The Bold and the Dutiful: Defense wins NFL championships

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August 3, 2018

jaguars training camp — Jaguars Training Camp / Christian Petersen (Getty Images)

Are you ready for some football? In the NFL, the story is, offense sales tickets and defense wins championships. Now that the NFL draft and free agency signings are complete, SportsRadioAmerica.com takes a look at the top defenses coming into the 2018 NFL season.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings ranked as the top defense in both yards allowed and scoring defense last season. Since Mike Zimmer took over, they’ve been in the top six in fewest points allowed for three, consecutive seasons. As the offensive game has opened up, the Vikings allowed only 13 touchdowns in the air last season. Their secondary features Pro Bowl talent at both cornerback and safety positions. Harrison Smith is the playmaker and led the team with five interceptions, while Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Terence Newman are tasked with not allowing wide receivers to breathe. The fear of getting sacked is also alive and well. Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter combined for 20 sacks. Both men had double-digit sacks over the past two years and are looking to make it three.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville was a beast last year, ranking top 2 in total yards and scoring. They’re hurt by linebacker Paul Posluszny leaving, but they’re still loaded. Their growth after one, strong year together strengthens this unit. They arguably have the best corners in the game in Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. The Jaguars retained one of the strongest defensive units in the league. Also known as “Sacksonville” they wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. The Jaguars’ defense has the ability to win games even if the offense sputters. The swag and confidence of the defense lead them to the AFC Championship Game, where they put up a tough battle against New England.

Los Angeles Rams

This has more to do with the Rams’ off season moves than last year’s production. The Rams had an above average defense, but with cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib on board, their defensive swag is high. Ndamukong Suh will be paired with Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. These four, big-name playmakers will push this defense into the top 10 in critical categories. The stars should push this unit to new levels. The Rams have the front and back ends of the defense covered with playmakers, which will minimize the question marks in the second level.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers brought pressure from everywhere. Cornerback Mike Hilton lead all cornerbacks with four sacks. Vince Williams put down the quarterback eight times, behind Cameron Heyward’s 12. The Steelers’ passing defense was weak at times, particularly when the QB failed to throw the ball. However, the Steelers can bring heat from all three levels. They finished number one in sacks in 2017 (56) and had top-10 finishes in yards and points allowed. Their passing defense will look different. Gone are Mike Mitchell, William Gay and Robert Golden. Rookie safety Terrell Edmunds has a chance to win a starting job and garner play-making ability, while Joe Haden will attempt to return to Pro Bowl form after a down season.

Top Sleepers of 2018 NFL Fantasy Drafts

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J.T. Clifton

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July 31, 2018

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Last week in our three-part series, I told you a few players to mark off the big board and stay away from unless they’re later in the draft. This week, we‘re going to win the championship by picking the five biggest sleepers in this year’s draft. Don’t worry, this isn’t one of those fluffly articles that somehow calls Alvin Kamara or DeAandre Hopkins a sleeper. These are actual, late-round sleepers who could push you over the edge in those bye weeks or from injuries.

George Kittle (TE) 49ers – Kittle is 6’4” and had 515 yards as a rookie in 2017. He will benefit from a full season of Jimmy G. San Francisco doesn’t have a lot of big-name targets at the wide receiver position and 194 of his yards cameduringthe last three games of the season, including a six-catch, 100-yard performance against the Rams. Kittle started seven games last year and should start all 16 this year, barring injury.

Michael Crabtree / (AP Photo)

4.Michael Crabtree (WR) Ravens – Crabtree has always been a solid receiver,even on bad 49ers teams. He had his worst year ever last year with only 618 yards, but with a new team,appears he’s poised to have another solid year. Based on what? Based on the fact who else is Joe Flacco going to throw to? Is Breshad Perriman finally going to become a star? Doubtful. So, Crabtree will likely see a lot of targets simply because he’s the only proven receiver on the team.

Corey Davis (WR) Titans – Davis hasn’t had the most productive career yet and that’s partly because of injuriesandpartly because of the Titans’ struggling passing offense. Sometimes, I joke with my Titans fans friends, telling them they’re wasting Mariota by running Wing-T offense with him. That should change this year with a new offensive coaching staff. Davis should see more looks this year.
2. Joe Mixon (RB) Bengals – Mixon never took over asa full-time starter like he was projected in his rookie season last year, but he has shed weight and looks to be in much better shape to carry the load in 2018. Jeremy Hill isn’t there anymore to steal carries from the second year back. I don’t really see Giovani Bernard cutting into Mixon’s carries as much as last year, and Joe will see the all of the goal line touches, setting him up for plenty of touchdowns.

Eli Manning (QB) Giants – Manning isn’t whohe once was. He’s getting older and his arm doesn’t have the zip it used to. He does have weapons around him,though. The Giants drafted Saquon Barkley in the first round and that should take some pressure off him. Moreover, Barkley should help in the passing game. Manning will also have a healthy and happy O’Dell Beckham Jr after he gets his contract extension. Beckham, Barkley, Sterling Shephard and Evan Engram are a dangerous core. The Giants could be playing from behind a lot this year and that bodes well for fantasy stats, too.

Heir to the Throne: Georgia might finally oust the champs

By

J.T. Clifton

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July 31, 2018

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Georgia is building a dynasty at a rapid rate and it’s no surprise. Georgia is a hotbed for recruiting and Kirby Smart didn’t exactly inherit a mess from Mark Richt. They were already built to compete, but he’s done a few things that’s set them over the top and looks to position them for a championship run.

First, Georgia’s depth is absolutely outrageous. When a team loses two running backs in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, you’d think they’d have a fall-off. But, it doesn’t look that way for Georgia. Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift will take over for Bradley Chubb and Sony Michel. Additionally, five-star recruit Zamir White could probably start for most teams in the country.

If running back isn’t a talented-enough position, look no farther than the guy handing those players the ball. Jake Fromm took Georgia to the championship game in his freshman year, forcing fellow quarterback Jacob Eason to transfer to Washington. Also forcing Eason to transfer is five-star quarterback Justin Fields, who might be more talented than Fromm when it comes to arm strength and athletic ability.

Finally, Georgia just might have the most talented group of receivers they’ve had in the last 15 to 20 years. Terry Godwin, Mecole Hardman Jr. and Riley Ridley are all impact players and have had success at the highest level. They also have a freakish athlete at tight end in Isaac Nauta, who could probably start for a few NFL teams this year.

Better & better.#ATD #GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/xTKw7LyinQ

— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) July 26, 2018

Kirby Smart came in and instantly improved the defense and will look to improve on aggressiveness to force more tackles for loss. Deandre Baker and J.R. Reed will anchor the secondary and the Dawgs will look to youngsters to pressure the QB. One player Georgia will have to replace is Roquan Smith, who was potentially the best pass rusher in the draft. The duty could fall on the shoulders of talented sophomore Monty Rice.

The main reason Georgia can take down the mighty Tide is they are not afraid of them. They aren’t beat before the whistle blows. They’ve gone toe-to-toe with them and humbled them mentally. If it weren’t for a miracle heave by Tua Tagovailoa, the Bulldogs would now be displaying the College Football National Championship trophy.

Netflix and Sports: The next disruption in media and entertainment

By

Jeremy Evans

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July 30, 2018

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Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said on several occasions Netflix will not enter the live sports content space. However, what we know about Netflix is that it is a powerhouse for content and its customers always want more content. While Hastings does not want to follow the broader business model of Amazon and sports-specific companies and streamers that broker sports distribution deals, will a time come when Netflix enters the live sports space or will the company let its competitors continue to take the lead and profits?

Netflix would be wise to compete in the sports space for three very important reasons.

First, entertainment content and talent are expensive and hard to create. As consumers continue to demand more content now and instantaneously available, the price goes up and gets pushed to the customer. That is a hard business model to sustain because ultimately, the price per customer rises to the level of cable. Without change, new business leaders will find a more efficient and cheaper way to reach consumers and consumers will follow those leaders. That means lost revenues for Netflix. Having live and “classic” replays on their platform provides for relief from creating and/or purchasing new film and television content with additional revenue opportunities (i.e., pre and post-game commercials and in-game sponsorships, essential where live sports is one of the few remaining types of content consumed in real time). Netflix should want those customers.

Second, ignoring live sports content ignores the opportunity to obtain pre-developed content Netflix only has to purchase and stream on its current or new “NetflixSPORTS” or “NetflixGAMES” platform. There is literally no development, production, etc., just purchase and stream. Netflix is also used to this model since the company purchases film and television content to stream on its platform that it does not develop as an original series or film.

Third, Netflix wants its customers to stay on its platform, so why risk having customers leave their platform to watch sports on a competitor’s over-the-top (OTT) streamer, etc. Having sports content keeps Netflix customers engaged and binging.

Assuming Netflix takes the plunge in sports content, here is how it might play out in the market place:

NetflixSPORTS/NetflixGAMES: “All Sports, No Commercials” ™

Netflix could either have live content on its existing platform or add a second, sports-specific OTT, direct-to-consumer (DTC) distribution option, while keeping its customers engaged with its products. Netflix prides itself on having no commercials, and while baseball and other sports fans are tired of long commercial breaks, especially during nationally televised games, why not offer a “no-commercial,” NetflixSPORTS/NetflixGAMES-exclusive option that charges more for live sports without commercials? This would solve the length issues, plus consumers would pay more for no commercials.

OTT DTC streamers like Amazon, Hulu, YouTube TV and soon-to-be Apple and Disney already do this for film and television content, while subscription video on demand (SVOD) and advertising video on demand (AVOD) services offer premium and advertising content options for consumers. Sports are the obvious next choice to add to those platforms. Remember, it was not long ago that cable providers missed the boat by continuing in commercial-led business models for film and television content before being mowed over by the tech giants. Now, these same cable providers, along with studios and telecom giants, cannot buy each other fast enough to compete with the tech companies who started the industry disruption.

NetflixSPORTS could be the next best thing.

Hosting Other’s Sports Content

As mentioned previously, sports content is expensive, but there are no development costs. Honestly, Netflix and other streamers would be wise to jump on sports content before the professional sports franchises (e.g., the New York Yankees/YES Network) and the NCAA to some extent, get wise and start streaming content on their own platforms, thus cutting out the middle man. Netflix has already shown a willingness to jump into the games space with some industry confusion on where that might lead, so again, why not sports?

For costs, consider this; in Hollywood it takes about $100 million to make one movie, with some reaching into the billions. That is for one movie. Amazon just paid $65 million for an entire season of Thursday Night Football (TNF) games. As part of its two-year, $130 million deal, it receives 30 games. Now, the obvious argument against sports content is Netflix prefers to own original content versus licensing it and movies that last forever versus live sports content. However, this argument is shortsighted because sports are replayed constantly and of course, the viewing audiences are so large for live content, especially in the NFL; there is significant value Netflix is not tapping into.

For example, Hulu hosted the NHL playoffs and Google’s YouTube has the NBA Finals. In Major League Soccer, LAFC and the Seattle Sounders partnered with YouTube, too. Netflix would have the financial resources to purchase content and chose how to distribute it, monetize it and determine whether to develop it beyond a typical streaming deal. Amazon rolled the cost for its NFL TNF purchase into existing Prime accounts, while it was free to its Twitch members. Hulu was charging $40 per month for a multitude of sports content, including the NHL playoff games. YouTube TV is $35 a month. If Netflix purchased sports content and excluded commercials for a premium price, it would also increase viewership because again, sports fans will pay more to skip commercials.

Replays on NetflixSPORTS / NetflixGAMES is the Answer to YouTube without the Commercials and IP Infringement

As previously noted, Netflix could offer both commercial and non-commercial live sports options. Live sports are also a huge draw. No current provider anywhere offers commercial- free live sports. The same offer could apply to replays, think ESPN Classic. Furthermore, since Netflix is a closed subscription platform, no one posts content to the Netflix platform except Netflix. This means Netflix limits its liability by controlling its platform for distribution. Imagine being able to watch infringement and commercial-free live sports content on Netflix. Viewers have also shown an interest in watching their favorite team games when they want via a record-and-watch feature. Netflix could just as well have that feature and currently does with its library of entertainment content.

As the debate regarding net neutrality continues, Netflix can jump into that debate by offering consumers options for commercial and infringement-free live and replay sports content (albeit expensive) for the purpose of offering new and different material. Continuing to charge more for expensive-to-produce film and television content is risky. It makes more sense for them to diversify their assets.

Jonathan Perelman, Head of Digital Ventures at ICM Partners and former Vice President of Motion Pictures at BuzzFeed, famously said, “Content is king, but distribution is queen and she wears the pants. It’s not nearly enough to create a good piece of content. You have to understand how content spreads across the web.” Netflix and all streamers need to take the next plunge in distribution by competing for live and replay sports content that has the opportunity to be both commercial and infringement-free.

It is also possible to envision a traditional cable provider that owns or licenses sports content to partner with a sports team or league that distributes either exclusively, or as an add-on through a steamer, to drive down costs and mitigate risk while reaching more viewers.

Will NetflixSPORTS/NetflixGAMES, in both premium/exclusive and advertising options, be available soon? Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said no to date, but it is never a good idea to let competitors dominate a space or be at the head of change and disruption.

Like studios wanting to skip traditional distribution windows, schedules and models by going DTC for a premium price while fighting movie theaters and the Academy who argue the more traditional route is best, Netflix and streamers would be wise to buck tradition and give Queen Distribution the opportunity she has been looking for; All Sports, No Commercials streamed at your convenience for a lesser price than traditional cable.

The West Coast is the best coast

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By

Stephen Patrick

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July 28, 2018

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Seahawks Training Camp / Joshua Bessex (The News Tribune)

Football fans, rejoice! It’s pigskin season and a year can change everything. Just last year, the Seahawks were the class of the division. Then, a massive trade happened, a new coaching staff was hired and a talented quarterback was drafted. The NFC West is now one of the best divisions in the NFL. It’s training camp time in the NFL. How does your favorite team stack up? Who will be the king of the west? We lay the gauntlet down in our seasonal analysis.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers began 2017 with a 1-10 record, however a blockbuster trade and the acquisition of Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots lead to five, straight wins to close out the year. The only passers with better efficiency numbers in that same time frame were Jared Goff, Tom Brady and Alex Smith. If Jimmy G can play on the same level he did for the latter part of last season, the 49ers will make the playoffs. San Francisco will soar in NFC West. Having now what appears to be a franchise QB, San Francisco is in good shape to join the Packers as a team that makes the playoffs this season after missing out last year.

Seattle Seahawks

We’re about to see if Russell Wilson can live up to his contract. The Seahawks lost numerous defensive pieces including cornerback Richard Sherman and defensive end Michael Bennet, Jr. The Legion of Boom figures to take a step back, but it’s now time for the offense to shine. Seattle picked a running back in the first round of the draft. Since Max Unger departed, the Seahawks’ offensive line has been shaky. It’s most significant addition to the line came in the from fifth-round selection Jamarco Jones.

Los Angeles Rams

The biggest surprise from last year was the L.A. Rams. With new head coach Sean McVay, the Rams played light years ahead of schedule. They are one of best teams in the league especially with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh now on the roster. With a top-notch offense lead by running back Todd Gurley and with an even better defense, the Rams look to take the throne from the Seahawks. Because of their success in 2017, the Rams will get everyone’s best punch and face one of the toughest schedules in the league this season.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals drafted UCLA QB Josh Rosen now that Carson Palmer retired. Arizona is in rebuilding mode. The Cardinals also lost defensive coordinator James Bettcher to the New York Giants. With the entrance of Steve Wilks and Al Holcomb to the team, the Cardinals’ defensive scheme will switch from the 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. This defense will allow last season’s starting outside linebackers Chandler Jones and Markus Golden to move to their natural position of defensive end and attack the quarterback. Chandler Jones is coming off the best season of his career. He made the Pro Bowl and led the NFL with 17 sacks and 28 tackles-for-loss in 2017.

Mullen’s recruiting is struggling in the swamp

By

J.T. Clifton

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July 25, 2018

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Dan Mullen was once the guy many Tennessee fans wanted to hire after Butch Jones left. I found that out the hard way after I tweeted, “Dan Mullen? A guy that’s won nothing? Where has Miss St. recruiting finished?” in response to a fan/reporter telling me his first call after Jon Gruden would be Mullen. Obviously, Mullen is now at Florida and Pruitt at Tennessee, but it looks more and more like I could be right about Mullen.

On July 23, a talented, four-star, wide receiver named Mycah Pittman committed to the University of Oregon over Florida. At first glance, you’d think it’s just another receiver out of a ton of them out there. However, when you dive into how it really went down, it looks bad for Mullen.

First, Oregon is obviously not a passing juggernaut, so it’s not like this young man believes his stats could be worlds above if he’d gone to Florida. So, the next problem could have been he’s from the West Coast and Oregon was simply closer. “The distance is no issue,” Pittman replied when asked about the matter. “I lived in Florida for a long time, since my dad (Michael Pittman) played for the Bucs. I lived in Florida for 10 years.”

Mycah Pittman / Photo Courtesy of: 247 Sports

Another very weird thing Pittman claimed after a recruiting visit to Florida was the staff of the Gators recruited by negatively talking about their current wide receivers. Four-Stars Jacob Copeland and Justin Watkins committed to the Gators last year and Pittman said the coaches talked about how the young players are having a hard time picking up the playbook and that’s why there’s plenty of playing time available.

Currently, the Florida Gators have 11 players committed with four 4-stars and seven three-stars in their 2019 class. I know it’s early, but to that same respect, first-year coach Jeremy Pruitt has 14 commitments, including one five-star and six four-stars at Tennessee, a harder place to recruit since you have to go outside the state for maximum talent.

Mullen was a success at Mississippi State without the stars in recruiting, so this might not be a bad sign for the Gators. Even so, it’s hard to look past the corny things Mullen is doing on the recruiting trail. It’s either him wearing Jordans with dress clothes or finger-mouthing like kids with grills do in selfie photos. Florida coaches shouldn’t have to do that. They’re in a hotbed of recruiting and storied programs.

Come ‘Heel or high water: Is UNC’s football program sinking?

By

Stephen Patrick

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July 25, 2018

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Larry Fedora 2 — Photo Courtesy of: USATSI

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football program seems like the Titanic. Following their basketball scandal, the football team is now in trouble. Up to a dozen North Carolina football players could face disciplinary action for selling university-issued shoes and athletic gear, fueling the argument college athletes should be compensated. North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said the infractions were self-reported earlier in the year.

“When we became aware of a situation within the football program, we self-reported what the NCAA deemed to be a secondary violation,” Cunningham said. “I worked closely with Chancellor [Carol] Folt and Coach [Larry] Fedora to address this issue from an NCAA, University and Department of Athletics perspective, and we have taken appropriate disciplinary action.”

Depending on the NCAA’s investigation Players involved could be suspended for one or more games each. What appeared to be UNC entering the higher ranks of college football and four consecutive bowl appearances proved premature, as the Tar Heels struggled last year with a 3-9 record. That marked their worst performance since posting the same 3-9 record in 2006.

This comes as North Carolina coach Larry Fedora suggested during ACC Media Day college football is under attack due to sports medicine’s focus on head injuries, specifically chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Additionally, he equated the nation’s aversion to football in the wake of the NFL’s kneeling controversy to the country “going downhill.”

Larry Fedora ACC Media Days / Photo courtesy of: USATSI

“There will be decline of our country, there’s no doubt,” Fedora said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. I think because the lessons you learn in the game of football relate to everything that’s going to happen in the rest of your life, and if we stop learning those lessons we’re going to struggle and I think in some ways we’re struggling more now than we ever have. Are we ever going to be a perfect country? No, not by any means but I do think the game of football has had a major impact on who we are as a country.”

There’s no doubt football is an important part of American culture as it’s the most popular sport in the country. It’s provided opportunities for thousands of people to make millions of dollars. Advances in CTE treatment and research will help millions of people, not just football players.

Football is a violent game and for the majority of the sport’s inception, head trauma was not taken seriously. But CTE is real, the links between repeated concussions and long-term brain damage are proven. Larry Fedora’s comments could damage a program that’s taken a significant step backwards from scandal. To deny any of this, as Fedora has, means he has no respect for the science of CTE. These missteps could signal the end of the Fedora era if he’s not careful. Especially in the Atlantic Coast Conference as it’s now become one of the premier college football conferences in the country. Fedora might want to ask UNC basketball coach Roy Williams how he survived dishonor.

Fantasy Football: Win the Ring, avoid these players!

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By

J.T. Clifton

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July 25, 2018

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It’s almost that time of year again. Time to think of a catchy name. Time get your big board ready. Time to try and win some money in fantasy football. Follow along in this three-part series and I’ll tell you which players to avoid, players to jump on early and players that’ll be a steal late in the draft. Let’s start with players you can take off your big board early so you can focus on finding the sleepers.

Jarvis Landry: WR (Browns) Last year, Landry would have been a good player in a PPR league (unfortunately mine wasn’t). It was misery watching him catch screen after screen after 2 yard drag. Ending up 42 yards receiving on way too many catches for that. Landry had problems finding the end zone, too. This isn’t going to change in Cleveland. He has a new quarterback throwing to him and he’ll also be alongside a seemingly clear-headed Josh Gordon. He’s worth a later pick as a WR, but don’t reach for Landry.

Dak Prescott:QB (Cowboys)
Dak Prescott / Ian Halperin (UPI)

Prescott lost Dez Bryant and Jason Witten this year, so now he’s throwing to Allen Hurns and Cole Beasley. Prescott is young and still needs that reliable check-down like Witten. The teams are going to stack the box against Elliott and force Prescott to beat them. The problem is, he’s not built to beat teams. He’s a game manager. If the Cowboys fall behind early, it could lead to problems for Prescott.

Allen Robinson:WR (Bears) Robinson has all the talent in the world, but sometimes it seems like his effort is lacking. He went from a 1,400-yard season to an 883-yard season in 2016. He only played one game last year and now he has a big, new contract that’s going to motivate him even less. Mitchell Trubisky isn’t a world-beater at QB, so expect Robinson to produce around the same he did in 2016, maybe less.
Derrick Henry:RB (Titans) Henry was supposed to “The Man” in Tennessee this year until Dion Lewis was signed. Now, he’ll split time again with the veteran, former Patriots back. Henry wasn’t already involved much in the passing game, catching 11 passes all of last year. Henry finished with 744 yards last year, including two, garbage time TD’s of 72 and 75 yards against the Texans and Colts. He’s not avoidable, but don’t take him over some of the better running backs.
Demaryius Thomas:WR (Broncos)Thomas has seen a downgrade in his stats every year since Manning left. He didn’t finish with 1,000 yards last year, the first time since 2011. He’s getting older (30) and he’s now on the same vegan diet that essentially killed Arian Foster’s career. It’s been noted the wide receiver has lost strength since his dietary changeup. I still don’t fully trust Case Keenum, either. This makes Thomas a no-go for me.

Strictly Content: The better steward of Fox’s assets is Comcast, Disney or…

By

Jeremy Evans

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July 24, 2018

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Until recently, before Comcast dropped out of the bidding, most of the discussion over the sale of Fox’s entertainment assets centered around who could pay more? Disney won the bidding process and paid $20 billion more than their initial offer. However, the more important question is, who is best suited to steward Fox’s entertainment assets? Comcast, Disney, another tech streamer, a cable or telephone company or Fox?

Assuming the deal is approved by the company board’s and horizontal antitrust issues aside, here is what each prospective buyer might have and will (e.g., Disney) look like as an owner.

Comcast

Money, as with Disney, is not an issue. Comcast owns NBCUniversal and a 30% stake in Hulu, like Disney and Fox. Comcast is the largest broadcasting and cable television company in the world by revenue. Disney is second only to AT&T-Time Warner, who recently merged to become the largest pay-TV company, the largest cable TV company, the largest home Internet service provider in the United States and the nation’s third-largest home telephone service provider. Clearly, the infrastructure is in place. Comcast also owns several studios including DreamWorks.

Comcast would have the ability to distribute content on any of its platforms and channels including Hulu, which it would own a 60% stake in if the sale were completed with Fox. Additionally, Comcast does not have the one, major issue concerning Disney; morality of content. Disney is a family-style content company, specifically when it comes to film and television. Fox is not. Hulu is also a well-known, utilized platform and customers would receive the added benefit of more content on an existing platform, albeit for a likely higher price. This as opposed to Disney’s platform that is in development. Is Disney willing to change its character from a family-friendly company to something broader? Is Comcast too big with Fox’s assets? Would the Justice Department challenge its potential purchase?

Arguably, Comcast would have been a better television and streaming partner (via its existing networks, platforms and Hulu), but it does not have the current film resources to challenge Disney, which Disney knew and pounced on securing the deal with Fox.

Disney

The real question here is, does Disney actually need Fox’s assets? While looking at the most recent film releases, ESPN+’s performance and a Netflix-style platform in the works, Disney is already dominating the entertainment, media and sports landscape and will likely continue to do so. The Walt Disney Company is also the third largest by revenue in the world behind Comcast and AT&T-Time Warner. Although the deal with Time Warner likely places AT&T number one in some categories now, along with having the cell phone market cornered, Disney owns ABC, ESPN, a 30% stake in Hulu and much more including studios Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm Ltd.

However, the United Kingdom’s Sky News property plays a role here because where Disney’s ABC has struggled to compete with Fox’s news service (as has everyone else), both Comcast and Disney have been approved in the UK to purchase Sky and both companies would be wise to add international influence and news where many American studios already have lots and offices.

Comcast and Disney are also in a race for the control of Hulu, a potential challenger to Netflix with the right leadership and content. Additionally, they already have sports on the platform having broadcast the NHL playoffs and other major events.

Disney should and must find a way for the Disney and Fox properties to play well together, or separately, like car companies do with brands, makes and models. From a business dominance standpoint, Disney just could not pass on the opportunity to purchase a major studio’s (e.g., Fox) entertainment assets, while letting a competitor do to them what it just did to Comcast/NBCUniversal.

With its purchase, Disney will now be in a great position to challenge Netflix with its newly added content and 60% ownership in Hulu, plus its own existing and developing platforms.

Someone Else

Although there were rumors, no tech/streaming/entertainment giant publicly entered the Fox picture as a potential buyer. Amazon could have benefited from Fox’s content on Amazon Prime. Apple could also have immediately added content to its up-and-coming studio. Also, let us not forget about Netflix, because whoever own Fox’s assets will likely remove their content from Netflix’s platform (like Disney is already doing) and onto their own like Hulu, etc. Then again, the streamers might also be well-suited to avoid horizontal or vertical antitrust issues, not to mention their focus on developing original content, without the legal, clearance, and rights encumbrances. For major news companies, adding Sky News would add to their international exposure, but where a net gain might be a net loss for a competitor, a traditional news company adding significant entertainment properties (and debt), would not be wise.

Fox

Rupert Murdoch wanting to sell is the end of a storied career in entertainment, media and sports. Murdoch will still own Fox News, plus FS1 and other sports stations, but Disney must sell-off the regional sports networks as part of the deal. 21st Century as a studio is world renowned and when looking at the success of recent films, is the only studio (in both film and television) competing with Disney in terms of blockbusters and money-makers. It would have been great for business and content to see the company continue to compete with the other greats and at the least split the company between Murdoch’s sons as its new leaders. Moreover, Fox could lose some of its culture in a sale with Disney.

Maybe Fox should have sold its television programs and rights to Comcast and movie properties to Disney. Maybe the split negotiation would have driven up the price and profit for Fox. Maybe Comcast and Disney refused to deal unless it was for all entertainment assets.

When it comes to controlling content in today’s environment, everyone wants to own it, distribute it and watch it. How the market shakes out is important, but ultimately, the questions should go beyond just who has the most money to make a purchase. The real question is, who will be the best steward of Fox assets? It may indeed have been Fox itself, but Disney was also best situated to challenge the entertainment newcomers. Fox sold high while turning its focus to news and sports.

The Chosen 1…

By

Julian Shipp

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July 22, 2018

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