Weekly Roundup – Week of September 9th, 2024

"The collapse of regional sports networks (RSNs) could have mixed results for fans. On the one hand, local games might become even harder to find, especially if they spread across more than one outlet as national sports rights continue to do. On the other, viewers may not have to buy into higher-priced pay-TV plans to watch them soon. Amazon and ESPN both have their eye on picking up RSN streaming rights in the near future, seeing a golden opportunity as bigger RSN providers like Diamond Sports Group (DSG) find themselves on the brink of oblivion."

"...But a new, more pernicious strain of hate — more corrosive, more intimate — has been creeping into the game for some time. It’s been percolating in Instagram comments sections, and evident in the stands as overzealous fans scream a little too loudly for (or is it at?) the players, their intensity outsized in relation to what’s happening on the court. It is the inorganic byproduct of sports betting, which offers a financial boon to the professional tours but a specter of depravity to the culture of tennis."

"Sports radio is where the most dedicated fans come together—sharing opinions and reliving those unforgettable game moments through interviews with players and coaches. It’s not just a broadcast; it’s a community, connecting fans in a way that live games can’t always match. And the best part? It’s always on. Fans can tune in anytime, anywhere.
And it gets better: Sports fans welcome ads as part of the experience. Fans are four times more likely to catch a brand’s message on sports radio than on TV. There’s a halo effect at play—ads on sports radio are more noticeable, stand out better, and are more trustworthy than TV ads."

"A landmark Justice Department case charging Google with violating antitrust laws in its ad-tech business is set to begin trial in a federal court in Virginia Monday.
Why it matters: Google already lost one major antitrust case this year when a federal judge ruled the tech giant illegally abused its search monopoly. A second loss could lead to sweeping changes in the firm's core business as it fights for leadership in the AI era.
Catch up quick: The Justice Department sued Google early last year, alleging the company engaged "in a systematic campaign to seize control of the wide swath of high-tech tools used by publishers, advertisers, and brokers, to facilitate digital advertising.""

During an average week in June 2024, radio reached 85.6 percent of all American men aged over 55 years of age. Men of this age or older were the group most engaged with radio, although listening frequency was similar among men and women.

"As public support for a TikTok ban continues to decline, many U.S. adults are skeptical or unsure such a ban will happen, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted July 15-Aug. 4, 2024.
The share of Americans who support the U.S. government banning TikTok now stands at 32%. That’s down from 38% in fall 2023 and 50% in March 2023.
Meanwhile, 28% of Americans oppose a ban, up from 22% in March 2023. And the share who say they are uncertain whether the government should ban the platform has risen from 28% in March 2023 to 39% now."