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Sportico Finds NCAA Severely Undervalues Women’s Tournament TV Rights

“Sportico reports the women’s tournament receives just 15.9% of the NCAA ESPN contract, despite being one of the most-watched events in the deal. So when the women’s tournament is listed as operating at a loss, it’s calculated based on an allocated number, not their individually earned revenue.”

Brandon Contes

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It’s not surprising to see the NCAA earns significantly more in TV revenue from it’s men’s basketball tournament than it’s women’s. But according to a report by Sportico, the gap would be lessened if the NCAA sold it’s women’s basketball tournament properly. 

Recently publicized data from the NCAA showed a $917.8 million profit for it’s men’s basketball championship and a $2.8 million loss for the women’s event in 2019. And although the men’s tournament generates much stronger viewership, part of why it’s so financially successful is the NCAA’s decision to sell it as a singular TV package while the women’s basketball championship receives a small portion of a larger media contract. 

Sold on its own, Turner and CBS pay around $771 million annually for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The women’s event is part of a 14-year $500 million deal with ESPN featuring more than 20 NCAA championships from various sports. 

Sportico reports the women’s tournament receives just 15.9% of the NCAA ESPN contract, despite being one of the most-watched events in the deal. So when the women’s tournament is listed as operating at a loss, it’s calculated based on an allocated number, not their individually earned revenue. If sold as a separate package, its value could as much as triple the 15.9% they currently receive from the larger deal. 

Included in the package is NIT basketball which averaged 1 million viewers for its championship game between 2015-2019, while the women’s title averaged an audience of 3.1 million. Of the $500 million TV deal, the women’s basketball tournament earned $6.1 million, about 50% more than the NIT despite tripling its viewership. 

The NCAA has already taken a lot of flak for varying levels of treatment for its men’s and women’s basketball players this year – and rightfully so with shocking disparities in the bubble accommodations for each tournament. 

This isn’t a discussion of equal pay for male and female athletes because as you may have heard, student athletes don’t receive financial compensation. But it’s a question of whether or not the NCAA maximizes its business potential for women’s basketball. 

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Report: NFL to Put Christmas Day Doubleheader Up For Bids

Bidding is expected to start at $50 million among the current NFL media partners but some think the games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

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The NFL will reportedly put its Christmas Day games up for auction, allowing its current media partners to bid for the games. Now, it’s up to CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video to pay up for rights to one of these two marquee games.

According to Front Office Sports Michael McCarthy, preference will be given to linear networks, so Prime Video and Peacock may sit this one out. Bidding is expected to start at $50 million but McCarthy and his sources expect that number to rise. John Kosner, the former ESPN executive, thinks the new Christmas Day games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

The NFL announced a Wednesday Christmas Day doubleheader during its annual league meetings. The league originally said it wouldn’t force games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on an odd day of the week, though as the NFL continues to put games on days outside of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays, we’re running out of days that don’t feature NFL football.

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Colorado Rockies & DirecTV Reach Agreement to Carry Games on TV

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination for their favorite local teams. We will continue to work with MLB…so fans can get their games.”

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Colorado Rockies

Breathe easy, Rockies fans — you will be able to watch your club on linear TV this year. At the buzzer, DirecTV and the Colorado Rockies agreed on terms to distribute the team’s games throughout its local service.

Starting today, DirecTV Choice subscribers across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southern Idaho, Western Nebraska, and Northern New Mexico can now watch the Rockies on a special channel simply titled, “ROCKIES.” The games will be available on DirecTV and DirecTV STREAM via channel 683.

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination to get all their favorite local teams,” said Rob Thun, chief content officer of DIRECTV. “We will continue to work with MLB, the NBA, NHL, and other top leagues and their local franchises so the most avid fans can get the games they want while other customers have more choice over the content they want to pay to have in their homes.”

Reports just days ago out of Colorado said there were “no guarantees” the Rockies would not find a TV home in time for Opening Day following the sunsetting of AT&T SportsNet. The only other way to watch the team is to use its direct-to-consumer Rockies.tv streaming service, which fans say is too pricey for a team that lost 103 games last season. Luckily, the team was able to secure a TV home for 2024, though the future is still uncertain.

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Erin Andrews Reveals Infertility Journey in Emotional ‘Today Show’ Interview

FOX reporter Erin Andrews sat down with ‘The Today Show’s’ Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

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Erin Andrews

FOX reporter Erin Andrews shared her story of infertility and surrogacy with NBC’s Today Show. Last summer, Andrews and her husband welcomed a baby boy via surrogate after trying for a decade to get pregnant via IVF, during which she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016. Today, she sat down with Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

Andrews says Welker’s announcement on the Today Show made her think a baby could be possible. “I remember Kristin Welker’s announcement on your show,” Andrews said last year, “and I actually watched that the morning Mac was born, because that just hit me.”

When they finally sat down, Welker asked Andrews why her journey resonated with the sports reporter so much:

“Because I see myself in you. Kristen, the video of you moderating debates after you’re waiting on bad news or maybe you just received it, that’s me. I can tell you every stand-up I’ve done at a football game where I’ve gotten the news that it didn’t work. I’d be talking about Tom Brady going for this record and my record is that I still was failing…I would have chest pains every time I was waiting for the call if it worked, and I knew it wouldn’t work.

Erin Andrews on ‘Today’

Andrews knew surrogacy was the only path to having a child. Although her family’s first attempt failed, her second attempt was a success, and she got to hear her child’s heartbeat for the very first time. The pair discuss the complex emotions that come with surrogacy, saying that bonds with their child could be affected because they didn’t carry their child. However, Welker assured Andrews that those feelings go away once you can talk to your child.

Once her son was born in June, who Andrews called, “a miracle,” she then talks about her child glowingly, talking about how he is just like mom — vocal. “He’s all me,” she says.

Andrews supports Baby Quest, a non-profit that grants money to families in need of IVF or surrogacy to have a baby but don’t have the funds to pursue these expensive treatments. Both Andrews and Welker acknowledged how difficult and unattainable their journies are for some families — and Andrews even used the NFL’s “My Cleats, My Cause” initiative to raise awareness for her cause.

“People don’t need to feel embarrassed that they have a surrogate or are looking for other help,” Andrews said.

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