1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: Hello, I'm Michael barn and I'm Scott Sashnik. On this 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: weekly podcast, we explore the big money issues in the 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: world of sports and talk to some of the biggest 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: players in the industry. On today's show, we speak with 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: the senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives and the general 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: manager of Monumental Sports Network at Monumental Sports and Entertainment, 7 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: Zach ree Lyons. But first let's look at the top 8 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: stories of the week. Joining us is Bloomberg Business of 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: Sports reporter Evan Novie Williams. And let's start with the 10 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: story that you wrote, and it's about the NBA TV 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: ratings and they are giving the NFL a handful. Yeah, 12 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,840 Speaker 1: the Christmas Day, which the NBA is very much trying 13 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: to make its biggest regular season day of the year, 14 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: turned in some pretty big ratings this year for the 15 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: NBA up on the ESPN networks over last year, including 16 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: as you know, a rematch of last year's Final between 17 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: the Warriors and the Cavaliers, which was not without its 18 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: fair share of controversy. Again, uh, NFL feels like you 19 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: need to put it in this claimer. The NFL is 20 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: still the giant in the room when it comes to 21 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: TV ratings. Uh, the NFL game on Christmas in a 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: down year, UM still did better, significantly better than the 23 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: best NBA game of the day. Uh. So I feel 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: the need to say that. Um. But yes, there's no 25 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: question that in the in the ratings gap between the 26 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: NBA and the NFL, the NBA is slowly closing that gap. 27 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: That you should say that, everybody should say that. If 28 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: you're gonna give any sort of perspective, you have got 29 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: to talk about the NBA as. Yes, ratings are going up, 30 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: but let's talk about total number of viewers, and the 31 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 1: NFL is still the unquestioned king of the hill. It's 32 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: not even close. Exactly do they shrink that difference even more? 33 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: I don't know. Perhaps in the day, as we're going 34 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: to talk about with Zach, in a world of scale 35 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: and digital on a global basis, will the NBA one 36 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: day have more eyeballs on its product in the NFL. 37 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: That's a different question than just what do we get 38 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: on ABC or ESPN this week. Yeah, and in an 39 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: age where we talked about NFL ratings going down, it 40 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: seems like every week they're down. Uh. The cost to 41 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: advertise in NBA games is going up higher than the 42 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,519 Speaker 1: rate of viewers dropping out. So so the NFL is 43 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: on paste to make more money in TV ads than 44 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: then they were Uh in years past. NFL networks. We 45 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: can talk about whether the protests have taken a hit 46 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: for the NFL ratings wise, but I'll tell you one 47 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: thing that is hurting the NFL, what the Sam Hill 48 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: is a catch? Because people are trying to watch the 49 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: game and they are still trying to figure out, well, 50 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: what are the rules. It's so complicated that I think 51 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: people are like, I don't know what to do. Not 52 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: only is it complicated, the rules are also changing. I mean, 53 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: if you were an NFL fan twenty years ago, what 54 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: was defined as a catch then is fundamentally different than 55 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: what was a catch now. And you're right when we 56 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: saw with Pittsburgh and New England a couple of weeks ago, Uh, 57 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: these are game defining decisions, you know, and in that case, 58 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: UH flipped who is going to be the number one 59 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: seed in the a f c Uh, You're right. I 60 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: think for for fans that's one of the one things, 61 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: one of the big things that need to be addressed 62 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: right now is getting an understanding of the rule book. 63 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: Concussions obviously another one you know. The NFL has has 64 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: struggled this year to make its concussion policy consistent and 65 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: fans get upset about it. Another story, Evan, that you 66 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: were involved in in another topic, Buffalo billionaire Terry Bigola 67 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: and his wife they are expanding their sports empire again. 68 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: The Buffalo Bills and Savers owners Terry and Kim Pogoula 69 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: are buying the Buffalo Buttes, the women's National Hockey League team, 70 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: which is a huge deal for for fans of women's 71 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: professional hockey out there. This is the first uh W 72 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: NHL team that is going to be owned by a 73 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,119 Speaker 1: an NFL and an NHL owner. UM, it's the first 74 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: one not owned by the league itself, which is obviously 75 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: a big deal for a league that started just two 76 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: years ago. Not a lot of money in this. I 77 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: don't know exactly what they paid. I can't imagine it 78 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: was all that much, but the league has games that 79 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: are broadcast on Twitter, They're selling merchandise. It's the first 80 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: league in North America to pay women to play hockey. UM. 81 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: Certainly an exciting day for for women's professional hockey. If 82 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: I could watch the USA women play the Canadian women 83 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: on a consistent basis. That's something I would tune into. 84 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: I just don't know a lot of these players. We 85 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: know that this is not going to draw a whole 86 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: lot of eyeballs. So you wonder does sponsorship come attached? 87 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: This is one of those do you have to buy 88 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: this if you want Sabers and Bills in Buffalo, if 89 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: you want to be attached to the major sports franchises. 90 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: Let's see how they do it. Clearly a labor of love. 91 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: Because Terry Pogola, as we know, built the ice arena 92 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: at pent State, so he has given a lot of 93 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: money to the sport on many levels. Let's see if 94 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: he can make a nickel or two out of this. 95 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: Let's talk about another topic, and this is file this 96 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: under the well if I own the team, Let's talk 97 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: about Miami businessman where he Moss. He has men that 98 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: if he owned the Miami Marlins, he wouldn't be doing 99 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: this salary dump for lack of a better term, right now, Yeah, 100 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: a little context that Derek Jeter and Bruce Sherman traded 101 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: Yello John Carlos Stanton. They are really drastically cutting payroll. 102 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: That was a big interview with Dan LeBatard and the 103 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred. What did Baseball know? Did 104 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 1: they know they're going to trade these particular players? And 105 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: then Horree Moss comes out and says, who been on 106 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: the team but didn't get it? He built he bid 107 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: to two hundred million dollars less. He came out and said, well, 108 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have done it this way. We would have 109 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: had a much higher payroll. So the folks in South 110 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: Florida are none too pleased with should I do a 111 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: Bob shepperdentation? You want to have number two? Derek Ga 112 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 1: Maybe I should die? Maybe, But but you know Mr 113 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: Derrick Jeeter, Mr Wonderful, everybody loves Derek. And I did 114 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: I say this on this show last week of the 115 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: week before that, somebody had said to me that who 116 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,559 Speaker 1: to funk it when it's all said and done, Alex 117 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: Rodriquez would be more bod I mean, that's the way 118 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: we're headed. But we think, and all the sports bankers 119 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: I talked to at the time, we're very surprised that 120 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 1: this group spent as much money at it as it 121 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 1: did for that money losing franchise and they're out there 122 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: right now, trying to raise some more money because Bruce 123 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: Sherman wants to lower his commitment. So interesting times in 124 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: South Florida. This seems like a really easy thing for 125 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: Jorgey Moss to say, right, it's not his money anymore. 126 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: He didn't get the team, he's not running it. Um, 127 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: it would have cost a hundred and forty million dollars 128 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: to keep the team together. Uh, the team doesn't draw 129 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: that well. It seems kind of unrealistic to expect Marlon's 130 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: owners to pay a hundred and forty million dollars in payroll. Uh, 131 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: so obviously there was gonna be some slashing involved. Has 132 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:59,239 Speaker 1: Jeter gone too far from many fans? Yeah, it seems 133 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: like he has. But he inherited a team that has 134 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: what four million dollars worth of debt. I mean, you 135 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: have to pay that off in some way, and and 136 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: cutting salary is a way that teams do it. It 137 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: happens across all four major sports. We've seen it be 138 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: successful in other sports. Certainly the Astros are an example 139 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: of of it working. Um, it's too early, in my opinion, 140 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: just to judge Derek teter On on what his ownership 141 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: has done so far in South Florida. Evan is always busy, 142 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: but boy he was busy this week. Thank you very much, 143 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: our thanks to Bloomberg Business of Sports reporter Evan Nobody Williams. 144 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: And now our interview with Senior Vice President of Strategic 145 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: Initiatives and the general manager of Monumental Sports Network head 146 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: Monumental Sports and Entertainment, Zach Leans. Zach, do you have 147 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: enough titles in there? I mean, who came up with that? Was? 148 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: Was that you? Or they just give it to you? Well, 149 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: I mean we were working on Monumental and it just 150 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: started to expand into other verticals and whatnot, which I 151 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: think will be definitely digging into today. Yeah, that's what 152 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: I love about Monumental. If I said to you, or 153 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: if somebody came up to you and said, Monumental Sports 154 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: and Entertainment MSc, what is that? I'm not familiar with it? 155 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: Where do you begin? Well? I like to take some 156 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: pride in calling ourselves the fastest growing sports entertainment and 157 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: media company in North America, hopefully the world at some point. 158 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: I mean obviously people know us best. For some of 159 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: our big league teams, the Washington Capitals of Washington Wizards, 160 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: will be also have a w NBA team in the 161 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: Washington Mystics. We've launched two Arena Football League teams in 162 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: the Washington Valley and the Baltimore Brigade. We've got two 163 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: Minor league hockey teams in the h L Isisue Bears 164 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: and the e C h L South Carolina Sting Rays. 165 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: Were launching a brand new G League team called the 166 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: Capital City Go Go. We're launching an MBA to kate 167 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: Team UM in the Wizards. This are gaming, and we've 168 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: also made an investment in an endemic E sports franchise 169 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: called Team liquid Um, which a lot of people kind 170 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: of consider to be the Yankees of E sports, playing 171 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: entitles like League of Legends and Dota two and see 172 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: Us Go in the like. We've got our arena, Capital 173 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: One Arena located in downtown Washington, d C. And then 174 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: we have a big media partnership with Comcasts and NBC 175 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: Sports Washington here in our area where we're minority equity owners. 176 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: And then we've launched Monumental Sports Network, which is are 177 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: over the top director consumers sister network to NBC Sports Washington. 178 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: So we continue to grow and expand, I think in 179 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: two thousand and eighteen. We really want to perfect a 180 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: lot of our craft. UM, but we do continue to 181 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: invest in sort of a sport related opportunities. UM. We 182 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: are big in new media, big and East sports starting 183 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: to get big, and gaming and gambling as that becomes 184 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 1: more and more relevant. It's a lot of different interesting 185 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: touch points that we're seeing in Washington, d C. All right, well, 186 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 1: that's all the time we have today. Thank you DR 187 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: for joining us. All Right, let's go. Let's let's backtrack 188 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: and now that everybody knows all the things are into, 189 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: let's slice and dice a little bit. You mentioned the sports. 190 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: Let's start there because it's up and coming. Everybody I 191 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: talked to was investing in it, but they're really not 192 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: sure what they have. Now you're investing alongside Peter Goober 193 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: now he's an owner of the Dodgers and the Warriors, 194 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: Jeff Nick, he's one of the owners of the Lightning. 195 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: Do you get the sense? Am I accurate? And that 196 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: people want to be there, but they're just not sure 197 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: what the end goal is? Where is they're there? I 198 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: think people have been thinking that way for a couple 199 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 1: of years now, and what I do fear for people 200 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: who are trying to get into the space. Is that, UM, 201 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: there are probably some opportunities that have been missed at 202 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: this point because valuations are increasingly higher and higher and higher. UM. 203 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: We really took a bit of a plunge into e 204 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 1: sports about sixteen and seventeen months ago by investing in 205 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: the team Liquid, and it came after probably two full 206 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: years of research and customer and strategic partner interviews in 207 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: the life because you know, we first heard about an 208 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: e sport events selling out Medicine Square Garden, and of 209 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: course that piped our interests and we raised our hand 210 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: and said we'd love to host a Super Bowl equivalent 211 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: events at Capital One Arena, and we basically got laughed at, right, 212 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of other sports organizations probably 213 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: had a similar experience. Because we were done in the space, 214 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: we didn't really know what this community was all about, 215 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 1: and we needed to do our homework to really understand 216 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 1: why it was relevant, why it was so beautifully organic 217 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: UM and what really makes that audience so special. And 218 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: it's a complicated ecosystem too, I mean, there are so 219 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: many different layers to that UM food chain, so to speak, 220 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: with publishers, tournament organizers, brands that are trying to get 221 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: into the space, both endemic and non endemic new media partnerships, 222 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: and then these teams. And you know what I think 223 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: is most amazing about E sports is it's really the 224 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: very first live event category where digital is the absolute 225 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: primary distribution source and cable is the secondary complimentary one. Forever, 226 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: cable has always been the primary channel for distribution of 227 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: live sports and digital than the complimentary one, and now 228 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: it's slowly starting to creep in. You see a lot 229 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: more bo t T offerings. I listened to your podcast 230 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: last week with Peter Cohen. I thought that was He 231 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: was very bright and brought up a lot of great points. Clearly, 232 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: the new media landscape is shifting for sports, but everyone's 233 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: really watching the sports to figure out how do we 234 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: create a business around media for this next generation of 235 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: fan that won't pay subscriptions, UM that is quick to 236 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: chew out inauthentic ad campaigns and brand experiences and is 237 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: more interested in following star power, interacting with community members 238 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: through chat while watching online, and is watching primarily on 239 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: mobile or tablet displays. You have to help an old 240 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: man here. I just got an Atari video gaming system 241 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: for Christmas, and I'm like, heck, yeah, now this is 242 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: what video gaming is all about. And then we have 243 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: the entire E sports genre and I you have to 244 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: help me understand. This is huge what makes this so popular? 245 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: So it is enormous, um if you think about this. So, 246 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: the League of Legends World Championships was about two months ago, 247 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: held in Beijing, UM at a nearly sold out Bird's 248 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 1: Nest Stadium, and eighty million people watched online via Twitch. 249 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: I mean that is big audience and we're approaching Super 250 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: Bowl size numbers, right. So you know a lot of 251 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: people will ask me, well, as E sports really a sport, 252 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: and typically my responses, you're missing the point. It doesn't 253 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: really matter if it's a sporting event. People have debated 254 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:07,599 Speaker 1: that about NASCAR and golf. Um, this is big and important, 255 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: and it's big because it's a primarily young audience, and 256 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: it's a younger audience that doesn't watch traditional sports like 257 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: we do today. I went to E three last June, 258 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: which is one of the biggest E sport conferences in 259 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: the world, held in l A and I was talking 260 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: to a few E sports fans just kind of picking 261 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: people's brains. Is that a Team Liquid demo for Quake, 262 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: which is a title produced by or published by but 263 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: does the soft work. And I said, are you watching 264 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: the NBA Finals? Said nope, I don't have cable. Well 265 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: it's on ABC. It's on network, so you actually could 266 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: watch it, but you didn't even realize it was on 267 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: network television. He goes, yeah, Well, I'm I'm a way 268 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: bigger Legal Legends fan and my favorite players Faker and 269 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: Faker is the you know, Lebron equivalent in League of Legends. 270 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: And if he would have walked on to the conference floor, 271 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: he would have been mobbed by fans asking for autographs, pictures, selfies, 272 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: and the like. And so there have been some unbelievable 273 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: sort of meteoric rises in star power that people are 274 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: attracted to. And not only do they watch them play 275 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: live in real matches, but they watch them practice on 276 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: a daily basis. Players are getting online and streaming themselves. 277 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: They're giving pointers and tips as to why they play 278 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: a certain way. Because I think one of the great 279 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: things about the sports is it's incredibly accessible. It doesn't 280 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: matter really how old you are, if you're male or female, 281 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: you know, all of these factors are taken out of 282 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: play UM your scores, your score, and everyone can improve 283 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: and get better if they continue to play and play 284 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: and play. But it's important to understand lastly that there 285 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: are a lot of video games out there and they're 286 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: publisher they're published by companies like Activision or Riots or 287 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: but does the soft Works. But not all video games 288 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: are e sports. E sports are multiplayer UM typically five 289 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: v five or three v three. Some are one v 290 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: one UM, but they're embraced by community in chat boards 291 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: on Twitch and people start to crowd fund prize money 292 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: for people to participate in tournaments and the like. People 293 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: attach themselves to team brands where you know, they believe 294 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: in the team's values as opposed to their you know, geolocation. 295 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: Right now, teams aren't necessarily geolocated or tied to a 296 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: specific region in the sports, so they're international in nature. 297 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: There's just a lot of really cool activity happening in 298 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: the sports that I think is very relevant for professional 299 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: team operators to pay attention to, particularly as we look 300 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: at new media distribution for our existing team rights and 301 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: then reaching that next generation of fan that may never 302 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: have cable and may never come to our billing, and 303 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: so we have to be cognizant about, well, how do 304 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: we garner an engender fandom within the younger generation of people. 305 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: I had the over under a Twitch mentions at three, 306 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,479 Speaker 1: you were the under So let me bring in the 307 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: third mention of Twitch. The NBA is experimenting with its 308 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: G League, and something John Skipper told me a long 309 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: time ago seems to be appropriate here this about scale. 310 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: If you can aggregate eyeballs, he doesn't care what it is, 311 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 1: where it is. If it can aggregate eyeballs, he wants 312 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 1: it because then it's his job to monetize. Is that 313 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 1: how you look at it? Yeah, I don't think that's 314 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: a terrible way to think about it. And I think 315 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 1: what we're so fortunate and lucky to have working in 316 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: professional sports is sort of that last fashion of live 317 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: appointment viewing within the media landscape. I mean, no one 318 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: watches UM Thursday night at seven pm to watch their 319 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: favorite show debut anymore. It's just yet that's an old 320 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: muscle memory from previous generations, like where's where's the creativity? 321 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: Where's the creativity? Where's the creativity? I think like American 322 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: Idol captured for a little while Survivor Captured it for 323 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: a little while. American Ninja Warrior captured it for a 324 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: little while, But there's no staying power. It does seem 325 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 1: as if sports is the only thing, because of the 326 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: unscripted nature, that has that staying power. And it's one 327 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: of the most the last predictable things too. The puck 328 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,439 Speaker 1: is always being dropped at seven oh seven pm. The 329 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: ball is always being tipped off at eight pm. Uh, 330 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,239 Speaker 1: you know, for for West Coast audiences or whatnot. Right, 331 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: it's always on time, and there's always a game to 332 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:44,199 Speaker 1: watch the national deals or through the regional partnerships that 333 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: have been forged by the individual teams themselves. And on 334 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: top of that, sports is the last staple of that's 335 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: really keeping the cable bundle together. It's the last piece 336 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: of programming that you have to be a subscriber to 337 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: either a satellite or cable service. To watch all eighty 338 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: two Capitals or Wizards games, you have to be a 339 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 1: subscriber of NBC Sports Washington to have that. Now, you 340 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: can watch an authenticated experience through the NBC Sports Live app, 341 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: but still have to be subscribed to a cable service, 342 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 1: or at least your parents have to be subscribed to 343 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: a cable service, I should say um and and so 344 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: you know, I do think that if you look at 345 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: the sort of the top forty most highly rated events 346 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 1: last year, it's all sporting events and be a finals, 347 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,120 Speaker 1: game one, game two, game three, game four, game five, 348 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, right, Sailey Cup Finals, World Series, they're all 349 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: They're consistently UM and because of that, it's still a 350 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: very attractive place for advertisers to spend dollars to. You know, 351 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: people are tuning in as opposed to watching on t 352 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: VO later. I mean that's a very very small subsect 353 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 1: of the audience that's recording a game to watch it 354 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: later because they're busy at another event or whatnot. I mean, 355 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: it just doesn't happen that often. We are chatting with 356 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: Zach Leonsis, Senior VP of Strategic Initiatives for Monumental Sports 357 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: and Entertainment, and you guys started the O T T network. 358 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: My guess is that it's a hedge against wherever we're going. 359 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: You're up and running, it's a testing ground. You're pricing. 360 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 1: I was always curious in the pricing eight month, if 361 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: you sign up for a one year commitment without it, 362 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: how did you come up with the pricing for that network, 363 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: So we actually have some new pricing Scott's correct correct No, no, correctly, 364 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 1: everybody else in my life does. So we've actually split 365 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: up our packages to really start to define video versus 366 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 1: the other benefits of we have that we have for 367 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 1: being a member. Um. So obviously we we've really found 368 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: ourselves to be students of Amazon Prime and the bundling 369 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 1: of not just video but in real life membership only 370 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 1: experiences and merchandise opportunities too. So we now offer a 371 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: six per month video pass and then we offer the 372 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: i P memberships at for a year and then includes 373 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: all of our video as well as a merchandise discount 374 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: within our team store and a once monthly team events 375 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 1: complementary ticket opportunity or experience. So um, last month it 376 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: was a cooking class with the Capitol's players, so the 377 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: first three hundred subscribers to RCP got access for them 378 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: in a plus one who Made Who and cook pasta 379 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: with Madison Valley. Right. Next week it might be a 380 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 1: holiday mixology class with Otto Porter. Right. These are these 381 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 1: experiential in real life opportunities that you can bungle as 382 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: part of a subscription package. Ways of linear television just can't. 383 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: What I I'm really excited about with Monumental Sports Network 384 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 1: bill is it allows us to experiment not just with 385 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: different packages, but with different production techniques. You know, if 386 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 1: you if you watch an RSN broadcast, those broadcasts could 387 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: be fifty sixty seventy thousand dollars per game. Not all 388 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: of our games need to be fifty six or seventy 389 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: thousand dollar broadcasts. They can be one thousand dollar broadcasts, 390 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: five thousand dollar broadcast, ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand, 391 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: just based on the quality of content, the quality of 392 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: rights that were streaming online. And so if you give 393 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: yourself that flexibility, you allow yourself the ability to scale 394 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: and sort of reach long tail, which is what we've 395 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: done with high school sports and programming in the d 396 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: m V this year, will do well over five hundred 397 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: live events, will do well over a hundred hours of 398 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: original programming for our subscribers behind our pay wall, but 399 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,880 Speaker 1: will also experiment listen streaming through social platforms like Facebook 400 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 1: and Twitter. I think it is a great platform for 401 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,680 Speaker 1: further development of e sports, particularly and if they ever 402 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 1: become regionalized in the future. I think it is a 403 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: platform for digital gaming experiences where you're watching the game 404 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: through a video player and then gaming directly on top 405 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: of it through special overlays that will be developed. UM 406 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: we have a really cool partnership with kiss we Mobile 407 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 1: that allows you to um switch back and forth between 408 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: multiple camera angles and the broadcast, rewind clip and share 409 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 1: the social So a lot of different very cool tools 410 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 1: that you can do in the digital world that you 411 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 1: really can't be a linear and NBC Sports as an 412 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: equity partner and monumental sports network, and I think that 413 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 1: they've seen value in it, not only because we're directed 414 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,159 Speaker 1: consumer and acquiring a lot of data. We're building a 415 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: secondary subscriber base while the primary subscriber based declines, but 416 00:23:56,520 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: it also allows them a great Petrie dish to experiment 417 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 1: with new technologies with so um it's been a great 418 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: project so far. We are very excited about year two. 419 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: Encourage you guys to visit the network or download our app. 420 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: Check out our brand new seven linear feed. You will 421 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: you will see that our network feels very much just 422 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: like a regular TV network with now well, I heard food, 423 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: so you know I'm in. And since you guys have 424 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: the Washington Wizards, you guys are right now on the 425 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: momentum side of the four major sports food groups, as 426 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 1: I like to call it. Many people are believing that 427 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:40,360 Speaker 1: the NBA will be number one one day simply because, 428 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: as they said, because of the length of the games, 429 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 1: it's shorter, uh and more exciting to watch than even 430 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: the National Football League. I'd have to agree with that. 431 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: I think that my dad and I definitely believe in 432 00:24:54,800 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: the school thought that indoor sports have incredible advantages when 433 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 1: it comes through entertaining the next generation of fans, and 434 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: it's because basketball and hockey combined are incredibly fast. In basketball, 435 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 1: there's constant scoring and most of all, there's great quality 436 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: control for data collection. So we're really, uh, we're really 437 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: excit about an investment we've made in a company called 438 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 1: sport radar Um, which has incredible infrastructure empowers all the 439 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:30,640 Speaker 1: data collection for the NFL, n b A, and and NHL, 440 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: and you're able to get pinpoint accuracy and start to 441 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 1: relay data as content, which I think savvy sports fans creates. Um. 442 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 1: You also can't deny the international appeal in nature that 443 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: the NBA has developed, and now they're starting to develop 444 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: academies in India and Africa, just like they did in China, 445 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,399 Speaker 1: and we see how big the NBA game has gotten there. 446 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: So I do think that the NBA is the is 447 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 1: global of the North American UH major four leagues. I mean, 448 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: they're trying to compete now with you know, the EPL 449 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,879 Speaker 1: teams in Europe, and I don't think that's too far away. 450 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: We're definitely bullish on where the NBA is heading. Zach. 451 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: We need so much more time. I mean, you mentioned 452 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: your dad. I don't think we had talked about him yet. 453 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 1: Ted leonsis a former AOL executive, but you did mention 454 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: sport Radar NFL also an equity holder in that company, 455 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,479 Speaker 1: and one of the big things they do is supply 456 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: live data to the betting houses around the world. Two 457 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: owners of US sports teams view legalized, federally regulated sports 458 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: betting as the next great revenue stream for them. You know, 459 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 1: I don't want to speak for any other ownership groups 460 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: besides ourselves. All right, I'll say, you're gonna be right, 461 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:49,640 Speaker 1: so you tell me how you view it. I will 462 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 1: tell you that certainly my dad and I are proponents, 463 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: were such big proponents that we actually held a hearing 464 00:26:55,840 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: on Capitol Hill UM to advocate for it, and we're 465 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: advocating for it because it's a four hundred billion dollar 466 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:10,360 Speaker 1: a year business that is unregulated and untaxed. And we've 467 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 1: been sharing this story a lot. I'll share it quickly here. 468 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: We live in a tri state area in Washington, d C. 469 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: Were bordered by Virginia and Maryland, and in Maryland gambling 470 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: is legal. MGM Grand National Harbor, five minutes across the 471 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: DC state line, might be the biggest casino resort in 472 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 1: their portfolio now. And if you go to their parking garage, 473 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: it's ten stories and it's all DC license plates. They're 474 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: a corporate partner at Monumental. They're the casino partner of 475 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:46,200 Speaker 1: the Capitals and the Washington Wizards UM. Maryland Casino Live 476 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: is our second casino partner, and they they sponsor a 477 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: hospitality area at Capital One Area. And so we just 478 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: look at it and we go, oh, my gosh, what 479 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:59,919 Speaker 1: a missed opportunity for Washington, d C. To participate for 480 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 1: a tax perspective, UM, when all of it's going to Maryland. 481 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 1: I think we like in what's happening now in gaming 482 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: and gambling to prohibition days, right, Um, you've outlawed it, 483 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 1: so you think you're stopping it, but that's not the 484 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: case at all. It's still happening, and when it's unregulated 485 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:24,679 Speaker 1: and untaxed, that's when bad things can app Um. So 486 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:28,360 Speaker 1: I think we keep asking who are we protecting? Are 487 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 1: we protecting these illegal bookmakers and the like? It doesn't 488 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: make any sense anymore, and we should embrace it because 489 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: it drives huge engagement around our teams and huge viewership 490 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: national and regional broadcasts. And there's no secret that you know. 491 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: That's why Monday night football is popular. Right, You lost 492 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: your weekend bets, so you want to make it up 493 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: on Monday. And it might be Cincinnati and Pittsburgh playing 494 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: two relatively small markets compared to the other thirty, but 495 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna watch because you might have something on the 496 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: line there. So we do we we have become advocates 497 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,959 Speaker 1: for gaming and gambling. We think there's huge benefits regulating 498 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: it that protects the sport and has also beneficial to 499 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: the fan as well. Now, Zach, I have spoken to 500 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: you about my son, and the listeners have heard about 501 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: my son, Little eight year old Jackson sitting right behind 502 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: us right now with his iPad in hand. The question 503 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: for you is, in this new world of second screen 504 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: or third screen experience, And I did ask this of 505 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: Peter Cohen as well, is it possible that the sport 506 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: which you are deeply ingrained in him, I know you 507 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: care about these sports. Is it possible that the social 508 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: or the betting becomes the first screen and that the 509 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: sport itself becomes the second screen sort of in the background. 510 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: Just something that has to happen for this other platform 511 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:54,600 Speaker 1: and these other activities that the youngsters love so much. 512 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: Definitely possible for some people who are interested in that. Um, 513 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: I think we could definitely see, you know, programs like 514 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: Sports Center retro fitted into you know, sort of mad 515 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: Money style shows where you've got by side and sell 516 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: side analysts. Um. You know, we're we're we're bullish on 517 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 1: these players because they play well and adverse weather conditions 518 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: and third quarters when the team is five hundred and 519 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,400 Speaker 1: a playoff opportunities on the line. I mean, that's the 520 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 1: sort of granular data points that are going to be 521 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 1: craved by by bettors in the future, and they already are. 522 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: They're just researching it and trying to find it out 523 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: in different ways. But I do still think that there 524 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: are sports fans and the majority of them are like this, 525 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: who just care about the teams. And I think that's 526 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: what we feel so fortunate about that. You know, twenty 527 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 1: years from now, I have no idea of I'll still 528 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: be using an iPhone or not, but I'm still gonna 529 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: be a Washington Capitals and a Washington Wizards fans. And 530 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: I think people are so brand loyal to their teams 531 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: as long as the teams treat them well. Um that 532 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:06,239 Speaker 1: that passion and that built in community will last for 533 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: generations to come. People know that you're connected to obviously 534 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 1: to the Washington Capitals the Wizards. You own Capitol One Arena, 535 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 1: But you guys are also connected to the film industry. 536 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 1: You guys own Snag Films. Correct. Correct. So my dad 537 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: actually um created an independent film documentary um on a 538 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 1: on a book called Nan King. And it's not a 539 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: light family comedy. It's sort of a serious, dark natured movie. 540 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 1: But it did very well. It won an award at 541 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: Sundance and it won an Emmy Award. Unfortunately, though very 542 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 1: few people thoughts, and I think that my dad experienced 543 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 1: what a lot of film independent filmmakers see, as you 544 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: put your heart and your passion into building this great 545 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: movie and you don't get the distribution that it deserves. 546 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: And so my dad launched a platform called snag Films. 547 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 1: And what snag Films as an ad based business, free 548 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: to consume, available on almost every platform. But what snag 549 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: Films really unlashed for us was the ability to engage. 550 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 1: As an ot T network, we developed our own applications 551 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: and platforms, etcetera, user management systems, subscription management systems, and 552 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: then we started to white label out the business to 553 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 1: different customers and the like, including Monumental Sports Network, and 554 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 1: now that development agency is actually sort of the crown 555 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:39,680 Speaker 1: jewel of that business. Um So it's interesting how you 556 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 1: know an entrepreneurs tale will take you from starting to 557 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:47,320 Speaker 1: create an independent movie all the way to launching an 558 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:49,920 Speaker 1: ot T digital development shop. You would never think that 559 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 1: those two could be connected. But that is the story 560 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: of how we've sort of ventured deeply into the O 561 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: T T world. But I'm gonna tell you where you 562 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: get most of my money. It's not DraftKings, it's not 563 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 1: the Wizards. It could be the capital because you know, 564 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: my little guy loves his hockey. He's a goal he's 565 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: he's insane. Yes, But as part of your VC fund, 566 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: you all your investments include Sweet Green. Yeah, that's where 567 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: you get the money because I stand online. My wife 568 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: goes there every single day for lunch. She's reached gold status. 569 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: Does she have a special card or something serious, which 570 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: is very serious. She gets invited to special events and whatnot. Um, 571 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 1: it's pretty remarkable. But yeah, they are killing it. It's 572 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:35,680 Speaker 1: they're They're a great company, a great double bottom line 573 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: business making America healthy again. Um, it's a wonderful place. 574 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: It's so I mean, how sweet crea I I go. 575 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,080 Speaker 1: I just call it like lots of salads. It's a 576 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 1: million choices of salads. But but it's good. I'm a 577 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 1: guy and I still like their salads. I think that's 578 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: pretty impressive. I love it. And by the way, I 579 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: also love it's no cash. It slows things down. No cash. 580 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:59,320 Speaker 1: So another another place where you can test everything for 581 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: your for sports teams as well. Data oriented, right, You've 582 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: got to use their app to pay and their director consumer. 583 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:10,920 Speaker 1: They gather a lot of information. Data capture on Sandy 584 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:16,080 Speaker 1: customers incredibly important for optimization of the product, marketing, it's 585 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,760 Speaker 1: so informative. They know if I come between the hours 586 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 1: of five and six, they can just get the harvest 587 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: Bowl ready exact Leon. Thank you very much for taking 588 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:31,319 Speaker 1: time out of your vacation and calling in from California. Thanks. 589 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:36,240 Speaker 1: Take away from the interview, I think what really caught 590 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:40,320 Speaker 1: my ear is how Zach just simply said, you know what, 591 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:44,319 Speaker 1: people just don't sit around the TV anymore the way 592 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:47,960 Speaker 1: they used to, and at a particular time, people have 593 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:53,680 Speaker 1: their own schedules and cable and network TV. That's going 594 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 1: to be a thing of the past, if it's not already. 595 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 1: It's not like I didn't know this already, because I've 596 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,359 Speaker 1: know ted leons Is for a long time. I've known 597 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 1: Zach for a while now. But to see the generations 598 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 1: working together and Zach really kind of leading this O 599 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:11,280 Speaker 1: T T and the new world order, it's it's interesting 600 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: to see all their tentacles where they are, how one 601 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 1: beast feeds the other, and how with the centerpiece of 602 00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:22,800 Speaker 1: the name recognition of the franchises, they are building this 603 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 1: sports and entertainment global more and more looking global company. 604 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 1: You don't want it feels better to be number one 605 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:33,400 Speaker 1: than number five. I'll wear a number. Because of Mike, 606 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 1: we have a chance to go for three in a row. 607 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 1: Good numbers in a good time. And let's first started 608 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 1: wearing the number. I would just have the floomberg business 609 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:44,520 Speaker 1: of sports. The number of the week. And now for 610 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:47,239 Speaker 1: the number of the week. This is a surprise to know, 611 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 1: I think, don't forget. I've been on vacation, so I 612 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 1: don't know number. The number is nine. I'm gonna give 613 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:56,800 Speaker 1: you a clue. It was warned by one of the 614 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: most famous sports figures ever. See you just you, just 615 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 1: does you? Doesn't want to beer a close man, Number nine, 616 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:13,840 Speaker 1: Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox Slugger. Why am I bringing 617 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:18,439 Speaker 1: because letters from the Red Sox Slugger and the Hall 618 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: of Famer are going up for sale. They're going up 619 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:24,760 Speaker 1: for auction, provides him inside and the Ted Williams ada 620 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: is from baseball to serve in the Korean War. And 621 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:30,800 Speaker 1: there are some letters that he penned to a mistress 622 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 1: from fifty two to fifty four, including one in which 623 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:37,399 Speaker 1: he describes crash landing a fighter jet with holes all 624 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:41,359 Speaker 1: over the plane. And they're going on sale next month 625 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:45,960 Speaker 1: in Biddeford, Maine. By I would love. I would love 626 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:48,839 Speaker 1: to get if they'd sell him separately, yes, but if 627 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,640 Speaker 1: they have to take the whole lot, it's the way 628 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:53,560 Speaker 1: in the world. Like in afore this this is gonna 629 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 1: get over. Yeah, people, sounds interesting. I'd like to read it. 630 00:36:57,560 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's he talks about. He talks about 631 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: his father when his father passed, how he regrets that 632 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:06,360 Speaker 1: he didn't spend more time with his father. There's also 633 00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:09,840 Speaker 1: a letter that he pinned, and he was talking about 634 00:37:10,040 --> 00:37:14,239 Speaker 1: while he's serving about how one of his buddies purposely 635 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:18,360 Speaker 1: sabotage the plane so he could spend time with a girlfriend. 636 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:20,920 Speaker 1: Nice guy. I just want to I love the stories 637 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 1: where he says as soon as the pitcher released the 638 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: ball he could see the spin. Oh yeah, I mean 639 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:27,360 Speaker 1: I like hearing like the best of the best telling 640 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:29,279 Speaker 1: how they did it and how easy it was. It 641 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 1: points for them where it's for your mortals like us. Well, 642 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:38,759 Speaker 1: he can miss the blueper pitch. But for people who 643 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 1: don't know that the bluepert pitch, it was this pitch 644 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,719 Speaker 1: that just a long arc and nobody could hit the 645 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 1: dog on thing except Ted Williams. If you're sitting on 646 00:37:49,239 --> 00:37:53,440 Speaker 1: and he comes in at It's not easy. You've been 647 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:55,959 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports. We are here each 648 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:59,120 Speaker 1: and every week at the same time, exploring the world 649 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:01,960 Speaker 1: of money in sports. Michael barn and I'm Scott Sashnik. 650 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,000 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, and please tune in next week 651 00:38:04,040 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 1: when we speak with Bill Hancock, the executive director of 652 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 1: the College Football Playoff. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of 653 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:12,880 Speaker 1: Sports on Bloomberg Radio of around the world and online 654 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:14,719 Speaker 1: as an Apple Podcast on iTunes.