There is little good news for Facebook these days, but the company is getting another set of exclusive sports rights. Also: news on IndyCar’s TV deal from an unexpected source, details on former ESPN president John Skipper‘s departure, and a new role for MLB Network host Robert Flores.
Facebook Gets Exclusive C-USA Games
Starting next season, the website Facebook will carry exclusive Conference USA football and basketball games under sub-licensing agreements with CBS and Stadium, part of those outlets’ new media rights deals with the conference. The deals were announced last week. CBS and Stadium will produce the entire 26-game slate (ten in football and 16 in basketball).
Facebook previously acquired an exclusive Major League Baseball rights package that goes into effect next month. MLB Network will produce those games. [Conference USA 3.14]
Weatherman Possibly Breaks News on IndyCar TV Deal
A reporter with the Macon (Ga.) ABC affiliate WGXA posted a purported ABC statement to his Twitter account Saturday in which the network said it will not carry IndyCar races beyond this season. The current IndyCar TV deal with ABC and NBC Sports expires after this season and CEO
Mark Miles said recently that the series is close to announcing a new contract.
Representatives at IndyCar and ESPN/ABC declined comment on the tweet to Sports Business Daily. Neither side, SBD noted, indicated that the tweet was inaccurate. [SBD 3.19]
Skipper Says Extortion Plot Prompted Resignation
Former ESPN president
John Skipper told
The Hollywood Reporter last week that he resigned from the company after a man from whom he purchased cocaine threatened to extort him. Skipper felt the extortion threat put his family and professional life at risk and, after conferring with Disney CEO
Bob Iger, that he “had placed the company in an untenable position.”
When asked directly, he did not deny that Iger asked him to resign. Skipper: “I simply just disclosed the facts, and it became clear in my conversation with Bob what I needed to do.” [Hollywood Reporter 3.15]
Flores Replacing Vasgersian on MLB Network Show
MLB Network host
Robert Flores will replace
Matt Vasgersian as the host of the daytime
MLB Central studio show,
The Big Lead reported Monday. Flores joined MLB Network from ESPN in 2016. Vasgersian is adding ESPN
Sunday Night Baseball duties this year, which will necessitate changes to his MLB Network role. [The Big Lead
3.19]
