figure at around 30 million (I don\u2019t really trust the internet, but let\u2019s stay that is right). If Apple got two percent of 30 million existing users to sign up, it would be just 600,000 for MLS.<\/p>\n<p>MLS thinks the product will have reach because the league features players born in 82 different countries, 37 of whom are on World Cup rosters.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-lionel-messi.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Argentina's forward Lionel Messi controls a ball during a training camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA football World Cup.\" class=\"wp-image-24726915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-lionel-messi.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-lionel-messi.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-lionel-messi.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>There\u2019s buzz around Lionel Messi potentially playing in MLS at the end of his career.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>And, here\u2019s something we wrote previously: How about if MLS adds <strong>Lionel Messi<\/strong>? Could Messi pay for himself with digital subscription economics?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yellow card: <\/strong>What I don\u2019t understand is why MLS and Apple are giving away subscriptions to teams\u2019 season ticket-holders. This is <strong>supposedly 300,000-400,000 freebies<\/strong>. These are MLS\u2019 most loyal customers with money in their pockets.<\/p>\n<p>If Apple and MLS release numbers one day, these people will be included as subscribers, but they aren\u2019t paying. MLS and Apple are hoping to have these people evangelize the product. I\u2019d let them do that \u2014 and take their money.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yellow card II: <\/strong>Two of the most popular sports in the world are soccer and basketball. The NBA is by far the best pro basketball league in the world. MLS is not even close to the best soccer league. Many people around the world, including in the United States, have access to watch the Premier League, Champions League and every other soccer match they want. If the NBA were to try the MLS-Apple game plan, it might really work, though as stated above, I doubt it does a one-party, exclusive deal and probably would advise against that, at this point.<\/p>\n<p>MLS has yet to announce deals with ESPN and Fox to continue to have games simulcast on broadcast and cable TV, though it still appears to be in the cards. I know the folks at the networks like MLS commissioner <strong>Don Garber<\/strong>, but I\u2019m not sure why they would want to prop up MLS\u2019 10-year agreement with Apple.<\/p>\n<p>An agreement, which, by the way, could wipe the networks\u2019 businesses off the map if it really works. When it is all said and done, there will be plenty of free MLS games in front of the Apple paywall and some select games on ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, ABC and Fox.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-philadelphia-nycfc.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (11) kicks the ball past New York City defender Alexander Callens (6) during the first half for the conference finals for the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.\" class=\"wp-image-24727049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-philadelphia-nycfc.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-philadelphia-nycfc.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/mls-philadelphia-nycfc.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>NYCFC\u2019s Alexander Callens defends Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya during the MLS conference finals.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Yellow card III:<\/strong> I tend to <strong>doubt MLS will grow as a global league, though a move for a legend such as Messi prior to the 2026 World Cup in North America could add some juice<\/strong>. MLS, to the frustration of American soccer fans, has shown no real appetite yet to fight for talent with the big boys of soccer.<\/p>\n<p>So this might work in terms of being a good money deal \u2014 no one was close to Apple\u2019s $250M \u2014 but, at the same time, the growth that big American soccer fans want to see in the level of MLS doesn\u2019t feel fully as if it\u2019s on the horizon. Without that leap and with convenient access to better leagues already in place, does MLS grow?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Red card: <\/strong>MLS is making me, a huge soccer fan, decide: Do I need it or not? If it were part of a bigger service, incorporated into the price, such as in ESPN+\u2019s deal with the NHL (out-of-market MLS games previously were included with ESPN+, but there were blackouts), the value proposition is with the overall content, not just a thumbs up or thumbs down on MLS.<\/p>\n<p>The huge MLS fan is going to put his or her thumbs up. That\u2019s why sports are so vital in the media landscape. We will pay for the games we love.<\/p>\n<p>But if you are in charge of a growing league, do you want someone like me \u2014 who is already watching Premier League, Champions League and the World Cup \u2014 to decide whether I want to put my thumbs up for $14.99 per month? Not so sure about that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Extra time:<\/strong> Though we did break the fact that Apple and MLS were getting together in this here <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>letter in January, we also discussed MLB\u2019s deal with the company. Here\u2019s what is not totally clear: What is Apple\u2019s strategy? My belief is they want the MLS format to become ubiquitous. The rights don\u2019t come up for so many leagues for so long that it is kind of irrelevant to even consider. (This is also why the NBA is in prime position with its rights deals expiring soon.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-adam-silver.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a presser ahead of the NBA pre-season basketball match between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, on October 6, 2022. \" class=\"wp-image-24727108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-adam-silver.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-adam-silver.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000 1000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-adam-silver.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"\/><figcaption>NBA commissioner Adam Silver<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Could Apple replicate the MLS model with another sports property? Maybe, but my gut tells me the NBA \u2014 though I\u2019m a bigger believer in subscription \u2014 doesn\u2019t ultimately do a deal like this if Apple wants the rights to everything. (It actually is basically impossible in the relatively near term unless something changed with all the teams\u2019 RSN deals.)<\/p>\n<p>The one-stop shopping is smooth and easy, which is what Apple and Amazon do so well, making them transformative companies. However, the NBA is not going to give them everything. NBA commissioner <strong>Adam Silver <\/strong>may be watching, but he is going to want games to be on broadcast and probably cable TV to go along with the addition of streaming.<\/p>\n<p>This MLS-Apple deal might be a transformative deal or it could really stall growth for the league. Apple basically owns the league for the next decade. Players even will wear Apple patches on sleeves. It was the only deal MLS really had \u2014 the money was not comparable in any other offer.<\/p>\n<p>How this works might be more interesting (from a sports media perspective) than watching the Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Programming note: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/the-marchand-and-ourand-sports-media-podcast\/id1587364692\">There will be a <\/a><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/the-marchand-and-ourand-sports-media-podcast\/id1587364692\">podcast<\/a> next week, but no newsletter the following Monday. Back on Dec. 5.\n                        <\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/11\/21\/what-tnts-posturing-means-for-nbas-future-on-tv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;What TNT&#8217;s posturing means for NBA&#8217;s future on TV&#8221; Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made some noise last week by intimating that Turner Sports might not do a new agreement when its deal with the NBA ends in three years. This caused my phone to buzz as sports media folks wondered whether, after four&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":513406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/nba-tv-embiid-giannis.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[135949,7152,70379,71687,115930,116684,70433,72498],"class_list":["post-513405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-11-21-22","tag-apple-tv","tag-charles-barkley","tag-mls","tag-post-sports-newsletters","tag-sports-clicker","tag-sports-media","tag-turner-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513405\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/513406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=513405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=513405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}