1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. Should Major League Baseball 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: shorten up the season? How do we present football to 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: the audience of the future. I don't think that most 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: players understand the power that they have. Michael vaugh The 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: future of IndyCar racing is looking bright. Scott Sashnik very 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: basic math here, more bidders means more money. Evan Nobody Williams. 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: The team value has essentially quadruples. And the leaders in 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: the sports industry. Time to bringing our guest, Hal's Flimbrunner. 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, Atlanta Braves president Derek Schiller, 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: Patriots President Jonathan Kraft. Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 11 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: I'm Michael barn I'm Evan, Novie Williams, and I'm Scott. 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: Over the next hour, we will explore the big money 13 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: issues in the world of sports and talk to some 14 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: of the biggest players in the industry. Today, we speak 15 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: with Steve Rapp, president of s n Y, the New 16 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 1: York regional sports network that's home to the Mets. That's 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: coming up on Bloomberg Business of Sports, But first let's 18 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: look at this week's top stories. Starting with a somewhat 19 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: controversial milestone in college sports. Controversially you think or predictable. 20 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: It's predictable controversy. Let's so well in essence. In short, 21 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: to sum it up, Mr Novi Williams, the amount of 22 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: money that colleges are now spending on coaches and their 23 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: staff and administration, both of those have eclipsed what they 24 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: spend on scholarships. Yeah. I think the coaches pay has 25 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: been bigger than scholarships for a while, and now it's 26 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: this administrative the admins and the staff has joined them. Yeah, 27 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: I mean there's predictable seems like a good word for this. 28 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: I mean, the spending is going so big at the top, 29 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: top level of college sports. This doesn't surprise me one 30 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: other you know things. I have to mention that the 31 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: accounting first scholarships spending is so poor right now in 32 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: college college sports. The number that pick your school Alabama, 33 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: Ohio State, the number they say they spend on scholarships 34 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: is so dramatically inflated. UM doesn't even these things that'll 35 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: cut a check. I mean they can exactly either raising 36 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: tuition or admitting some other student. They don't actually cut 37 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: a check that exactly. Yeah, they're they're paying that money 38 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,119 Speaker 1: to the school. We won't get into transfer price accounting 39 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: and how that works. That's good, it is. It is 40 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: essentially a phantom number. So so realistically, the amount they 41 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: were paying to you know, staff and administration probably eclipse 42 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: this fee a long long time ago. But it is 43 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: another highlight of the way in which you know, some 44 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: of the revenue stry or the expenses the ones going 45 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 1: to players are staying relatively flat. There's been a little 46 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: bit of change, but it's and there are other ones, 47 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: including you know, facility costs and the cost of coach 48 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: and administration, that are essentially skyrocket. And I should say kudos, 49 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: by the way to Steve Berkowitz over at USA today. 50 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:47,799 Speaker 1: He puts the stuff to get every year, does better 51 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: than anybody covers the numbers of college sports, does a 52 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: really good job. Let's turn to the next topic. This 53 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: one bums me out because I thought the momentum was going, 54 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: but it's looking like gender discrimination talks between the U 55 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: S women soccer team and the US Soccer Federation are 56 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: breaking down. This is where I have fun with you. 57 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: Bar What was it out there in the atmosphere that 58 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: made you think there was momentum, because I honestly thought, 59 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: since this is twenty nineteen, and since the US women 60 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: soccer team one it all, that maybe, just maybe people 61 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: would realize that this gender discrimination in the problems with pay. 62 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: You're saying that the women's players are right. Yes, you're 63 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: saying you've got to be more. Yes, I am no 64 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: buying into the US Soccer argument of they do not 65 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: generate the same revenue as the men. Name me the 66 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,119 Speaker 1: soccer team that you've been talking about for the beast 67 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: several months. I understand that, but they also played in 68 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: the World Cup the past several months. In the menu, 69 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: if this was the men's World Cup and the U 70 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: S was in it, I would say to you, how 71 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: much more attention to the men getting than even the 72 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: women did during their World Cup? This? This is, this 73 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: is I'm not saying right wrong, but I'm just saying 74 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: I don't think that argument again, it's apples to watermelons. 75 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: You've got a team playing during a World Cup year 76 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: versus a team that is not in the World Cup 77 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: apples And I like what I was with you for 78 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: a bit far until until US Soccer a couple of 79 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: weeks ago came out with its version of the numbers right, 80 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: which was a drastically different accounting than what the women 81 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: put out. And then quietly US Soccer has also hired 82 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: two lobbying firms to go to Capitol Hill and and 83 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: and lobby against these federal bills that would essentially prohibit 84 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: them from receiving federal funds if they weren't paying the 85 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: two teams equally. Once you saw those two things, you know, 86 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: my mind began to think, you know, maybe this mediation 87 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: isn't going isn't gonna end up? Um, we'll see now 88 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 1: when now we're heading to it a jury trial, I guess, 89 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: and we're gonna lay lay it all out there. As 90 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,159 Speaker 1: a journalist who likes, you know, to see disclosures and 91 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 1: things like that. You had grand jury and paneling. You 92 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: didn't get picked, but you serve on this jury. That 93 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: would have been great. You'd have been out right away. 94 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: Wait Williams, I know him, he's out. And finally another 95 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: soccer topic. St. Louis, they may have lost the Rams, 96 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: but they're gaining a football team of a different sort. Well, 97 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna let you handle. They may have lost the Rams, 98 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 1: but Emily did lose the Rams. But they're getting MLS. 99 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: Um yeah, so MLS teams that so many, this would 100 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 1: be this would be twenty eight for folks who are curious. 101 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: L a f C was twenty three and Cincinnati this 102 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: year was twenty four. We're getting teams in Miami and 103 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 1: Nashville next year Austin one, and then reportedly St. Louis, 104 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: So that will be number twenty eight, which makes this 105 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: league big. That's that's big, even for a soccer league. 106 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: One other thing of note for this franchise. You know St. 107 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: Louis has been trying for a while to get an 108 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: MLS team. Uh, this would be a majority female owned 109 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: soccer team. Caroline Kindall Betts right up top enterprise. Yeah, so, 110 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 1: um yeah. I think that's a nice little note for 111 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: for MLS. Maybe we need to get her involved in 112 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: this pay discrimination. I think there are enough people involved, Michael. Now, 113 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,559 Speaker 1: let's get to this week's interview with Steve rap He's 114 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: the president of s n Y, the New York regional 115 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: sports network that's home to the Mets. The team is 116 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: also a majority owner of s n Y. Other investors 117 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: include Charter and Comcast. Steve, how about those Mats, I 118 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: mean they have been on a role for a while. 119 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: They've been playing back above five ball now. I mean, 120 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: they're looking great. It's been an incredible run, right the 121 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: last sixteen or seventeen games. They've won eight out of 122 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: the last nine I think fifteen out of the last seventeen. 123 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: Come on, truth be told, Trade deadline? Did did you 124 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,040 Speaker 1: think they were sellers? Like? Oh, I kept hearing Synderguard's 125 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: gonna go and I'm like, if that happens, then oh 126 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: I thought, um, I thought yes, I thought perhaps they 127 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 1: were measured sellers, meaning um, short term sellers getting themselves 128 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: in a in a position for next year as opposed 129 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: to several years down the road, wait till next year. 130 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: You don't want to hear that. They weren't saying that, 131 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 1: but I didn't. I didn't feel like they were wholesale sellers. 132 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: Got it. Well, My thing is with the Mets is 133 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: first of all, your view of the playoffs and can 134 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: they make the playoffs because they've had this heck of 135 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: a run, Well, they certainly can make the playoffs. I 136 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: think as we sit here today, there's something like half 137 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: a game out of the second wild card spot. So 138 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: with the changes in the baseball playoffs, structure and the 139 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: run they've had the right in there. But I think 140 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: there's you know, there are a lot of teams right 141 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: in there. So yes, they can make the playoffs. Um, 142 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: and they're beating the teams that they needed to beat. 143 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: They are, but there's a lot of baseball left to 144 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: be played. But they're in it. And on August right, 145 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: to be able to say they're in it given what 146 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: the first half of the season was is really pretty hard. 147 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: Take out the advocates though, what does it mean? Give 148 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: me some dollars and cents implications on what this winning streak, 149 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: the attention, the possibility, the playoffs, the excitement. What does 150 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: it mean for s n Y. Well, what it means 151 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: for s n Y. It will mean something this season, 152 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: right because we've got two months left of the season 153 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: and the opportunity for us in those two months. UM. 154 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: Short term is ad sales and as ratings go up. Look, 155 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: just over the last nine games we've seen ratings go up, 156 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: they stay in it. Those ratings come to a different level. UM. 157 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: The demand, the pricing. If Novie Underscore Williams Inc. Wanted 158 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: to buy an ad on the Mets game a month ago, 159 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: what's it cost him if he wants to do it 160 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: this week, next week, what's it cost him? Um? I mean, 161 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: there's a lot of it depends. I think the simplest 162 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: answer to that is that next week, UM might cost 163 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: them double what it costs them like double. Can you 164 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: put a number on it? It's hard to You know, 165 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: you could be looking in the eight thousand dollar neighborhood 166 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: and and that's for how long a spot is that? 167 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 1: And I know that you know other you know, a 168 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: lot of sports properties, depending on what they are, will 169 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: sell ads. You know, a season in advance, how much 170 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: inventory have you already sold for a game next week? 171 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: How much do you deliberately leave out in the case 172 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: that the Mets get super hot and suddenly prices double 173 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: kind of how do you manage the inventory like that? 174 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 1: Our strategy going into a year is UM something you know, 175 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: something north of two thirds UM is probably committed by 176 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: opening day. So that's why the opportunity when you get 177 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: to August four, there's opportunity. But you're not sitting with 178 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: you know, tons of inventor you made commitments before the 179 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: season started, and and some of that's a hedge, right, 180 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,079 Speaker 1: and some of that is is just how we managed 181 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: the business, was gonna ask how much of that is? 182 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: Is you kind of trying to read tea leaves about 183 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: the team? I mean, is there any I think the 184 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 1: team is going to be out, you know, outperform expectation. 185 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: Let's let's hold back a little bit more in inventory. 186 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: Is there any of that? Or is it just kind 187 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: of a set number two thirds before and let's you know, 188 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: let let's see if the team gets gets good, well 189 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: we'll suddenly, you know what, what we'll reap the profit. 190 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: It's actually something I mean, the truth is it's a 191 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: little bit north of two thirds without giving you a 192 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: specific percentage, but that's that's our strategy, I think as 193 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 1: as we look at the business, because what's the real 194 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: opportunity from a winning team? In our business, you really 195 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: always a year in arrears the opportunity, the bigger opportunity 196 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: is always the next year. When you think about the 197 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: commitments that you're putting in place before the next opening day, right, 198 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: so much of that work is being done, say between 199 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: December and the end of March, So there's a short 200 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: term opportunity, but it's the next next year's opportunity. Um 201 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:07,559 Speaker 1: that is that's even greater and with teams that that 202 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: compete in a sustainable fashion, that opportunity to put together 203 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: multiple years of of being competitive makes you know, can 204 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: really make a difference. We're chatting with Steve rad the 205 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: president of s n Y. So then take me through 206 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: next year. Then let's just say you make the playoffs, 207 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: and let's make the playoffs. All is good? What X 208 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: does next year look like? Considering you'll have that that 209 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: full runway of knowledge of the team is really good 210 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 1: and has the prospect of being really good. From an 211 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: ad sales standpoint, you would be planning and pushing to 212 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: be up double digits. And remember, in our business though, right, 213 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: we really have you know what I would consider you know, 214 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: in the core business three primary revenue streams. Right, you 215 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: have affiliate fees, you have AD sales, and for us, 216 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: we have syndication. So it's the twenty five games here 217 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: in New York that are on Pixel eleven, and as 218 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: we move out into the territory, it's on other over 219 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 1: the air stations primarily. So AT sales is very meaningful 220 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: to us, but it's not you know, it's not the biggest, right, 221 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: So your ownership structure, you have charter you have Comcast 222 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: as part of your your ownership. We hear so much 223 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: about these carriage disputes. Are you largely insulated from that 224 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: because of the heft of those two Obviously you're you're 225 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: not gonna be taken off. That's that's a lot of 226 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: customers in the area. It would be hard for s 227 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: n Y to be dark somewhere. Well, I don't think 228 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: in today's world anybody is insulated from that dynamic, right, 229 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:46,719 Speaker 1: Like it's tougher out there, But there's no doubt that 230 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,559 Speaker 1: our ownership structure, which is a combination of you know, 231 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: the majority owners who are the owners of the Mets, 232 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: and then you have as you mentioned, Charter and you 233 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: have UM Comcast, NBCU UM. From that standpoint, it doesn't 234 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: insulate us, but it's it's definitely UM. We definitely benefit 235 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: from from that ownership structure because um we're reasonably independent. 236 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 1: But at the same time, we have these partners who 237 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: you know, are our big players in this space, and yeah, 238 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: it helps us. Can you take us through what the 239 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: competition is like because your biggest competitor is at Yankee 240 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: Stadium with the Yes Network. Because you have two major 241 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: baseball teams here in the New York area. What is 242 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: that competition? Like, I've never been able to completely get 243 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: my arms around how to answer that question, because here's 244 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: the truth. I've never been able to get my arms 245 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: around bar um. Because listen, this is this is the reality. 246 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: The reality is that the best scenario for S and 247 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,199 Speaker 1: Y and the y S net work is for the 248 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: Mets and the Yankees to be really good and be 249 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: playoff teams. It is the classic you know, high tides 250 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: and you know boats rising. And while I think we 251 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: would all be lying if if psychologically we didn't say 252 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: our preference would be for us to be good and 253 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: the guys crossed town to be not as good, the 254 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: economics support both teams being as relevant as they can be. 255 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: So when you sort of when you come from to 256 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: a from a competitive standpoint, we don't run into too much. 257 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: They're gonna pick yes or they're gonna pick s. And 258 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 1: why if you want to be in baseball, if you 259 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: want live sports in the spring, in the summer and 260 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: the early fall, if you want to you know, in 261 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: New York is a baseball town. If you want baseball, 262 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: you on baseball. You don't want Mets or Yankees That's 263 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: interesting because advertisers from the advertiser standpoint. But I know fans, 264 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: and I remember the year when the Yankees and the 265 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: Mets made the World Series, and I remember telling somebody 266 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: my father in law is like, hey, everybody in New 267 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: York wins. And my father in law, who was a 268 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: fierce Mets fans, said, don't you ever say that again. 269 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: So I guess I wonder, you know, when you have 270 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: fierce fans, which I've never seen in a in a 271 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: baseball town like this, what is that like? I've really 272 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: not known anything different, So I think I'm just so 273 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: used to it. But I will say this, Um, look, 274 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: we know the guys at YES Network. John Lintner, who's 275 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: the president of Yes Network originally you know, started s 276 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: N Y and he hired me at s n Y. 277 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: Um and even when he was then working at NBCU. 278 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: So he and I, you know, we're also we're colleagues 279 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: and and we're friends. And they're good competitors. Um. They 280 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: they produce at a high level. We produce at a 281 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: high level. Um. They value their product just like we 282 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: value the product. And having having a good competitor who 283 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: who you believe knows the business and goes about it 284 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: in the in the right ways. UM, I think I 285 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: think benefits us now again sort of. You know, in 286 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: my mind, do I wish we were the only game 287 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: in town? Yeah? I guess in some respects I do. 288 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I know from a business 289 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: standpoint that we make each other better and I think 290 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: the market is better for having both of us. So 291 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: it's a UM, it's really a six of one, half 292 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: dozen of the other. You know, as we go through this, 293 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: we're speaking with Steve rab president of s n Y, 294 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: and Steve, can we talk digital rights for a second. 295 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: I think a lot of our listeners will understand. You 296 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: guys have the broadcast rights to the to the Mets 297 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 1: all season. UM. Where you stand with with digital rights 298 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: for s n Y. So we've been doing in markets 299 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: UM in markets streaming on an authenticated basis. Right, So, 300 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: if you have S and Y as part of your 301 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: pay TV package, you're able to UM on most distributors, 302 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: You're able to tap in and access S and Y 303 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: on on your phone or on the go wherever it 304 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: is you want. And that's through an arrangement with Major 305 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:49,959 Speaker 1: League Baseball. We we continue to work and push UM, 306 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: and that's just us. I think all of the rs 307 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: n's and the clubs trying to figure out what really 308 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 1: is the you know, fair allocation or district ustion of 309 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: those digital rights. And I see it from a little 310 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: bit different perspective, right, I I think that UM that 311 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: the charter as it relates to digital rights in Major 312 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: League Baseball, I think, I think needs to be adjusted. 313 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: I think what was put in place a lot of 314 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 1: years ago, UM when it was hard to see how 315 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: the digital world was really going to evolve and develop. UM. 316 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: In my view, I just think there needs to be 317 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: an adjustment. I think, and that charter is that baseball 318 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: owns those rights essentially, right, I think, overly simplified. That's 319 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: that's how they're not able to fully exploit everything in 320 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: the local market, and so some things just aren't exploited. 321 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 1: But I, you know, and I understand I come at 322 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: it from a different perspective because we're the RSN. But 323 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: I think the given all the content we create and 324 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: how the world has evolved, I think that UM. I 325 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: think that baseball fans in the market would be really 326 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: better served if we had UM, if we had more 327 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: vibrant rights than we have today. Yeah, and I know 328 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: that the baseball has been at least having conversations about 329 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: the idea of giving those rights to individual teams right 330 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: to let instead of Baseball selling it's you know, major 331 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 1: League Baseball, you know dot TV package out letting the 332 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: Mets instead go to the market with their own kind 333 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 1: of slice of Mets rights. Is that is that? Is 334 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: that part of the solution, that that that that you're 335 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: looking for? What kind of changes would you like to see. 336 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 1: I'm encouraged by some of the dialogue about just where 337 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: the rights for streaming um potentially may or may not go, 338 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: but hopefully that there's more dialogue about you know, local 339 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: live let's start with sort of live games. Local live 340 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 1: game rights, in my view, are it's not it's not 341 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 1: just about you know, when we tell talk about linear 342 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 1: TV or digital TV or what is TV? Right? I 343 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: think sort of the old definition is it was that 344 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 1: screen that was hanging on on your wall at home, right? 345 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,239 Speaker 1: And what are we what are we really doing? I mean, 346 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 1: in my view, what what an s M Y or 347 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: any rs N that has these local baseball rights is doing. 348 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: Is there producing and distributing live games and pre impost 349 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 1: game and everything else we're doing, um within the team's territory. 350 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: And I'm not sure that there's still is a distinction 351 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: to be made between whether it's a screen that's on 352 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,199 Speaker 1: the wall or a screen that you're holding in your 353 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: hand in the house or outside the house. UM. I'm 354 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: just not sure, um what that really should look like now, 355 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 1: but probably is coming into view and a little bit 356 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: differently in view than whatever was contemplated fifteen years or 357 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: so ago when Baseball was doing this. And listen, Baseball 358 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: has done some really great things right. The app bad product, 359 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: pretty darn good, UM. I use it as well. The 360 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: ability for different outlets too to bring you highlights, to 361 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 1: bring them in reasonably real time, UM is positive, but 362 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: also has an effect on what we're doing. And so 363 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: how do you you know, how do you harness sort 364 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: of all the technology, all the evolution uh consumer and 365 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: viewer behavior, so that it's that you continue to grow 366 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: the pie um as opposed to just how you're how 367 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: you're slicing an existing pie. Which chatting with Steve rab 368 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: the president of s N Y and Stevens, I was 369 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: following the rs N sale the Fox rs NW one. 370 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: Obviously the Yankees brought back, Yes, partnership with Amazon. Who 371 00:21:58,000 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: knows where that's going at a strategic what are they 372 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: looking do? I think I think they're gonna look to 373 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:03,400 Speaker 1: make it a sort of an O T T app 374 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: with with Amazon's help. I don't know. We'll see what 375 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: with gambling Incorporated. But what I kept hearing and the 376 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: price wasn't what everybody thought it would be at the 377 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: start when Disney was selling, we kept hearing like billion 378 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: wound up being closer about ten. So what I kept 379 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: hearing from the analysts out there is that this this 380 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: business is under pressure. This is not the cash cow. 381 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: It's a risky proposition. When you were looking at the 382 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 1: deal and you're in the business, what were you What 383 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: was your purview of the Fox RSN sale and these 384 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: entities as revenue producing business? Well, you know, first off, 385 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: I I'm not sure if anybody ever saw them as 386 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: the twenty billion dollars sale. I think that there was um. 387 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: I think that there was a misunderstanding about you know, 388 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: where what Disney bought them at and where they had 389 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 1: them valued and what drove the price up right of 390 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 1: what Disney bought the competing bit in the in the 391 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 1: bigger parts, but that that by itself doesn't make the 392 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 1: rs N is worth more because because there was an 393 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: outside force that drove up a much bigger, a much 394 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: bigger purchase. So I'm not sure that I was really 395 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: um that I was really surprised by, you know, what 396 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: was first floated as this really big number and then 397 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: and then where it came down to. I think that 398 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: that that was probably where everybody was was was looking 399 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 1: at them, would be would would be my guess as 400 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 1: as I they're great businesses, I think probably the you know, 401 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 1: if there's concern about them, it's, however, hower far out 402 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: into the future, right and the ability to because they're 403 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 1: terrific businesses today and they're gonna be terrific businesses tomorrow. 404 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: And I think the question is, you know, whoever was 405 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:03,159 Speaker 1: the buyer, um, what did they envision? What do they 406 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: envision doing with them? We had Chris Ripley, the Sinclair CEO, 407 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: on the show. He said he's still looking for more, 408 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 1: he wants to add more to the portfolio. Um, Sinclair 409 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: has a lot of muscle in the distribution game, and 410 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: look what they did the Tennis channel, right, So I'm 411 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 1: I would guess at some level he sees he sees 412 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: some of that, and those those Fox businesses have been 413 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: run well, and I'm sure Sinclair sees an opportunity from 414 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 1: a distribution standpoint to to do better with them. I 415 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: can understand. And I think I always thought that whoever 416 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 1: bought them, um, I was gonna have to be somebody 417 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 1: who already had distribution muscle. That's why when the bid, 418 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: when there was consolidation in the bid groups, anytime you 419 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: didn't have a partner with the distribution heft, it was like, 420 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 1: that's not gonna work. I didn't think it. Um right, 421 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: So are they? Are they risky? I think the media 422 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: businesses changing so much? I mean, look, we've had S 423 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: and Y for fourteen years. The rate of change has 424 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: been crazy. When we started sn Y, you know what 425 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 1: the big and we were We were negotiating distribution deals. 426 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: You know what the big issue was first? Like the 427 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,680 Speaker 1: big issue when we were doing our initial distribution deals. 428 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 1: H D Are you gonna have games in HD? It 429 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: seems laughable now, I imagine, UM and So the pace 430 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: of change has just been has been, It's been great. 431 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: Um and So I think it is that challenge of 432 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: I think buyers wondering about the bundle, how the RSN 433 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 1: has a existed, what's going to evolve, what's going to 434 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: change with Major League Baseball right as it relates to 435 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: rules there. So I think there are as a buyer, 436 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 1: there are unknowns and you're not talking about, you know, 437 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 1: a deal that's fifty million or two million. I mean, 438 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 1: I think when you're doing no matter how big you are, 439 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 1: when you're doing deals you know with a B right, 440 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: doing deals that are that are billions and billions of 441 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: dollars um, I think there's a degree of of risk 442 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,639 Speaker 1: as you look out, as you really look out to 443 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 1: the future, and I think that there's a lot of change, 444 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of pieces that still probably need 445 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: to be figured out by Major League Baseball. And so 446 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:43,399 Speaker 1: I don't know if I I don't know if I 447 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,119 Speaker 1: would characterize it as much as as risk as or 448 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: as I would sort of the unknowns right now. With 449 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 1: unknowns comes risk and an opportunity, an opportunity. But when 450 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: you're spending billions, you know you have to measure risk 451 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: without we're getting yell that we have to wrap up. 452 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 1: But I did want to give you one thing because 453 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: it's close to my Heart. You know, everybody who listens 454 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: to this show knows I love the hockey. You guys 455 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: do have something called the Connecticut Cup coming up. You're 456 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 1: putting together the best collegiate clubs in Connecticut and putting 457 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: it on s n Y. I think it's going to 458 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 1: be a hit because I think there's an appetite for it. 459 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 1: If you've got twenty seconds, can you tell me what 460 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: you're doing with hockey in Connecticut. Connecticut Ice is a 461 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 1: festival in the state of Connecticut that is bringing together 462 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: the entire um amateur hockey community in the state, and 463 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 1: it is anchored by an annual tournament with the four 464 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: Division one hockey programs in the state, Yale, Quinnipiac, Sacred 465 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 1: Heart UM. We will pack um the arena and Bridgeport, 466 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 1: which has about eight thousand people, will have youth tournaments. 467 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: We have cross ice Jamborees for the mites. We have 468 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,119 Speaker 1: high school showcase games for both girls and boys. Is 469 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:59,880 Speaker 1: this entire weekend that brings together all fourteen thousand plus 470 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: UM amateur hockey players and their families. Now that you 471 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: have if Yale needs a goalie, you know who to call. 472 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:10,920 Speaker 1: By the way, I love the way you said the 473 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: hockey like I would say the Facebook. You say in 474 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,360 Speaker 1: front of every VMLB. You gotta start, you guys, stop 475 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: pulling him out of school on Fridays. Then if you 476 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: want him to be the goalie, he's missing the first phrase, 477 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: missing the first Friday already. It's a talk I had 478 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 1: with his teachers every year. By the way, Well, you 479 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 1: know something I'd like to ask our brilliant guests. The 480 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: underscore in his Twitter handle nov underscore Williams, Okay with this, 481 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 1: we got to remove the underscore. No need for I 482 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: feel like he's trying to, you know, like create confusion 483 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:51,120 Speaker 1: and with Norby Williamson, former programmer. Yes, like you know, 484 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: it's it. That's what I feel like. I can't change 485 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: it now. It's been I cannot even if I wanted to, 486 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: which I'm not saying I did, even if I wanted to, 487 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: I can't change it now. Steve Rapp, the president of 488 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: S and Why the Mets Network, thank you so much 489 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: for joining us. We appreciate it. One thing home of 490 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: all New York sports, not the Mets Network. Please, you're right, 491 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: I will say say it like you promo get your 492 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 1: New York Sports here. Yeah, I get you, Steve, Thank you, sir, 493 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 1: thank you. Guys. Know what I learned from Steve rab 494 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 1: don't just say it's the Mets network. We have a 495 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: lot of New York programming to present to you and 496 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: and and they are very good at it. I might 497 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: add the booth is the best. I mean, Gary Cohen, 498 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez, that's that's a really good boot 499 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: and Hoggie. Don't forget Hodgi. Oh my god, anyone who 500 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 1: does not follow Keith Hernandez on Twitter. If you like 501 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 1: good cat content, learn about the Prince of Pete's house 502 00:29:56,760 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: Hodge this long time. I mean this, This cat is 503 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 1: treated as a better life than the people out there. 504 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: How did you? Gets treated very well for me? Uh, 505 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: it's about the direction. And we talked about the digital 506 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: there at the end. What where are we going with 507 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: all this? What other team's going to control? Are they 508 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: gonna go direct to consumer? Uh? We already know the 509 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: NFL has asked its teams to contribute more content to 510 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 1: the central office. They want to push that out on 511 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 1: the digital networks. You're you're gonna be inundated, you really, 512 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: what are you gonna insider info from players from from 513 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: coaches from owners all the time. I mean, the teams 514 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: have obviously the access to all this and it's all 515 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: going to be made available to the fans. I agreed. 516 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: And as you know, the digital process, you know, creeps 517 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: more and more into this. You know, Amazon owns a 518 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: piece of y S network, Right, so so we'll see 519 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 1: how that goes. Another takeaway from me, um, just the 520 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,479 Speaker 1: extent to which you know a hot streak can can affect, 521 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 1: you know, the business on such a granular level, right, 522 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 1: Like the Mets went two weeks, got hot, and suddenly 523 00:30:58,000 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: ads were selling for twice as much as they were, 524 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: uh the week before. Right. So so that's why they 525 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: say winning cures all because everybody makes money. A good 526 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,280 Speaker 1: little snapshot on you know what even you know, just 527 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: a nice two week stretch for a baseball team can 528 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: mean to the network that carries their games. I'm not 529 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 1: in German. It feels better to be number one than 530 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,720 Speaker 1: number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. We 531 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: have a chance to go for three in a row. 532 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 1: Kids numbers in a good time, and let's first started 533 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: wearing the number. I would just happy. In Floomberg Business 534 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 1: of Sports, the number of the week time to have 535 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: for the number of the week. This is a sad 536 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: number for somebody. Five hundred thousand. Oh you went with 537 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: the one I told you. Yes, Okay, so I'm going 538 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: to disqualify mice. I don't know, but I'm assuming someone 539 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: lost it. Well, you're not reading the internet, the interwebs. 540 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: Five hundred thousand dollars stuff. Come on, see, I know 541 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 1: he obviously didn't get out the five thousand. We had 542 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: to help the numbers apparently in dispute. Yeah, well I 543 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 1: care if it's one hundred thousand. Yeah, I mean explain, 544 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 1: Let me explain that Alex Rod I guess Yankees great. Uh, 545 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: he was calling the game because he's in the booth 546 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: now for ESPN. I believe he was the Giants in 547 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:09,479 Speaker 1: San Francisco, right, it was in San Francisco. He had 548 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 1: a rental car, had equipment in the car, jewelry and 549 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: jewelry in the car, had stuff, had stuff in the car. 550 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 1: If somebody stole his stuff, stuff and hundreds of thousands 551 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: of dollars of stuff in the rental car. Somebody says that, 552 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: you know, in fact from a Rod's team, is like, now, 553 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: it's a little exaggerated that it was five hundred thousand dollars. Okay, 554 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:34,960 Speaker 1: if it's five thousand dollars, it's insane. My goal in 555 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 1: life is to reach a point where someone could break 556 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 1: into my rental car and get away with five thousand 557 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 1: dollars worth of stuff. First, I want to be able 558 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: to rent a car and then have stuff in it 559 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 1: to steal it. Thought that Ford Focus had so much 560 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: stuff on it. You've been listening uh to the Bloomberg 561 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: Business Sports Get the Man stuff back. We're here each 562 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 1: and every week at the same time, plus online wherever 563 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: you get your podcast, and you can catch that Monday's, 564 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: Wednesdays and Thursdays. Michael bar on Twitter at Dictar Sports, 565 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 1: I'm Evan Novie Williams at Novie Underscore Williams, and I'm 566 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: Scott Sashnik. You can follow me on Twitter at Sasnik. 567 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us, and please tune in next 568 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: week when we speak with the biggest and brightest in 569 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: the sports business industry. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of 570 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world.