Current TV contract ends in 2022....with around 250-million paid out to each team, as long as they play actual games.
My guess is that the networks will meet in 2021 and discuss the loss of viewers, and the 4-billion-plus contract of the past will not occur again.
They can survive this season and even next season, with this screwed-up mess, and marginal numbers of fans in the stands. After that....the whole system is shaky.
There was a show on the Science Channel last night about the new stadium in LA. New home of the Chargers and the Rams. $2 + billion dollars with a capacity of 70,000 “fans”. Going to be a problem paying for that if the current business conditions continue.
My guess is that the networks will meet in 2021 and discuss the loss of viewers, and the 4-billion-plus contract of the past will not occur again.
Networks? I expect some of the streaming services will be bidding, too. My guess is the $4 bilion contract will happen again. Live sports is one of the few programs that gets viewers these days.
“After that....the whole system is shaky.”
It used to be that when you met someone you did not know, were unfamiliar with, and may not have a lot in common with, you could always talk about two things to begin to establish some rapport: The weather and sports.
Sports was great for that. I remember people who were in sales, 20 years ago or so, who didn’t particularly like sports, but kept up with the headlines just for that reason.
That’s gone now, they’ve ruined it. I don’t think there are many traditional fans left, especially people under 40 years old.
If it were not for gambling and fantasy sports, I bet their viewership would be less than half of what it is now.