1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. The world changing and 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: what are things we can do to transform a business 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: and engage our fans globally in different ways. People are 4 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: using their name and likeness to create more opportunities, more 5 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: stakes and companies in order to turn the organization around. 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 1: We had to turn it around. That only just on 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: baseball operations side, but other business operations side well, and 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: any other sport is very difficult, but I like to 9 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: blot my horizons and be able to expand. Sports need 10 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: to be consumed a live and not to the big 11 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: competitive advantage for in artual property holders of sports content 12 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: in the media landscape. Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Jason Kelly, and I'm Mike Lynch and 14 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: I'm Michael bar Every week at this time plus Mondays 15 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: and Wednesdays, we explore the big money issues in the 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: world of sports, and today delighted to be joined by 17 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: Pete Bavaqua. He's the chairman of NBC Sports Group. They've 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: got a lot of sports that they're putting on that network, 19 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, the Golf Channel, just to name 20 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: a few. We're gonna chat with him about the US 21 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 1: Golf Open. It's underway out in Tory Pines. That's straight 22 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: ahead on Bloomberg Business of sports. But first, guys, let's 23 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: talk about what continues to be just, I guess, an 24 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: ever busier sports calendar in many ways, I think it's 25 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: fair to say that a lot of us, and I 26 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: certainly put myself in this category, have been pretty fixated 27 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: on the NBA Playoffs, moving ever closer to the finals. 28 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: Some really exciting games, Lynchy, the ratings aren't so great 29 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: so far, um and I think the biggest business story 30 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: of the week as it relates to it relates to injuries, 31 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: and no less than Lebron James making some comments and 32 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: spurred in part by the injury to his former teammate 33 00:01:54,080 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: in Cleveland, Kyrie Irving, prisical care deservings down hard on 34 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: his right shoulders were shaking. I was how he's holding 35 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: he's right leg. It's five months four now' gonna bring 36 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: it up in the time out his call, And that's 37 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: the course. Have had their sheriff injuries all season long, 38 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: including their stars, and those stars, the Big Three as 39 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 1: they have been referred to. You've had some experience with 40 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: a Big three there, Lynchy, Um, we're talking about Kyrie Irving, 41 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: of course, Kevin Durant and James Harden. Uh. For the 42 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 1: most part, k D has been carrying the team and 43 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: and oh how he did. But Lebron James coming out 44 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: and basically saying, well, you asked for it. You asked 45 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: for this season for business reasons, and now all these 46 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: players are hurt. What do you make of it? Well, 47 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: Lebron has been very outspoken ever since the NBA wanted 48 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: to restart their season seventy one days after the bubble 49 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,839 Speaker 1: ended when the Lakers won the title, and he said, 50 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 1: you know, guys are gonna be tired. It's too short 51 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: to turn around. But there are only two teams that 52 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: played the NBA Finals last year, and they had that's 53 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: of any one day, uh the stretch. There are some 54 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: teams that didn't make the playoffs who's hadn't played games 55 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: for over a hundred days as of right now. His 56 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: big point is that this is the time of the 57 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: year when everybody wants to see the stars, and right 58 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: now eight all stars are out with injuries, and Lebron 59 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: is basically just saying, I told you so, this was 60 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: gonna happen. It did happen, and as we all know, 61 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: in any level of sport, fatigue is usually a precursor 62 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: to some type of injury. Yeah, so how much does 63 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: this hurt the game? Bar well, because a lot of people, 64 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: especially Brooklyn Nets fans, they were all set to see 65 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: the Big three go and it's painful to listen to 66 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: that replay, let alone see what really went down for 67 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving. By the way, I have to compliment you 68 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: because as an Atlanta fan, I'm amazed you did not 69 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: say anything about that game against Philly where there were 70 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: twenties six down and all of a sudden, ma'am, here 71 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: they come winning, because I know I'd be mouthing off 72 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: about you know what, I'm letting Ice Trey speak for himself. Um, 73 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: it has been amazing to watch. But you know, you 74 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: think about it. You know it's not just Kyrie. Now Kauai. 75 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: We don't know if he's going to be out. Chris 76 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: Paul not an injury, but under as we're taping this 77 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: COVID protocol, so he's knocked out, and you know, you've 78 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: got all these players that are going down, and it 79 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: does it hurts the game when the when the players 80 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: aren't involved. But there are Lynchy business considerations that were 81 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: taken into account by Adam Silver and the rest of 82 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: the league and the owners who lost a lot of 83 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: money last year. And it is a business at the 84 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: end of the day. And on the other side, we're 85 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: also talking about human beings. Who who are you know 86 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: participating in this. It's it's a tough one, I have 87 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: to say it is. And if we've said numerous times 88 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: on the show that the NBA players in the commissioner 89 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: of Adam Silver had the best relationship among the four 90 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: major sports. And usually all decisions are made, you know, 91 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: in conjunction with consulting the players and physicians and team officials. 92 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: But this was one that they look, we just we 93 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: swallowed a lot of losses last year. We need some 94 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: make goods this year. We gotta start this season up 95 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: in December. Yeah, uh, stick you with the NBA for 96 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 1: one second. You know, Lynchy, you brought to our attention 97 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: some eye popping figures the all NBA teams announced this 98 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: week and some very notable players, uh not just disappointed 99 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: from the a an ego perspective to not see themselves 100 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: on that list, but their bank accounts, uh substantially lighter 101 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: than they would have been had they made that team. 102 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: Tell us about that. Well, this is according to Sportaco, 103 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: our friends over there. Jason Tatum and Donovan Mitchell both 104 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: signed extensions last offseason five years a hundred and sixty 105 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,239 Speaker 1: three million dollars. Had each one of them been named 106 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: to the All NBA team, that package would have jumped 107 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: to more than almost thirty three million dollars, more to 108 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: one point six million dollars. Now, Donovan Mitchell led the 109 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: Utah Jazz and scoring they are a very good basketball team, 110 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: but he finished ninth abong the guards. Jason Tatum actually 111 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: got more votes than Kyrie Irving received, who was named 112 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: All NBA, but Jason Tatum was classified as a forward. Now, 113 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 1: the voting is among a hundred journalists, and they eliminated 114 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: all the local regional broadcasters who had a little bias obviously, 115 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: So I think the body of the lesson right here 116 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: is be nice to the media. Be nice to the journalists, 117 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: because it could be worth a lot of money to 118 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: you down the road, unbelievable, unbelievable amount of money switching sports. 119 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: Just briefly, um news breaking literally, as we're taping this 120 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: on Thursday morning that the US Tennis Open, that of course, 121 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 1: the pride of Flushing. And I'll say it my favorite 122 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 1: New York sporting event, hundred percent capacity. They are tickets 123 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: go on sale next week. I gotta tell you, guys, 124 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: I can't wait. I love the Open, I love the vibe. 125 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: It is New York in all of its glory, from 126 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: the nose bleeds down to the insanely expensive court side 127 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: and box seats. You just see it all there, and uh, 128 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: I think it's a it's a great return. And I 129 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: gotta say it reminds me. It brings back a lot 130 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: of memories of of some really fun people you talked to, 131 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,119 Speaker 1: including We released a podcast this week with our buddy 132 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: John Wortheim over at Sports Illustrated. He's a frequent guest 133 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: on this show, especially at the US Open, and uh 134 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: so looking forward to hanging out with him and everybody 135 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: else at the US Open. Good for business, good for 136 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: the business of tennis, uh and certainly good for the 137 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: business of New York. So, guys, draft Kings very much 138 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: in the news. You know, this is just one of 139 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: these classic business of sports stories in many ways and 140 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:54,239 Speaker 1: really getting very Bloomberg here. Shorting at short interest, of course, 141 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: is when you're betting on a stock to fall. Draft 142 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: Kings fell prey little bit too a firm called Hinderburg Research, 143 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: which basically said they were shorten the stock. The stock dipped, 144 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: it recovered. You know, this is a dangerous place sometimes 145 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: for stocks to be, especially in this kind of meme 146 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: stock world that we're living in. You know. Meanwhile, DraftKings 147 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: has been a very well followed business of the past year, 148 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: especially as online betting has increased. More states continue to 149 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: allow this to happen. Let's hear a little bit of 150 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: what CEO Jason Robbins had to say last month. We 151 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: really are are seeing nothing but incredible momentum in the 152 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: business right now, and I think, you know, sports being 153 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 1: back in full swing is driving a lot of that. 154 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: I think general momentum in the industry is we have 155 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,319 Speaker 1: a pack sports calendar um next several months. You know, 156 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: a lot of the uh, NBA and NHL, for example, 157 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: pushing their starts back a little bit this year means 158 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 1: we'll be playing you know, they'll be playing playoff games 159 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: well into you know, late Q two in early Q three, 160 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: So should be an exciting next few months. And then 161 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: we also have a lot of live legislation. Almost two 162 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 1: dozen states are actively considering what sports were we drain legislation, 163 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: another four considering eye gaming legislation. So a lot of 164 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: great momentum on that front too. So legislation is key here, 165 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: Michael Barr And there was news this week of interest, 166 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 1: especially to our listeners in the Tri state area and 167 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: especially the great state of New Jersey, because soon you 168 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: may be allowed to bet on college sports in New Jersey. 169 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: That feels like a big deal, or or at least 170 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: a move forward if you live in New Jersey. It's 171 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: it's huge now. Other there have been obviously sites where 172 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: you can bet on college sports, especially in football, and 173 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: this and that whatever, And it's coming to New Jersey 174 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:49,719 Speaker 1: now if it does take place, which it looks like 175 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: it is. But I've always had this in the back 176 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: of my mind, and I always worrying about some sneaky 177 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: peat trying to get to one of the college athletes 178 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 1: and trying to throw the game or or hook up 179 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: a better and this and that whatever, because I have 180 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,719 Speaker 1: to say it, it's much easier to do when you're 181 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: talking about a college student who doesn't have any money, 182 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, you offer this person money, 183 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: uh too, well, you know, shave this point off here 184 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: or shaved this point off there. I worry about that, 185 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: and and my apologies to to the nine percent who 186 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: have integrity out there for college students, but I worry 187 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: about that point one. Yeah, Lyncha, what do you make 188 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: of this? I mean, it feels like the train of 189 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:43,079 Speaker 1: online betting and basically legalized gambling is rolling and rolling 190 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: faster and faster. Do you worry, as someone who's looked 191 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: at this at the sports world for a long time, 192 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: about the college element here? Well, I had sort of 193 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: a front row seat for this happening to Boston College 194 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: in the nineteen eighties when Rick Cone and another player's 195 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: last name was Sweeney took money from a wise guy 196 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: named Henry Hill, who was played by Radioder in the 197 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: movie Goodfellas, and it really disgraced the Boston College program, 198 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: but it was money that he couldn't resist it. It 199 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: sort of fortifies Michael Barr's point right there that you know, 200 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: it's it's hard to get to professional athletes because they 201 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: make so much money it wouldn't be worth it. But 202 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: it's so much easier to get to a college player, 203 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: and the temptation once you get him or her hooked 204 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: in has them swimming upstream until they they they have 205 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: to do everything you ask them to do. Now, on 206 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: the other side, I know New Jersey says last year 207 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: they handled over six billion dollars worth of sports betting, 208 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: and the time is right right now to just jump 209 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: on board with college sports. I it's a dealbreaker in Massachusetts, 210 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: which as we speak on Thursday morning of the bill 211 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: is in committee right now and absolutely positively that bill 212 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: has a zero chance of passing if college sports spending 213 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: is included. Interesting. Yeah, this will be certainly an element 214 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: of this debate to watch going forward, especially, as I said, 215 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 1: as these conversations continue across state legislatures. I mean you 216 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: heard Jason Robbins talk about it. I mean that's part 217 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: of the pitch, as it were for the stock is 218 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: this continued acceptance. But if if it starts to run 219 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: into some roadblocks from a stock perspective, you know, that 220 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: does start to get investors a little bit worried. All right, 221 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: let's get to this week's interview. Excited to talk with 222 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: Pete Pavaqua. He's the chairman of NBC Sports Group overseeing 223 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, the Golf Channel, just to name 224 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: a bit of that wide portfolio. Well, you're right, I 225 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: mean it is really has been an unbelievable run for golf. 226 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: You know, as hard as the pandemic has been on 227 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: everybody in the country around the world, golf has had 228 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: an absolute resurgence. Rounds are up. You know. One of 229 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: the businesses we own is golf Now, which is an 230 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: online tea time provider, and we booked more rounds than 231 00:12:54,800 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: ever because people know that golf is a great worth 232 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: that you can do outside you can be socially distant. 233 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 1: So there's been an upswing and we've seen that in 234 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 1: golf ratings too. Uh. You know. We renewed our deal 235 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: with the p g A Tour, so obviously we've had 236 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 1: a great run with the tour and we were so 237 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: happy and delighted to be able to get back our rights. 238 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,839 Speaker 1: Are are the U s g A Championship rights in 239 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 1: a in a transaction we did with Fox in the 240 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,559 Speaker 1: U s g A Less summer well before the wing 241 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: Foot US Open, so that was great news for us. 242 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: I mean, we really are the twenty four seven home 243 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: for golf in this country. When you think about the 244 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 1: p G A Tour, the LPGA, the European Tour, our 245 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,719 Speaker 1: relationship with the Open Championship, the Ryder Cup, that will 246 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: have this fall. But now to have back those U 247 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: s g A Championships and to have the US Open 248 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: at Tory Pines. I'm watching it on Peacock right now 249 00:13:57,679 --> 00:13:59,599 Speaker 1: as we speak. I have it on in front of me. 250 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: Unfortunately there's a little bit of a fog delay. June 251 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: gloom has moved in. But I think back to two 252 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,719 Speaker 1: thousand and eight. I was at the U s g 253 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,719 Speaker 1: A at the time as their chief business officer, and 254 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: that had to have been one of the great sporting 255 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: events of all time, that US Open, when Tiger and 256 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: Rocco went at it. Obviously the famous Monday playoff, the 257 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: nineteen holes on Monday, that unbelievable put Tiger made on 258 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: the eighteen toll on Sunday. So to be able to 259 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: go back to Torry Pines, obviously we wish Tiger was there, 260 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: but wishing him well as he recovers. But to be 261 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: back at such a great golf course, a public golf course, 262 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: to have a West Coast US Open that we can 263 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: have back here on the East coast in prime time 264 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: over the course of the weekend. It should be a 265 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: great event. And between hey, can Phil do it again? 266 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: He's a fid age at Kiowa, and we have the 267 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: Brooks Bryson action going on, we're kind of hoping that 268 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: we can. We can land them in the final group 269 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: on Saturday or Sunday would be amazing. So we're excited 270 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: about this US Open, and quite frankly, we're excited about 271 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: golf in general. It's funny you mentioned about rock a 272 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: mediate that just did a story in the New York 273 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: Times and they asked him about that two thousand eight 274 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: and Tiger made the putt and he's got and they said, 275 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: he has this half pained look on his face. He's 276 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: trying to smile. Nobody else makes that put except Tiger Woods, 277 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: and it really is amazing to see that. And you 278 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: mentioned that Tiger is not there. But with golf and 279 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: this resurgence, I'm not sure if the question is pertinent anymore? 280 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: Has it? Hurt Ratings goes Tiger is not there? Well, 281 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: you know, we have such there's such great superstars on 282 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: the men and women's side. You know, we we just 283 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: had a wonderful US Women's Open at Olympic a few 284 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: weeks ago. But when you think about Brooks and Bryson, 285 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: Rory McElroy, Dustin, Justin Thomas, John Rom you could go 286 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: on and on. We have this generation of young super 287 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: athletic athletes that are playing this game at the highest level. 288 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: So golf is in a good spot. And you know, 289 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: Tiger I always tell people, Uh, I think Tiger is 290 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: one of the transcendent athletes of the last hundred years. 291 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: You know, you think of people like Babe Ruth, Muhammad, Ali, 292 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: Michael Jordan's Tiger Woods. So you're always gonna miss somebody 293 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: like that because that type of person only comes along 294 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: once into generation. Uh. And what Tiger has done for 295 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: the game is undeniable. But but yet we have this 296 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: great crop of new young superstars. We have people like 297 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: Phil Nicholson and Stewart's sink that are still unbelievably relevant. 298 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: And it's in it's in a good spot, and you know, hey, 299 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: would we love to have Tiger there, of course, but 300 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: it's going to be a wonderful US Open regardless. Hey, Pete, 301 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: tell us again how the US Open fell back into 302 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,439 Speaker 1: your lap when Fox had secured the rights, I think 303 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 1: through and timing seemed to be working to your advantage 304 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: last year when the US Open was rescheduled to the fall. Correct, 305 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: that's right. So we had had a few conversations with 306 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: our our friends at Fox. You know, we have a 307 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 1: wonderful relationship with Fox and their executives. Eric Shanks and 308 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: I are good friends and always said, hey, listen, golf 309 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: is part of our DNA at NBC. You know, between 310 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: what we do on NBC, what we do on the 311 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: Golf Channel, what we're now doing on Peacock, it's it's 312 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 1: part of who we are. And made it known to 313 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: Fox that if they ever came to the conclusion that 314 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: golf just didn't make a ton of sense for them, 315 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 1: that we would be all ears. And that conversation happened. 316 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 1: Time went by and then entered the pandemic, and when 317 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: the U s g A made the decision that they 318 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: had to postpone the US Open from the traditional Father's 319 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: Day conclusion to the fall, all of a sudden, it 320 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: really caused I think headache for Fox when you think 321 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: about their college football schedule, their NFL schedule, and for 322 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: US we have this multi decade, twenty five year relationship 323 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 1: with Notre Dames, so we have flexibility there in terms 324 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,959 Speaker 1: of the timing of their games. We obviously have Sunday 325 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: night football, so we didn't have any Sunday afternoon conflicts. 326 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: So that started the conversations, and they first really centered 327 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: around a one off would we pick up the US 328 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: open in at wingfoot? And when we did our analysis 329 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: and got deeper into the conversations, it became apparent to 330 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: us that sure we could do that, but what made 331 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: a lot more sense is just taking over the remainder 332 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 1: of the U s g A deal from Fox. So 333 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: we had great conversations with Fox. It made sense for them, 334 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: it certainly made abundant sense for us. And then ultimately 335 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: we and they had to go to the U s 336 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: g A to make sure the U s g A 337 00:18:56,040 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: was comfortable with it because these are their championships. And know, 338 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: I have to tell you, it was a pretty easy 339 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: deal to work out because it was a win for us, 340 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: it was a win for Fox, and I think it 341 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: was a win for the U s g A. And hey, 342 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: I'm I'm admittedly biased, but I think the U s 343 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: A championships belong on NBC again because golf is such 344 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 1: a part of our DNA, and so it was wonderful 345 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: to get them back. And it was emotional, I have 346 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: to tell you when you think of people like Tommy 347 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: Roy uh and Molly Solomon and John Miller who had 348 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: given so many years to the to the U s 349 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: c A relationship, and Dan Hicks, I mean it was 350 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 1: a great moment to kind of, what I like to say, 351 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: to bring the U s c A Championships back home. Yeah. Well, 352 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: and not for nothing, Pete. I mean, it's it's in 353 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,479 Speaker 1: the company's DNA. It's also in your DNA. I mean 354 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: you're you're a golf guy. You were in the b 355 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: g A of America. It must have felt even more 356 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: sort of personally satisfying for you. I dare say it was, 357 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: and it is. I mean, I loved the game. I 358 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: I started playing golf when I was ten years old. 359 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: My entire youth job was caddying at a golf course 360 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: and then working in the golf shop. Uh, you know. 361 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: And I spent eleven years at the U s g 362 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: A as in house council and ran the US Open 363 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: for a bunch of years, and then oversaw the business side, 364 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: and then you referenced my time at the PGA of 365 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: America as their CEO and the U s g A. 366 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: You know, my first great golfing memory was going to 367 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: the night four US Open at Wingfoot with my father 368 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: and I was twelve years old and we followed Fuzzy 369 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: Zella on that Sunday and we were standing near Fuzzy 370 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,719 Speaker 1: when he waved the white towel to Greg Norman up 371 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: on when Norman made the great put on eighteen. So 372 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: for me it kind of came full circle as a 373 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: kid who grew up in Westchester County as a caddy, 374 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 1: whose great golf memory was at Wingfoot with my dad, 375 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden a blank and to 376 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: be a part of NBC Sports and to have the 377 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 1: US Open back at Winkfoot, Uh, that was that was 378 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: pretty special for me for sure. Today chatting with Pete Bavaqua, 379 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: he is the chairman of NBC Sports Group and in 380 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: their portfolio there's a little thing called the Olympic Games. 381 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: They are coming up and widely anticipated a year late. 382 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: Some of the biggest athletes, best known athletes in the world, 383 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 1: not the least of which heard of her. Simone Biles 384 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: dismount two flips to twist one piece of air. Seven 385 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: time national champion history books. Again, these championships have seen 386 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: so many legends over the years, so many icons of 387 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: the sport, but the seven titles now to her name 388 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: is pretty safe to say that nobody has ever shined 389 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: brighter on this stage. Of course, we're talking about Simone Biles, 390 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: herself tied up as it were, to participate in these 391 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: upcoming Olympic Games. So Pete, I got to ask you, 392 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: how are you feeling about the Olympics? You know, are 393 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: you confident they're actually going to happen? Well, first off, 394 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: you know, we we we are very confident it's going 395 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: to happen, whether it's the conversations we're having with the IOC, 396 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: or are people on the ground in Tokyo. We have 397 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: already we have about a hundred and forty people in Tokyo, 398 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: which is a great sign. And I'll be heading over 399 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 1: in the middle of July. I head over on July sixteenth. 400 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: I'll be over there for about a month. But you know, 401 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: I go back to last year when the postponement was decided, 402 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 1: which of course made all the sense in the world, 403 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 1: and it was the right decision for for so many reasons, 404 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 1: and to realize that it was going to be postponed 405 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: for exactly one year worked out well for us. We 406 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 1: could plan for it, we could get ready for it, 407 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: and quite frankly, so many of the lessons we learned 408 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: over the course of the pandemic, which is, hey, we 409 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: can do more from our headquarters and Amford, we can 410 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:03,880 Speaker 1: do more from thirty Rock, we can do a lot 411 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,200 Speaker 1: from our our collegue home at Telemundo in Miami. So 412 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 1: we will be doing a lot more from the US 413 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: than we otherwise would be. But we'll have a thousand 414 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: plus people over in Tokyo, obviously led by our Gary 415 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: z and Kel and Molly Solomon, and you know that 416 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: what was really going to be the face of the 417 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 1: Olympics and Mike Tarrico, and I think, I think this 418 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,679 Speaker 1: Olympics in Tokyo really has the chance to be something 419 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 1: incredibly special because in so many ways it's going to 420 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: be a worldwide celebration of all of us coming out 421 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 1: of this prolonged hibernation, and to see these great athletes, 422 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: these men and women competing for their countries at the 423 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: highest level. I think it has the potential to be 424 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: like nothing we've ever seen before, and we have some 425 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: amazing supers ares. When you think about talking about transcendent 426 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: I mentioned Tiger Woods being transcendent, you think about somebody 427 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: like Simone Biles. Uh, Katie Ladecki. We're so loaded on 428 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: the men's and women's side and track and field recalling 429 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: at the United States of Speed. So we're going in 430 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: there with a ton of energy. I can't wait to 431 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: get over there, and you know, fingers crossed, but I 432 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,639 Speaker 1: think it's going to be pretty remarkable. This brings a 433 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: lot of interesting challenges and I'm like you, I have 434 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: my fingers cross because yeah, I'm most sports not of 435 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: course I'm rooting for the Olympics, but there are a 436 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: lot of interesting, interesting challenges here. One and it just 437 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: just broke a few days ago that the organizers want 438 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: the media members to where GPS devices so they can 439 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: track them for fourteen days because of the coronavirus and 440 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 1: all this going on. Now, some people don't like that, 441 00:24:54,560 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: but that's one of the challenges involved in this special Olympics. 442 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: Can you take us through what you guys have gone 443 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: through trying to meet the challenges of this Yeah, it's 444 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: really I mean, and just to talk about the challenges 445 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 1: of doing any sport. Over the course of the last 446 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: fourteen or fifteen months, it's just been different. It's been 447 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 1: different in terms of how we travel, what we do 448 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:23,119 Speaker 1: once we get to the sites, how we interact. Uh, 449 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: realizing that we have to be abundantly cautious to make 450 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: sure everybody stays safe and secure. And the good news 451 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: about Tokyo even I was reading an article early this 452 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: morning about you know, the vaccination rate in Tokyo is 453 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: picking up. The public feels better about the games coming there, 454 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: So I think all of this is heading in a 455 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: really good direction. But make no phones about it. You know, 456 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: we're going to be moving from our hotel to the IBC, 457 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 1: you know, which is our business center for all of 458 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 1: our our efforts there to the venues. There's not going 459 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: to be a lot of running around town. And uh, 460 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: you know, we will be again incredibly cautious because we 461 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: want to keep all of our teams safe as possible 462 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: and to make sure there are no hiccups with these games. 463 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: But you know, if this were just happening out of 464 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: the blue, it would be one thing, But in so 465 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: many ways, We've been training for this for fourteen fifteen 466 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: months and what we did with the tour and the 467 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: NHL and the NFL and college football in NASCAR. You know, 468 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,639 Speaker 1: we've we've kind of done our reps to prepare for 469 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,880 Speaker 1: Tokyo because we know what it means how to act 470 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 1: in this new world. Even though hey, there's light at 471 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: the end of the tunnel. We're all coming out of 472 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: this pandemic. But we're not going to take any chances 473 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,879 Speaker 1: or let our guard down. Now. We're going to go 474 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,919 Speaker 1: into Tokyo absolutely buttoned up and hopefully knock it out 475 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,239 Speaker 1: of the park for everybody, your your entertainment. I think 476 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: it was said that this will be the most profitable 477 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 1: Olympics ever for NB see you do you share that view? Well, 478 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: I've been focused on the excitement of these Olympics. How 479 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 1: we can bring these great stories to life. Uh, you know, 480 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: how we use the work that our team does so 481 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: well led by Molly Solomon about introducing us one thing 482 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 1: to talk about some mobiles, Katie Ladecki, some of the 483 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: other great stars. But you know, many of the Olympic 484 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: athletes are people that are our country is going to 485 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:28,639 Speaker 1: meet for the first time over the course of the 486 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 1: our Olympic trials, which are happening right now. Over the 487 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: course of the seventeen days of the Olympics, we're gonna 488 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,440 Speaker 1: have over seven thousand hours of coverage, so you're certainly 489 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: going to get to meet them up close and personal. Uh. 490 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: But that's what we're focused on, and if we can 491 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: really bring these games to life as we always do, 492 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:51,440 Speaker 1: if people understand the celebratory nature of this Olympics games 493 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: and how it truly is unique, as I mentioned, as 494 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: this great kind of return to maybe something that resembles 495 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,479 Speaker 1: normal over the course of the globe, I think they 496 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: have a chance to be an absolute home run, uh 497 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 1: and really be one of those great memorable moments in 498 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: people's lives that Hey, these Tokyo Olympics kind of signaled 499 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: movement into what the what you know kind of this 500 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: next chapter coming out of the pandemic. That that's my 501 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 1: hope and expectation. So, Pete, we got to talk about 502 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: the business of media, the business of consumption in many 503 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: ways you reference earlier in the conversations that you know 504 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: you're sitting and watching the US Open via Peacock. If 505 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: we were having this conversation a couple of years ago, 506 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: you know, we'd be talking about the Peacock as a 507 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: as a mascot, as a symbol, as a as an icon, 508 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: and now it's an entirely new streaming network. Break it 509 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: down for us because you see this entire landscape. How 510 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: does the streaming world fit into the world of sports broadcasting. Well, 511 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: what's so uh ben official for us is it gives 512 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: us endless real estate and it allows people to to 513 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: do a deep dive on their passions. And obviously so 514 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: many people are passionate about sports. So today is a 515 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: perfect example. I'm sitting here. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, there's 516 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: a bit of a fog delay right now out at 517 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: Tory Pines. But you know, we are going to cover 518 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: an unbelievable amount of this US Open on Golf Channel 519 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,080 Speaker 1: over the course of the next Thursday and Friday, and 520 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 1: obviously NBC coverage on the four days of the championship. 521 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: But now we can fully round that out with exclusive 522 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: coverage on Peacock. So if you're a golf fanatic like 523 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: I am, you know we started this morning, uh it 524 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 1: was going to be the first t shot and you know, 525 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 1: so you could wake up watch as much of the 526 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: US Open as you wanted to, as we kind of 527 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 1: segue into Golf Channel and NBC coverage and whether that's 528 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: golf or the Premier League or you know, I think 529 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 1: about our new, our new Sunday night football relationship with 530 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: the NFL as we extended that deal another eleven years. 531 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: Every time we're sitting down and talking to our partners, 532 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 1: current partners, future partners, were explaining to them that we 533 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: have the unbelievable uh benefit of NBC and everything that 534 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: NBC can bring to life. We have the power of 535 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: what we're doing with NBCSN as we transition to creating 536 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: this unbelievable channel on USA where sports will be such 537 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: an important part of that and now we have Peacock 538 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 1: so we can truly tackle it from all angles and 539 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: you know, will embed golf coverage, John Peacock, will have 540 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 1: archival coverage, library footage from the U s g A 541 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: a former US Opens. And what I love about it 542 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: is that we can go as deep and as broad 543 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: and as wide as we want to to really fulfill 544 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 1: all the needs and the desires of what we know 545 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 1: are are passionate sports fans. Pete. I was going over 546 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 1: all the sports you have in your group, and it's 547 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 1: not your grandfather's barrel jumping championships. I mean, you have 548 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 1: a lot going. You got the NFL, NHL, the PGA 549 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: Tour obviously, and the sport that I lap up like 550 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 1: biscuits and gravy auto racing. You've got Indie. First of all, 551 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: that's a that was a big move. That's a big jewel. 552 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 1: You have NASCAR. How has the top sports in auto 553 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: racing help your coverage and your layout. Well, we have 554 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 1: such a great relationship with our friends at NASCAR and 555 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: Indy Car And I think back to the D five 556 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: hundred a couple of weeks ago. That was one of 557 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,880 Speaker 1: those sporting events that that over the course of the 558 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 1: last fifth year with the pandemic, it felt like a 559 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: big event. It sounded and looked like a big event, 560 00:31:57,720 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: and it was one of the first times where I 561 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 1: said to myself, Hey, we're getting back to normal. You 562 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: saw the people in the crowds, you saw the action. 563 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 1: It was dynamic, and you know, the the the the 564 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 1: auto racing fan. Uh, we're a true home for that 565 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: and we round it out and it's almost a kind 566 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 1: of a constant approach to what we can do in 567 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: auto sports. Were about to start our NASCAR part of 568 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: the calendar. We started this weekend in Charlotte. We were 569 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: with the France family and Steve Phelps a couple of 570 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 1: weeks ago planning for this year. NASCAR is on a 571 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 1: great uptick with a ton of energy when you think 572 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 1: about the competitive nature of the races and then you 573 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: add the magic of a Michael Jordan's and a pit 574 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: bull to uh to the to the NASCAR family. So 575 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 1: we feel great about it. But you mentioned it. I 576 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: mean I I pinched myself when you think about the 577 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: relationships we have. We've talked about the Olympics of the IOC, 578 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: the NFL, you mentioned NASCAR, the NHL, the PG eight Tour, 579 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: the Triple Crown, Notre Dame football. We just are coming 580 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,239 Speaker 1: off a really wonderful French Open, and you know, I'm 581 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: sitting here today it's a beginning of June and thinking 582 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 1: we're entering into a stretch that I think is not 583 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: just going to be the busiest stretch in the history 584 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 1: of NBC Sports, but truly, I would say the busiest 585 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 1: stretch in the history of any sports group. With everything 586 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:32,360 Speaker 1: we normally have, now you layer on top of that, 587 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 1: because of the postponement that Tokyo Olympics, we're gonna blink 588 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 1: and we're going to be in the midst of an 589 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 1: NFL season, a Netre Dame Football season, the Premier League. 590 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: We're gonna have the Winter Games at Beijing. Oh, by 591 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:48,479 Speaker 1: the way, in the middle of the Winter Olympics, we're 592 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 1: gonna have a Super Bowl in l A on NBC. 593 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 1: And then we're gonna come home from Beijing and turn 594 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 1: the corner and our colleagues at Telemundo we're gonna have 595 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: the World Cup. Uh. And what we're saying is it's 596 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: kind of this once in a lifetime collection of the 597 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 1: absolute biggest events in sports, and they're all on NBC. 598 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 1: So I told our team, if we can't get excited 599 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: about that, we're in the wrong business. Well, Pete, the 600 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 1: landscape is forever changing, and uh, I know that soon 601 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 1: the NBC Sports Network will will vanish. And when I 602 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 1: usually I've been Boston, so I'm on Comcast. I had 603 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 1: six five NBC Sports Network. Tell the people who want 604 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: paying close attention what's happening, where it's going, and where 605 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:37,880 Speaker 1: they can find the program they usually found in the 606 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,399 Speaker 1: NBC Sports Network sure. So we made the decision kind 607 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 1: of looking at the landscape, realizing the power of NBC, 608 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,879 Speaker 1: the power of Peacock and you know, our USA, which 609 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 1: is part of our NBC portfolio, and we have we've 610 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: had World w w E on on USA, and the 611 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:02,319 Speaker 1: thought process and now assist we did is how can 612 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: we take the best elements of NBCs n embed them 613 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 1: on USA and really, quite frankly, create this super channel 614 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 1: of entertainment and sports. And so I'm tremendously excited. And 615 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 1: when we've talked to our partners at NASCAR, you know, 616 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:24,960 Speaker 1: conversations with Steve Phelps and in auto racing across the 617 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: board and obviously everything we do with the w w E, 618 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: We're ultimately going to take the best elements of NBCs 619 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:34,759 Speaker 1: and put them on USA and create what I think 620 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 1: will be a pretty unbelievably powerful channel. And it was 621 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:42,759 Speaker 1: really the best strategic approach for the future. Take the 622 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,240 Speaker 1: best of what we do, put it on this one channel, 623 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 1: secure its success for a prolonged period of time. It 624 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:51,280 Speaker 1: just made all the sense in the world. So people 625 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:53,960 Speaker 1: will be hearing and seeing more of that as we 626 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:57,959 Speaker 1: moved toward the end of twenty one and really begin 627 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,919 Speaker 1: to launch this new US say uh in twenty two, 628 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: which will be very sports heavy. So you know, excited 629 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: about that. And you know, as I sit in my 630 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:13,640 Speaker 1: role at NBC Sports, part of our responsibility is, Okay, 631 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 1: what belongs on NBC, what belongs on USA, what belongs 632 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 1: on Peacock, what's the most powerful formula for each partnership 633 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: across those three platforms. And it gives us a lot 634 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:29,719 Speaker 1: of versatility, a lot of agility to keep current and 635 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:34,120 Speaker 1: hopefully a little bit ahead of the trends in the industry. So, 636 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 1: Peter's we wrap up, I just want to build on 637 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 1: that briefly. You know, as Michael Barr alluded to, you know, 638 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:44,880 Speaker 1: he's a big racing fan. I myself follow pretty closely 639 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 1: the sport of lacrosse, having grown a lacrosse player in 640 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:51,400 Speaker 1: my house. And Paul and Mike gray Will actually were 641 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 1: guests on this show just a couple of weeks ago. 642 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:57,760 Speaker 1: I mean, that feels like an interesting experiment in some ways, 643 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:01,640 Speaker 1: in an interesting relationship, give in a sort of the 644 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 1: role that they played last year filling some of those 645 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:09,840 Speaker 1: slots vacated by the Olympics, and and now even in 646 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 1: this current season of the Premier Lacrosse League. It feels 647 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:17,960 Speaker 1: like there's some experimentation going on across exactly what you 648 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:20,839 Speaker 1: were just talking about in terms of, you know, where 649 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 1: it fits in the different properties when you have a 650 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:28,799 Speaker 1: sport like that that is fast growing and also seemingly 651 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 1: doing a trying a lot of new things with the 652 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:35,279 Speaker 1: on field game but also the broadcast, how does that 653 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 1: work and what are the sorts of things that you 654 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:41,600 Speaker 1: pick up from a relationship like that. Well, it's it's 655 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,840 Speaker 1: a wonderful relationship with the Premier Lacrosse League. I was 656 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 1: actually I spent quite a bit of time on Monday 657 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: of this week with Paul and Mike. We had we've 658 00:37:50,719 --> 00:37:54,840 Speaker 1: had a strategy session, we had dinner together, and you know, 659 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:59,440 Speaker 1: Paul is is not only one of the best, if 660 00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 1: not the best, to play the game over the course 661 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:06,440 Speaker 1: of the last quarter century, but just an unbelievable strong 662 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:11,280 Speaker 1: presence and somebody who you know is going to succeed 663 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,759 Speaker 1: and who you know is going to continue to make 664 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:17,640 Speaker 1: this league successful. He has this force to him that 665 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:22,239 Speaker 1: is really, uh infectious. So we feel great about it, 666 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:24,320 Speaker 1: and you know, part of the conversation we had on 667 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 1: Monday is we can take some chances an experiment with 668 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:32,920 Speaker 1: some concepts in the Premier Lacrosse League, because that's Paul's 669 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 1: personality and his nature. He wants to push the envelope. 670 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 1: He wants to help us push the envelope, and whether 671 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:44,160 Speaker 1: that's making players are giving us a type of exposure 672 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:46,640 Speaker 1: to the game that that we might not have with 673 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:50,800 Speaker 1: other sports, and we can help propel the league because 674 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:53,280 Speaker 1: of that, and quite frankly, we can learn some valuable 675 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:56,719 Speaker 1: lessons along the way that we can hopefully apply to 676 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: some of our other partnerships are more uh story partnerships 677 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 1: of sports that have been around at the professional level 678 00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 1: for decades and centuries or century, if you will. When 679 00:39:08,719 --> 00:39:10,520 Speaker 1: you think about, okay, what can we learn from the 680 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:14,480 Speaker 1: Premier Lacrosse League that we can embed in our NFL 681 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:17,560 Speaker 1: coverage or our Notre Dame football coverage or what we're 682 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: doing with NASCAR or the Premier League. And Paul welcomes that, 683 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:25,759 Speaker 1: and so we we challenge each other constantly to be 684 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:29,360 Speaker 1: aggressive and progressive. And I think it's good for his 685 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:32,839 Speaker 1: league and what they're doing. And it has been such 686 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:37,760 Speaker 1: an enjoyable ride to to help launch a new league, 687 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:40,840 Speaker 1: to see it succeed to be a part of it. 688 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:44,759 Speaker 1: Lacrosse is a sport that's growing so rapidly. You know, 689 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:48,080 Speaker 1: I have three young kids. My my daughter's thirteen, the 690 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:51,600 Speaker 1: boys are eleven and seven. All three of them loved 691 00:39:51,640 --> 00:39:54,400 Speaker 1: the game, uh, and so we're in it for the 692 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:56,920 Speaker 1: long run. And it's been a great journey so far 693 00:39:57,040 --> 00:40:00,120 Speaker 1: with Paul and the pl Yeah, fascinated to watch. And 694 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I think it's clear, as as we followed 695 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:06,880 Speaker 1: that story very closely, that you know, the broadcast partnership 696 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:10,640 Speaker 1: helped propel this league and in many ways and has 697 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:14,480 Speaker 1: uh certainly widened widened the audience. And and I totally 698 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:17,040 Speaker 1: agree with what you're saying. And we've talked with Paul 699 00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 1: a lot on this show and Mike about kind of 700 00:40:19,360 --> 00:40:24,839 Speaker 1: that um that desire and ambition to innovate in many ways. 701 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,799 Speaker 1: And I mean talk about a relentless dude as as 702 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:32,919 Speaker 1: you alluded to. Uh, he's one of one. As they say, Well, Pete, 703 00:40:33,239 --> 00:40:34,920 Speaker 1: really really good to spend some time with you. We 704 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:36,840 Speaker 1: can talk to you all day, but you've got you know, 705 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:39,640 Speaker 1: golf to oversee. And and I dare say that uh 706 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:43,799 Speaker 1: Lynchi is probably going to uh download peacock. As as 707 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:46,839 Speaker 1: we're getting off here to uh, hopefully that fog delay 708 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,680 Speaker 1: is gonna lift because he's gonna be fair to say, Lynch, 709 00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:52,479 Speaker 1: you you will be horizontal this weekend watching some US 710 00:40:52,520 --> 00:40:56,520 Speaker 1: open and you can take that to the bank. But anyway, Pete, 711 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:58,279 Speaker 1: really good to talk to you. Thank you so much. 712 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:00,719 Speaker 1: We've enjoyed it. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me 713 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:04,520 Speaker 1: on and helped to talk again soon. So guys, Pete Bavaqua, 714 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:07,080 Speaker 1: that's quite a portfolio, you know when when you think 715 00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:10,480 Speaker 1: about when you break it down across everything that they're doing, 716 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:14,680 Speaker 1: you know, to me, the biggest opportunity, in the biggest 717 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:19,640 Speaker 1: challenge Lynch in many ways is figuring out what to 718 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:25,319 Speaker 1: put where at what time. That that's a hard call 719 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:28,480 Speaker 1: in many ways again sort of a Champagne problem having 720 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:32,080 Speaker 1: all these different sports, but understanding who's going to consume 721 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:35,200 Speaker 1: what where? Uh, you know, that's the puzzle that they're 722 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:37,960 Speaker 1: going to have to solve. You know. I remember we 723 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:40,600 Speaker 1: talked to John war Time earlier this week. When ESPN 724 00:41:40,719 --> 00:41:43,359 Speaker 1: first came on, they had hours and hours to fill 725 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 1: and they didn't have any content. They were doing Australian 726 00:41:45,719 --> 00:41:50,440 Speaker 1: rules football. Now NBC when he rattled off what they 727 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:52,800 Speaker 1: have over the next fifteen months or so, starting with 728 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:55,080 Speaker 1: the the U S Open, then the Olympics, and then 729 00:41:55,440 --> 00:41:58,000 Speaker 1: you're into Notre Dame Football, and you're into the National 730 00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:00,680 Speaker 1: Football League. Then you're into the Winter Olympics, and then 731 00:42:00,719 --> 00:42:03,080 Speaker 1: you're into you know, ba boom bah boom, blah boom, 732 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:05,480 Speaker 1: ba boom, and they've got the Peacock they're going to 733 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:08,759 Speaker 1: move to, uh, the USA Network. I mean, you're right, 734 00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:10,800 Speaker 1: it is a champagne problem. A great problem to have 735 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:13,560 Speaker 1: if you're ahead of a sports network and you're in 736 00:42:13,640 --> 00:42:16,800 Speaker 1: head of programming, because it's it used to be you know, 737 00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:18,279 Speaker 1: how are we going to fill the time, and now 738 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:19,759 Speaker 1: it's like what are we gonna do with all these 739 00:42:19,880 --> 00:42:23,200 Speaker 1: all these all this products we have? Alright, racing guy, 740 00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:27,719 Speaker 1: we know you're tun tuning in. Uh. Interesting to to 741 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:30,960 Speaker 1: think about how they how they balanced that portfolio. What 742 00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:33,080 Speaker 1: do you make of bubbacle? What stuck out to you 743 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:35,320 Speaker 1: bar You know what really got to me is that 744 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:39,400 Speaker 1: and Lynch kind of touched off about it. Here's the 745 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,840 Speaker 1: guy that's got the Indie five hundred, he's got NASCAR 746 00:42:43,120 --> 00:42:45,960 Speaker 1: the second half of it, and I can go on 747 00:42:46,239 --> 00:42:49,080 Speaker 1: and on, and there was a brief moment where I 748 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:53,800 Speaker 1: went from interviewer to fan and I almost had to 749 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:57,920 Speaker 1: like catch myself to stop giggling, because I mean, my goodness, 750 00:42:57,960 --> 00:43:02,040 Speaker 1: this guy is is old. And I agree, it's like 751 00:43:02,320 --> 00:43:04,640 Speaker 1: how do you sort all them? That out? Also interesting 752 00:43:04,719 --> 00:43:11,280 Speaker 1: to hear Lynchy, I think more evidence of this interesting 753 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:13,680 Speaker 1: resurgence in golf. I mean, I think a lot of 754 00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:17,200 Speaker 1: people you know, to three years ago, you know, especially 755 00:43:17,239 --> 00:43:21,240 Speaker 1: with Tiger waning, and this is obviously before the before 756 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,000 Speaker 1: the car accident, but I don't know if they had 757 00:43:24,040 --> 00:43:27,640 Speaker 1: written golf off. But I mean, this has been an 758 00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:33,239 Speaker 1: unbelievably uh good stretch for golf. So obviously hoping for 759 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:36,840 Speaker 1: some drama at the US Open because it's good for ratings. 760 00:43:38,080 --> 00:43:40,239 Speaker 1: Well at the pandemic was perfect because it was the 761 00:43:40,320 --> 00:43:44,160 Speaker 1: perfect sport, along with tennis, to play out socially distanced anyway, 762 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:48,359 Speaker 1: and you're outside fresh air, and a lot of people 763 00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:50,719 Speaker 1: that hadn't played golf dabbled into it, and a lot 764 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:54,080 Speaker 1: of people that weren't golf fans got to watch it 765 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:56,800 Speaker 1: because along with NASCAR, it was the only sport that 766 00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:59,359 Speaker 1: was being offered at the time, and some people got 767 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:01,520 Speaker 1: hooked on it and every place I went last year 768 00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:04,200 Speaker 1: to play in the lake Fall, which usually you can 769 00:44:04,239 --> 00:44:06,400 Speaker 1: just call the pro up and get right in. Jeesus, Mike, 770 00:44:06,440 --> 00:44:08,680 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, we'll full today. What do you mean you're full? 771 00:44:08,760 --> 00:44:11,560 Speaker 1: Which we have an all time record number of rounds 772 00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:14,879 Speaker 1: this year, and that was the consensus unanimously among every 773 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:17,200 Speaker 1: golf pro I talked to in the New England area. 774 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:21,680 Speaker 1: That's when Lynchi pulls that. Do you know who? Does 775 00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:27,920 Speaker 1: this voice sound familiar? Screen shot? I think there's a 776 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:35,719 Speaker 1: tea time available. Kids. Feels better to be number one 777 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:37,680 Speaker 1: than number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. 778 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:39,279 Speaker 1: We have a chance to go for three and a row. 779 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:41,279 Speaker 1: Good numbers are a good time. And I first started 780 00:44:41,320 --> 00:44:43,920 Speaker 1: wearing the number. How we just have been proud Bloomberg 781 00:44:44,080 --> 00:44:47,480 Speaker 1: Business of Sports. The number of the week? All right, 782 00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:50,240 Speaker 1: number of the week, Let's do it. You know what, Jason, 783 00:44:50,280 --> 00:44:52,560 Speaker 1: I gotta tell you, this is how good Lynch he is. 784 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:56,040 Speaker 1: Like we were talking about this before we went on. 785 00:44:56,880 --> 00:44:59,040 Speaker 1: I had a number of the week and it was 786 00:44:59,080 --> 00:45:01,720 Speaker 1: going to be about Donald the Mitchell and Jayson Tatum 787 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:04,400 Speaker 1: how much they were gonna lose. He nailed it and 788 00:45:05,120 --> 00:45:09,200 Speaker 1: he then before we even went on the air, typed out, Hey, 789 00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:12,640 Speaker 1: you know I saw this story where they're starts like 790 00:45:12,760 --> 00:45:16,319 Speaker 1: dang man. Thanks. Now I had the backup number because 791 00:45:16,360 --> 00:45:19,640 Speaker 1: it was the backup number of the week. Dallas Mavericks 792 00:45:19,719 --> 00:45:24,640 Speaker 1: owner Mark Cuban he traded his cryptocurrency defy after he 793 00:45:24,800 --> 00:45:29,920 Speaker 1: sensed an Now, it dropped zero the next day when 794 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:33,480 Speaker 1: he sold his shares. What was the number the day 795 00:45:33,560 --> 00:45:37,640 Speaker 1: before when Cuban got rid of his defy And the 796 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:42,359 Speaker 1: number is rounded, so he was at this price when 797 00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:45,080 Speaker 1: he sold it. Oh, okay, I did read this story. 798 00:45:45,160 --> 00:45:49,279 Speaker 1: I may all right, and they have the number wrong. Um, 799 00:45:52,280 --> 00:45:55,480 Speaker 1: so I'm I'm going to throw out a number that 800 00:45:55,560 --> 00:45:57,120 Speaker 1: I know was in the story, but I'm not sure 801 00:45:57,160 --> 00:45:59,799 Speaker 1: that this is right. Was it sixty? Well, we don't 802 00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:03,920 Speaker 1: have to continue anymore. There we go. Well, both of 803 00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:07,120 Speaker 1: you guys are a winners because Lynch doesn't. Yeah, Lynch 804 00:46:07,280 --> 00:46:12,000 Speaker 1: did like a telepathy. So I'm really the runner up 805 00:46:12,080 --> 00:46:14,320 Speaker 1: because I just happened to read the nerdy you know 806 00:46:15,080 --> 00:46:18,719 Speaker 1: crypto story. Lynchi anticipated the entire question. Did you see 807 00:46:18,840 --> 00:46:21,640 Speaker 1: the chart? Though? On that? It's crazy, crazy to get 808 00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:26,000 Speaker 1: my foot in the batter's box. Well, because you're already 809 00:46:26,040 --> 00:46:28,440 Speaker 1: sitting in the clubhouse having like hit the walk off 810 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:34,240 Speaker 1: home run. Oh man, But Cuban he was excited about 811 00:46:34,320 --> 00:46:37,359 Speaker 1: the five and he and he was pumping it up, 812 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:40,000 Speaker 1: you know, days before, and then all of a sudden, 813 00:46:40,040 --> 00:46:43,160 Speaker 1: and people were saying, you know, they cover this like, 814 00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:46,759 Speaker 1: wait a minute, this is going way overblown for evaluation. 815 00:46:47,080 --> 00:46:48,759 Speaker 1: So he got out and then he got out, and 816 00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:51,200 Speaker 1: then the next day it dropped a zero. And that's rare, 817 00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:54,279 Speaker 1: even for cryptocurrency, for that to to go all the 818 00:46:54,320 --> 00:46:57,759 Speaker 1: way down. Yeah. Well, meanwhile, um, he's got some other 819 00:46:57,800 --> 00:47:01,399 Speaker 1: things to worry about with his basketball team, fair to say, 820 00:47:02,880 --> 00:47:05,759 Speaker 1: some some drama, some drama in its own right. Of 821 00:47:06,440 --> 00:47:09,920 Speaker 1: what twenty four years that, uh Donnie Nelson was the 822 00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:13,880 Speaker 1: GM and now no longer. Some Mavericks have some rebuilding 823 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:17,120 Speaker 1: to do. This is the Bloomberg business of sports show. 824 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:19,200 Speaker 1: I can't beat these guys. We're here each and every 825 00:47:19,239 --> 00:47:21,399 Speaker 1: week at the same time, plus on one line wherever 826 00:47:21,520 --> 00:47:23,960 Speaker 1: you get your podcast. You can catch those shows Mondays, 827 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:27,080 Speaker 1: Wednesdays and Thursdays. Michael barn on Twitter at Big Bar 828 00:47:27,160 --> 00:47:29,360 Speaker 1: Sports and I'm Mike Lynch hoping I'll be crowned co 829 00:47:29,640 --> 00:47:32,640 Speaker 1: champion of the number of the week this week. You 830 00:47:32,680 --> 00:47:35,839 Speaker 1: can find me at Lynch w CVB and I'm Jason Kelly, 831 00:47:35,960 --> 00:47:37,840 Speaker 1: just trying to read the most read stories on the 832 00:47:37,880 --> 00:47:40,200 Speaker 1: Bloomberg to keep up with these guys. You can find 833 00:47:40,239 --> 00:47:42,600 Speaker 1: me on Twitter at Jason Kelly News. Thanks for Tonny 834 00:47:43,120 --> 00:47:46,360 Speaker 1: and everybody wins except me. You're listening to Bloomberg Business 835 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:49,120 Speaker 1: of Sports Bloomberg Radio around the world.