Author | Lightnews

Wall Street Sends Mixed Signals on ESPN-Penn Breakup

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 20h

Wall Street doesn’t know what to make of the accelerated divorce between ESPN and Penn Entertainment. frontofficesports.com/wall-street-...

Wall Street doesn’t know yet what to make of Penn Entertainment's accelerated divorce from ESPN.

Paul DePodesta Leaving Browns Midseason to Take Over MLB's Worst Team

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 20h

A real head-scratcher as the Rockies are hiring “Peter Brand” from the Browns to lead baseball ops. frontofficesports.com/paul-depodes...

After nearly breaking the modern-day MLB record for losses in a season, the Rockies are moving in a radical and unexpected direction.

ESPN Shutters Betting App and Pivots to DraftKings Deal

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 1d

ESPN Bet is ceasing to exist, as it never came close to the major market force in sports betting that it was intended to be. frontofficesports.com/espn-bet-pen...

ESPN and sports betting operator Penn Entertainment are ending a 10-year, $2 billion deal after two years.

World Series G7 Audience Count Final: 51M in U.S., Canada, Japan

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 1d

Big viewership in Japan—the home country of Ohtani, Sasaki, and Yamamoto—was part of what became an average audience of 51 million for World Series Game 7. frontofficesports.com/world-series...

The home country of Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, and World Series Most Valuable Player Yoshinobu Yamamoto watched the club’s championship march at historic levels.

The Battery Powers Braves Results As Team Plans to Spend Big

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 2d

Braves chair Terry McGuirk said on an investor call today that the club will be active in the free-agent market this offseason and that he still views Atlanta as a "win-now" team. frontofficesports.com/the-battery-...

The Braves are often imitated and admired for their mixed-use development, and the club’s latest financial results reaffirmed why.

World Series Ratings Show Half of Canada Watched Game 7

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 3d

Games 6 and 7 of the World Series will go down in history as some of the most impactful events ever in Canadian broadcasting. frontofficesports.com/world-series...

The World Series ended in heartbreak for the Blue Jays, but Canada’s Sportsnet ended the Fall Classic with unprecedented viewership.

No Ohtani-Level Prize, but MLB Free Agency Still Holds Big Stakes

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Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 4d

There's no Ohtani or Soto-type prize on the MLB free agent market this offseason, but the Hot Stove period will still be impactful on multiple fronts. frontofficesports.com/no-ohtani-le...

There won’t be a record free-agent deal this offseason for MLB, but the upcoming Hot Stove season will still be impactful on multiple fronts.

World Series Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2017 in Initial Ratings

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 4d

Fast nationals from Fox point to Game 7 of the World Series being the event's most-watched game in the U.S. since 2017. Massive initial audience of nearly 26 million. frontofficesports.com/world-series...

Game 7 of the World Series went big on drama, and Fox was a major beneficiary according to preliminary viewership data.

frontofficesports.com/deep-pockete...

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Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 5d

Deep-Pocketed Dodgers Make History: Repeat World Series Title

Major League Baseball’s financial behemoth has made history as the Dodgers have become the sport’s first back-to-back champion in 25 years.

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 5d

Can’t help but feel for the Blue Jays. Canada completely showed out for this World Series but the team failed to cash in on way too many opportunities, especially at home.

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 5d

The Dodgers escape and they are the first repeat MLB champions in 25 years. Unbelievable. This Game 7 had everything.

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 5d

If the Blue Jays don’t win this, it will be a cruel counting of all the missed opportunities. Two on and nobody out in the 9th in G6. Two outs away from winning in the top of the 9th tonight. Loading the bases in the bottom of the frame. The chances have been there in spades.

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 5d

World Series Game 7. Extra Innings. This game is completely bananas.

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 6d

Blue Jays had men on second and third with nobody out in the ninth, but can’t do anything with it and the Dodger hold on to force Game 7 in the World Series. Toronto will rue the many missed opportunities tonight, but will be looking to rebound like they did after the 18-inning loss in Game 3.

Frozen Frenzy Ratings Climb 20% Despite Scheduling Complaints

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 7d

There were some grumbles about NHL Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday, and it went up against Game 4 of the World Series, but viewership on ESPN still went up substantially. frontofficesports.com/frozen-frenz...

Despite a crowded sports calendar and some grumbling within hockey, the NHL's Frozen Frenzy posted strong viewership increases.

YouTube TV Loses ESPN, ABC Just Before Big Sports Weekend

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 7d

Disney channels including ESPN and ABC have gone dark on YouTube TV as a big sports weekend arrives. frontofficesports.com/youtube-tv-l...

Disney channels, including ESPN and ABC, are now dark on YouTube TV after the two sides failed to reach a new distribution agreement.

World Series Game 5: Largest Jays Audience Ever on Canadian TV

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 7d

Another day, another set of big viewership numbers from the World Series, particularly in Canada. frontofficesports.com/world-series...

The World Series continues to drive big audience numbers in both the U.S. and Canada.

CBS Bets Big on Chiefs-Bills Rivalry As AFC Landscape Changes

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Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 7d

Chiefs-Bills is back for another installment on Sunday, and CBS is once more pulling out all the stops. The landscape around the two teams, however, is a bit different time around. frontofficesports.com/cbs-bets-big...

The Chiefs-Bills rivalry is set for its latest installment Sunday, although in different circumstances than in years past.

NBC Sports Parent Says No Rush to Make WBD Deal: 'High Bar’

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 8d

Like Netflix before, Comcast doesn't exactly sound like they're in a hurry to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. frontofficesports.com/nbc-sports-p...

The NBC Sports parent has become the latest media giant to have a reserved public stance on potentially acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery.

Like NFL, NBA Is Doubling Down on Cosm’s ‘Mini-Sphere’ Venues

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 8d

The NBA has signed a long-term rights extension with immersive venue company Cosm. frontofficesports.com/like-nfl-nba...

Cosm has reached a long-term rights extension with the NBA, solidifying a key piece of programming as the company pursues expansion.

World Series Game 3 Draws 17.6M Viewers in U.S. and Canada

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 8d

More big World Series viewership numbers from both sides of the border. frontofficesports.com/18-inning-wo...

Fox, Sportsnet, and TVA posted another strong viewership figure for Game 3 of the World Series, despite the contest’s marathon length.

Mavericks Accuse Stars of Holding Dallas Arena ‘Hostage’

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 9d

The Stars and Mavericks formerly were together at Reunion Arena in Dallas. There's no reunion happening now, though, as upkeep of the current venue, American Airlines Center, has exploded into a legal battle and could impact both teams' plans for new venues. frontofficesports.com/mavericks-ac...

The Mavericks and Stars are locked in a legal battle that could have long-term ramifications on plans by both teams to build new arenas.

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 9d

Ohtani started as the World Series story of the day and night, but ultimately, it was all about the grit and resilience of the Blue Jays after last night’s crushing loss.

Eric Fisher @aericfisher.bsky.social · 9d

The Blue Jays win World Series Game 4 to knot the series at two games a piece. The series will definitely go back to Toronto. Will be a boon for Fox and Sportsnet. Even if the Dodgers go on to win, they will not clinch on their home field, something they haven’t done since 1963.