ESPN is reportedly looking to ditch Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball in its next Major League Baseball rights deal. Plus: the NBA could add another jersey ad to try and make up for its expected losses; and more.
ESPN looking to ditch Monday, Wednesday, games in next deal with MLB
ESPN is likely to give up its Monday and Wednesday night games in its next deal with Major League Baseball, the New York Post reported Monday. Sports Business Journal reported as much earlier this year, saying that ESPN had “less interest” in its weekday packages than its Sunday night or postseason games. Per the Post, ESPN’s game inventory could drop from 100 to 75 games per year.
In the event that ESPN gave up the weekday games, it would still retain Sunday Night Baseball and the first round of an expanded postseason. ESPN aired seven of MLB’s eight “Wild Card series” this year.
MLB has already renewed its deals with Fox Sports and Turner Sports through 2028, making ESPN the lone holdout among its national television partners. Its deal expires after next season. [NYP 11.2]
NBA could add second jersey ad patch with gate revenue limited
The NBA is considering allowing a second advertising patch on game jerseys, according to Sports Business Journal, part of a league effort to create new revenue opportunities to offset the billions in losses it expects to suffer next season. It is also discussing putting ads on shooting shirts. The league previously added a “large belly” patch to practice uniforms.
The league has already decided to let teams to sell advertising space on the baselines under the basket this season, though that signage would only be allowed for games televised by regional sports networks, rather than national TV. [SBJ 11.2]
Plus: The Ultimate Fighter, IndyCar, Gameday at Masters, Kentucky Derby
ESPN announced over the weekend that ESPN+ will begin airing a new season of the UFC reality series “The Ultimate Fighter” beginning next year. The series last aired on FS1 in 2018. … IndyCar is looking to begin talks on its media rights deal with NBC, which is already entering its final year, per Sports Business Daily. … ESPN’s College Gameday is scheduled to originate from the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 14. As should go without saying, it will mark the show’s first trip to that location. … Churchill Downs announced last week that the Kentucky Derby is scheduled to return to its traditional date on the first Saturday in May next year, May 1. The race was held on Labor Day weekend this year. [ESPN PR 10.27, 10.31; Sports Business Daily 10.30; Louisville Courier-Journal 10.29]
