The Cablization of Television Sports Properties - Part I

Costa Mesa, CA (Nov 13, 2008) - There were four news "events" this week related to the rights ownership of broadcast sports properties. First, you had what some called the "Heidi game" of NASCAR. The second was news that the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is entertaining the thought of leaving Fox Sports for ESPN, to be broadcast on cable only. The third was Turner Sports passing on an extension of their contract with the R&A for the The Open Championship. Finally, ESPN announced today the exclusive rights to broadcast the property on cable only for the next eight years. Already, a couple of notable sports blogs, Fang's Bites and Sports Media Watch, have written very good pieces about this trend.

The 10,000 Foot Level

In looking at this trend of broadcast properties moving to cable only, particularly to ESPN, should be of concern because of the marriage of monopolies that can (and has) been occurring. In moving the properties to cable only, those who do not have cable or satellite access to cable are cut out of the loops. No longer will they be able to see their sports over the air. When that happens, how will leagues such as the NFL, which has an anti-trust exemption from Congress, spin that?