After-School All-Stars Flourishing with Help from FOX Sports Florida

FOX Sports Florida Magic Analyst Tony Battie with students at Career Day

With a pair of After-School All-Stars chapters in-state, FOX Sports Florida and FOX's Sun Sports have been busy this year proudly supporting and organizing events and opportunities in Orlando and South Florida for students of the program.

From 'Career Day' fields trips to the Fort Lauderdale office and studio, to on-air integration featuring Orlando Magic players, 2013 is off to a great start for the After-School All-Stars and FOX Sports relationship in Florida.

How high can ESPN's license fee go?

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:54 PM ET 

After growing in the double digits and high single digits for many years, license fees at ESPN moderated last year to the mid-single-digit range. But those days will soon be over for multichannel operators. 

FOX Sports South and SportSouth Website and Facebook Page a Hit with Braves Fans

With spring in the air and the sound of balls hitting mitts, the FOX Sports South crew headed to Orlando for the start of Atlanta Braves Spring Training. To garner excitement for the start of baseball and create awareness of where fans can watch their favorite team, the FOX Sports South team focused attention to the website and Facebook.

In the weeks leading up to the FOX Sports South visit to Spring Training, the Facebook page was reaching an average of 30,000 Facebook users but once players hit Orlando, the page has doubled its viewers, reaching between 60,000-80,000 average users. During this time, more than 4,000 people have been talking about the page (generating stories off FOX Sports South’s content/posts) and since February 11, the page has received over 200 new likes.

The FOX Sports South official website, www.foxsportsouth.com, has also seen a bump around the Braves reporting for camp. During the month of February, the website has topped 5 million viewers and over 1.7 million unique views. It is the fourth-straight month that the FOX Sports South site has seen increased traffic and the third straight with more than 1.5 million unique views.

Braves fans were provided fly-on-the-wall videos that showed a unique perspective of the players hitting and fielding, interactive videos where players answered fans' twitter questions and lots of photos on the FOX Sports South Instagram account. The FOX Sports South team also made sure to include some content featuring Chipper Jones in camp in a different capacity.

Below are the 10 most popular posts from FOX Sports South and SportSouth Facebook page:

2/13 – Photo of Upton’s and Heyward (Right)

Reach: 12,501

Engaged users: 3,531

Talking about this: 2,403

Virality: 19.22%

2/14 – Fly-on-the-Wall Cam Justin Upton

Reach: 8,062

Engaged users: 1,060

Talking about this: 231

Virality: 2.87%

2/16 – Beautiful day at Spring Training

Reach: 4,523

Engaged users: 619

Talking about this: 549

Virality: 12.14%

2/16 – Photo of Heyward and Uptons at Spring Training

Reach: 3,920

Engaged users: 465

Talking about this: 269

Virality: 6.86%

2/16 – Chipper Addresses Media Video 

(Right - Click picture to watch video)

Reach: 10,198

Engaged users: 1,983

Talking about this: 724

Virality: 7.1%

 

2/17 – Medlen Mic’d Up Video 

(Right - Click picture to watch video)

Reach: 7,434

Engaged users: 898

Talking about this: 259

Virality: 3.48%

2/18 – Chopcast: Future of young Braves Tyler Pastornicky and Evan Gattis

Reach: 4,184

Engaged users: 268

Talking about this: 116

Virality: 2.77%

2/19 – Braves announce they will retire Chipper’s Jersey

Reach: 7,252

Engaged users: 1,476

Talking about this: 1,336

Virality: 18.42%

2/20 – Happy Birthday to Brian McCann Post

Reach: 8,700

Engaged users: 1,562

Talking about this: 1,477

Virality: 16.98%

2/21 – Link to Cory McCartney’s story on Kris Medlen

Reach: 2,827

Engaged users: 183

Talking about this: 123

Virality: 4.35%

5 Important Things We Learned Last Week from the Dish vs. ESPN Trial

1 - Time Warner Cable and Verizon are paying 19 cents a subscriber per month for Watch ESPN.  The fee is separate from what both pay to carry the ESPN network. (Media Post)

2 - Dish's eight-year carriage deal with ESPN expires in Sept. (Ad Week)

3- Dish is suing ESPN for $152 million in damges for violating its MFN provision, which ESPN seems to enforce capriciously . (Ad Week)

4- With an average charge of $5.26 per customer per month, ESPN stands to rake in as much as $6.23 billion in sub fees this year  (Ad Week)

5- ESPN’s current deal with Time Warner Cable calls for it to receive more than $5.40 a sub a month starting in the middle of this year; then passing the $7 mark in 2017; and closing in on the $7.50 mark the following year. The deal calls for an annual increase in the 6.5% range.  By the end of this decade, ESPN is set to collect just about $8 a sub a month. (Media Post)

ESPN, Turner take wait-and-see approach on NASCAR talks

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

Published February 25, 2013, Page 4

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ESPN President John Skipper was not in Daytona last week for the biggest race on the NASCAR circuit. Neither was David Levy, Turner’s president of sales, distribution and sports.

Even though ESPN and Turner’s exclusive negotiating windows for NASCAR’s media rights expire in late summer, the networks still are months away from serious talks, according to several sources. The exclusive window formally starts in early summer, but networks and leagues frequently start negotiations well before that time.

The fact that ESPN and Turner’s top executives were not in Daytona last week is a sign that the networks are opting to wait and see how well NASCAR’s TV ratings and ad sales perform during the early part of the season. 

Start your engines! FOX Sports Florida visits Daytona 500 speedway in Orlando Magic broadcasts

Amway Center LED's promoting tune-in messaging

With Daytona 500 weekend set to begin in the Sunshine State, FOX Sports Florida brought the speedway to the hardwood during the Orlando Magic broadcasts on the network on Tuesday, February 19 when the Magic hosted the Charlotte Bobcats and Wednesday, February 20 when the Magic traveled to Dallas to take on the Mavericks.

FOX Sports Florida production sent Orlando Magic on-air host Dante Marchitelli to the Daytona International Speedway where he participated in the Richard Petty driving experience at the track.

The two-part driving experience series aired on consecutive nights during the Magic LIVE! pregame show this week to promote the upcoming race on FOX, this Sunday, February 24, beginning at Noon ET.

Thunder making noise with its RSN ratings

By John Ourand & David Broughton, Staff Writers

Published February 18, 2013, Page 4

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As the NBA heads into the second half of its season, the Oklahoma City Thunder, residing in the nation’s 41st-largest TV market, is posting some of the highest local NBA ratings in at least two years.

Through the first half of the season, Thunder games on FS Oklahoma are averaging an 8.6 rating, more than 45 percent higher than the second-place San Antonio Spurs, which are posting a 5.9 rating on FS Southwest. 

Big East nears new TV deals with NBC and CBS

Conference looks to retool after defections

By John Ourand & Michael Smith, Staff Writers

Published February 18, 2013, Page 1

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After months of enduring defections and disappointment, the Big East plans to start rebuilding its brand this month with two new TV deals, albeit at a much lower value than the conference had hoped when it started negotiations more than a year ago.

The Big East is close to finalizing deals with two partners, NBC and CBS, that will give the conference exposure across multiple networks. The agreement with NBC will put football and basketball games primarily on its cable channel, NBC Sports Network, with the ability to move some games to the NBC broadcast network.

DIRECTV CEO rails against RSNs; lays out 2013 strategy

By Kyle Daly

Thursday, February 14, 2013 4:03 PM ET

Speaking on a Feb. 14 fourth-quarter 2012 earnings call, DIRECTV CEO Mike White had strong words for the "broken" business model behind regional sports networks, maintaining that DIRECTV will have no choice but to continue taking a hard look at what it charges customers in order to cover the rising costs of RSNs.

Comcast reports blowout year, best video sub performance since 2007

By Tony Lenoir

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:48 PM ET

Comcast Corp. took Wall Street and the cable industry by storm Feb. 13, accelerating the final stages of its acquisition of NBCUniversal Media LLC, and announcing a dividend increase and share buybacks. The company bolstered the initiatives with strong 2012 results across the board, including free cash flow gains of 20% and its best video subscriber performance since 2007, with the smallest quarterly losses in nearly six years. 

National Signing Day Produces Record Traffic for Scout.com

Scout.com/FOX Sports NEXT

Content & Experts Integrated Across the RSNs

Scout.com Scores Highest-Trafficked Day in Four Years 

Audience / Social

• Wednesday, Feb. 6 was Scout’s highest-trafficked day in the last 4 years.

• At 2.1MM uniques, Scout saw a 15% increase in Signing Day audience over 2012.

• Signing Day was a top trending topic on Twitter, and Scout.com/FOX Sports NEXT was a large part of that with over 300 publishers and recruiting experts tweeting updates.

•  Users flocked to forums/message boards for information, consuming 31 page views per visitor.

NASCAR Drver Juan Pablo Montoya Rev's Up Daytona 500 on Miami HEAT Broadcast

NASCAR's Juan Pablo Montoya teamed up with FOX's Sun Sports to promote the upcoming Daytona 500 race on Sunday, February 24 at Noon ET. 

Montoya, a Miami resident, appeared in the first quarter of the Miami HEAT vs. Portland Trail Blazers broadcast on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, for an in-game hit with reporter Kristen Hewitt.

FOXSports.com Records Second-Best Traffic Month Ever; ESPN Falls

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer

Published February 12, 2013

ESPN in January fell to third among U.S. sports sites in the monthly comScore reach rankings for the first time since August. Yahoo Sports ended a five-month, back-and-forth battle with ESPN for the top overall spot, leading the list for the second straight month with a total of 41.24 million unique visitors. The January list does not include the digital content and marketing partnership between Yahoo and NBC Sports that will ultimately create a joint listing in comScore rankings. Fox Sports, ranking second with a total of 39.44 million unique visitors, branded its January total as its best non-event driven month ever, and its second-best of any month behind the London Olympics-fueled total of 44.98 million uniques posted in August. 

FOX Sports, MLB Players Give Back to U.S. Troops with Overseas Visit

FOX Sports Teams with MLB Players

to Bring Spring Training to Troops in Germany

FOX Sports brought Spring Training to U.S. troops overseas as current MLB players, Hall of Famers, FOX Sports broadcasters, and the FOX Sports Girls paid a visit to U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr in Germany. 

Attendees included:

• Luke Gregerson (Padres)
• Heath Bell (Diamondbacks)
• Wade Boggs (Hall of Famer, Yankees, Red Sox)
• Rollie Fingers (Hall of Famer, Brewers)
• David Justice (Former player, Braves)
• Tim Salmon (Former player, FOX Sports West, Angels)
• Brian Schneider (Former player, Nationals, Expos, Phillies)
• Jose Tolentino (Former player, Announcer FOX Deportes and Angels)
• Orestes Destrade (Former player, FOX Sports Florida)
• Mario Impemba (Announcer, FOX Sports Detroit)
• Bob Brenly (Diamondbacks announcer, former player and coach)
• Jack Ensch (Director of Military Affairs, Arizona Diamondbacks)
• FOX Sports Girls representing each FOX Sports region

See the story unfold below through photos and social media.

Digital Trends - What you'll see in 2013

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer

Published February 11, 2013

Never before has the pace of change in digital marketing been this brisk. Technological advancements, in areas such as social media monitoring, advanced video streaming and consumer data mining, have made efforts that were fantasies or mere hopes just months ago not only reality now, but the basis of upstart businesses. What follows is a look at segments of digital marketing likely to grow in stature and importance in 2013. 

Deal with Dodgers shifts attention to local team rights

Published February 11, 2013

Just about every conversation I had during Super Bowl week came back to the same topic — one that had nothing to do with the NFL, New Orleans or the big game.
Instead, many of the sports media executives in New Orleans seemed more focused on Los Angeles, where Time Warner Cable just agreed to pay $8 billion over 25 years for the rights to handle ad sales and affiliate sales for the Dodgers’ new cable channel.

These executives want to know what the Dodgers deal, if MLB approves it, will mean for other markets. In short, they all agreed, it means a lot more money. Networks will have to pay higher rights fees for local team rights; distributors will have to pay bigger license fees to carry regional sports networks; and consumers will be socked with larger cable bills to access their team’s games. 

Next Class 2013 Garners National Attention For FOX Sports South

The NEW College Football Show: Next Class 2013 premiered on FOX Sports South Monday, January 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET. The show was hosted by Desmond Purnell and FOX Sports Next national recruiting analysts Chad Simmons and Jamie Newberg.

(l-r) Desmond Purnell, Jamie Newberg and Chad Simmons
on The NEW College Football Show: Next Class 2013 set.

Thanks in large part to Simmons and Newberg’s close relationship with many of the recruits, three of the country’s top-ranked prospects chose to make their commitments live on The NEW College Football Show: Next Class 2013. Three-star safety Juwaan Williams announced his decision to attend Oregon on the Monday, January 28 episode, and both five-star linebacker Reuben Foster (Alabama) and five-star running back Alex Collins (Arkansas) made their commitments on Monday, February 4.

FOX Sports Ohio Announces the Cavs Fan Express

FOX Sports Ohio enjoys bringing the Cleveland Cavaliers into the homes of thousands of Cavs fans through television. Now, the network is excited to be able to bring fans to see the Cavs in action at The Q on the CavsFan Express.

With the FOX Sports Ohio Cavs Fan Express, groups of fans can now ride in style to watch their favorite team play at Quicken Loans Arena. Fans can’t miss the giant bus with its oversized images of Moondog on the outside. On the inside, riders will enjoy Wifi, entertainment, snacks and beverages, and other FOX Sports Ohio and Cavs goodies. 

“The FOX Sports Ohio Cavs Fan Express is an example of our unwavering commitment to the Cavs organization and Cavs fans everywhere,” said Alex Slemc, director of marketing and communications at FOX Sports Ohio. “We wanted to develop a unique and fun way to bring groups of fans to The Q to experience the excitement of Cavs basketball and the best game presentation in the NBA.”

“We thank our partner Fox Sports Ohio for their tremendous coverage and fan-centric programming that brings the excitement of Cavs games into the homes of our fans,” said Tracy Marek, Cavaliers senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “With the Cavs Fan Express, Fox Sports Ohio is extending the fan experience from the living room to sitting inside The Q in a very fun and innovative way.”

FOX Sports Ohio’s Cavs Fan Express will be available on select dates throughout the month of March to groups of 40-50 fans for the use of transport to and from Cavs games, as well as additional events at The Q. It can travel up to a 90-mile radius of The Q. Groups can book it by calling the Cavs groups sales team at 216-420-2153.

When the Cavs are not playing at home, the Fan Express may be seen at various events throughout Cleveland. The Fan Express can be tracked on Twitter by following @FOXSportsOH and using the hashtag #FanExpress. Fans can also check out photos and updates on the network’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/FOXSportsOhio.

For more specific rules and policies regarding the Fan Express, please visit www.foxsportsohio.com/pages/cavs_fanexpress or call the Cavs group sales department at 216-420-2153.

 

 

Disney CEO: RSN growth no threat to ESPN

By Sarah Barry James

Tuesday, February 05, 2013 5:43 PM ET

According to Walt Disney Co., regional sports networks are simply not even in the same league as ESPN.

"With a 33-year head start on the competition, unprecedented sports coverage, constant innovation in both programming and distribution, ESPN delivers incomparable value to multichannel operators as well as consumers," Disney CEO Bob Iger said during a Feb. 5 earnings conference call. "With long-term sports rights now locked in, we expect ESPN to remain the must-have brand for sports fans." 

Tampa Bay Bucs WR Vincent Jackson Picks Up Military Families with the Lightning Fan Express

On Friday, February 1, 2013, the Tampa Bay Lightning throttled the visiting Winnipeg Jets by a score of 8-3, but prior to the Bolts continuing their inspired play on the ice, FOX’s Sun Sports, the Lightning and Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson teamed up to inspire local military families off the ice.

Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt to Step Down

Time Warner TWX +0.71% Cable Inc. Chief Executive Glenn Britt will step down at the end of the year, said a person familiar with the matter, amid growing worry among investors about the company's operational performance. 

Fox Sports Digital Makes Leadership Changes, Adding Vlastelica

Fox Sports Digital Makes Leadership Changes, Adding Vlastelica

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Fox Sports Digital has appointed Yardbarker co-Founder & CEO Pete Vlastelica as its new Senior VP/Digital. Vlastelica replaces Jeff Husvar, who had been Fox Sports Digital Exec VP & GM since December '09, and will now shift to a new role within Fox Sports working on special projects and business development aiding network co-Presidents & co-COOs Eric Shanks and Randy Freer.