ESPN Radio is planning to charge some non-ESPN owned and operated sports radio stations fees to carry its radio network programming.
E.C. “Erik” Huey from the Triad Media Watch blog:
“I’m not a big sports junkie, but headlines like this raise a major eyebrow.”
National sports celebrity blog Sports by Brooks is reporting that ESPN Radio is “planning to charge some non-ESPN owned and operated sports radio stations fees to carry its radio network programming. For big markets (Top 30), the annual charge to stations is as high as $100,000.”
Excerpt:
Most, if not all of those stations make their money on local sports talk shows and play-by-play ad sales. Revenue from ESPN’s national properties is usually negligible – as most of its shows have struggled in the ratings against large market, local shows. (I know, not in every case.) Perhaps local stations could make money on ESPN Radio’s play-by-play properties, but not enough to make up that $100K rights fee in any scenario.
What does this mean for local ESPN radio affiliate 980AM-WTIX? Its sister station is 790-AM The Ball, which is a FOX Sports Radio affiliate.
TMW(Triad Media Watch) will keep an eye out on this one.
Let ’em. maybe it will give Sporting News Radio’s TWO LIVE STEWS a spot in the Triad market