Home Blog Page 255

5 Ways to Stop Illegal Sports Content Streaming

By
Jeremy Evans
-
0
Image courtesy of Major League Baseball

Before listing the 5 ways to stop illegal sports content streaming, e.g., piracy, there needs to be a basis for understanding why piracy is wrong. 

First, piracy is infringement of a persons’ or entities’ exclusive rights to their copyrighted works, i.e., the reproduction, derivative works, and distribution of broadcasted sports content.  (17 U.S. Code § 106 (1-3)).  Infringing another’s copyright may result in possible monetary and equitable damages against the infringer.   

Second, imagine writing a paper for class or finishing a project for work just to see someone else, a fellow student, co-worker, boss, or random person claiming that the paper or project was theirs.  That is stealing, e.g., piracy or infringement.  That alone should convince folks to implement the Golden Rule when consuming content.  

With the above baseline, here are the 5 ways to stop illegal sports content streaming.  While law enforcement is essential to stopping piracy websites and the like, the reader might be surprised that each of the 5 ways listed herein are focused on the distributor and consumers actions and needs.

1. Recognize that Streaming is not Cable or Satellite Distribution 

Streamers need to fight the urge that content should be really expensive to purchase and released on a traditional schedule.  The power of streamed content is that it is less expensive and available immediately, and whenever.  Amazon Prime for example just began releasing its show “Grand Tour” (GT”) on a weekly basis versus dropping a season all at once.  That is a change back to the status quo.  Moreover, content distributors and streamers are now moving to become less integrated, like the cable and satellite packages of old, which is more expensive as it is split up forcing individualize licensing fees with costs passed to the consumer.  People, especially the younger generation, have shown that they will not pay large fees for content and will find places to view it for free if not easily available and for free or at a small fee or package price.  Distributors would be wise to follow the trends to increase the favorability of consuming content. 

2. Make Advertising Interactive and Integrated 

Recently, while watching a streaming baseball broadcast via MLB.tv through Amazon Prime/Fire Stick, the commercial break occurred split screen during the game.  It felt like the game never ended and made the game seem shorter and probably was shorter in actual run time.  In all sports broadcasts, this could be great during timeouts, penalties, periods, innings, and pitching changes, etc.  Without turning television color commentators into radio host advertisers, an integrated advertising approach will allow more dollars and eyes on advertisements, which will make the sports content and advertising slots more attractive to buy for all.  

Furthermore, interactive advertisements based on engagement are much more likely to keep eyeballs focused on the content as opposed to massive amounts of data collected that is used to create targeted advertisements.  People actually, unsurprisingly, find that using data to create targeted advertisements is a violation of their privacy, scary, and intrusive.  Facebook’s current battle with public opinion and the U.S. Congress is an example of the effects of data and content collection.  

3. Education and Recognition 

Similar to the debate between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and agents in California guided by the Talent Agencies Act (TAA) about getting paid and recognized, the best way to guide the public in terms of consumption norms and ethics is through education by demonstrating that just because something is digital and online does not make it free or give someone a right to take it.  Studios and distributors should make a stronger effort to educate the public about infringement on the one hand and give more recognition to content creators and copyright holders on the other hand.  If the copyright holder is personalized or humanized, the consumer may be less willing to steal from them and their pocketbook.  

4. Be like Apple 

Apple separated music from albums and now wants to do the same to sports through highlights (think the NFL Network’s RedZone).  Where content is not as long in length, it becomes less expensive and easier to consume.  For example, Major League Baseball (MLB) is working with Twitter this season to allow fans to determine what copyrighted highlights are available the next day by popular vote for viewing.  That type of engagement again increases eyeball focus and endears fans to the content provider.  

5. Make Content Available on Multiple Platforms

Imagine if eggs were only available at one store and it cost a lot of money to purchase it.  You might go back to farming and raising chickens to lay eggs.  Why should content be any different, especially sports content?  It should not.  Simple economics shows that increased distribution lowers the price of copyrighted content, but also means more people see the content. 

Too many broadcast deals licensing copyrighted sports content are exclusive to one platform and although the sports franchises get paid, the fan is left with having to choose between pirating, paying a high fee, or not having access at all.  Other distributors are also left selling a high fee to their customers.  Ironically enough, it is the distributor that gets hurt by demanding exclusivity in their licensing deals since less people see the content.  Distributors should spread the content far and wide on many platforms.  The increased distribution model is starting to happen with social media and streamers getting into sports broadcasting, not to mention MLB considering giving its clubs individual streaming rights.  

Increased distribution could also include free games now and then, local broadcasts, or partnerships with restaurants that have national reach.  Imagine, for example, MLB signing with Buffalo Wild Wings and other restaurants and venues where games can be broadcast for free (or a limited license fee through a distributor) and the appropriate parties gets a percentage of food and beverage receipts (or some benefit like more eyeballs on content, advertisers, etc.).  Of course, the profit margins will have to make sense, but it is also something that would endear more fans to the game.  Minus the restaurant/venue mention, the Los Angeles Dodgers, as a result of their broadcast distribution deal with Spectrum, have actually implemented some of the above solutions already. 

With the above 5 ideas, there might be a better market for the consumption of paid sports content, while reducing the need or interest in pirating content and thus copyright infringement.  The answers are actually in how the content is provided and therefore consumed with the consumer taking responsibility of being educated on the topic of infringement.

Hoop Dreams: March Madness reveals future NBA talent

By
Stephen Patrick
-
0
Image Courtesy of USA Today

The Madness continues and several college players have shown and will continue to demonstrate their NBA worth this month. As basketball season comes to a close, the NBA draft is the next step in their coveted journey. Let’s examine the top players for the draft.

1. New York Knicks – Zion Williamson, Big, Duke

Zion exploded on the scene this season and the basketball world has taken notice. He has a high basketball IQ. His athleticism is so elite, he doesn’t get credit for the skills he actually possesses. He’s a good ball handler and passer. Williamson has terrific footwork and ability to change speeds forcefully (minus the Nike shoe blowout). He’s a lockdown defender in zone with excellent instincts rebounding, shot-blocking and getting in the passing lanes and has been compared to greats like Charles Barkley or Blake Griffin.

2. Phoenix Suns – Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant, Guard, Murray State

Morant was a top-five pick entering March Madness. His performance over the weekend positioned him as the second player on the board. The Suns’ young talent has everything but a point guard. Morant is an elite athlete at the lead guard position, much like De’Aaron Fox. Morant gets to wherever he wants, whenever he wants on the court. He attacks the paint like a wing player. He’s a playmaker defensively and great guard rebounder.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers – R.J. Barrett, Wing, Duke

Barrett fits a big need for the Cavs because they have a huge hole on the perimeter. Like Michael Redd, Barrett has good physical tools for the modern NBA wing. In his toolbox are size, length, frame and athleticism. He’s a versatile, intelligent player with terrific scoring instincts who can play on or off the ball. He’s excellent in the pick and roll and can guard the wing position, too.

4. Chicago Bulls – Jarrett Culver, Guard, Texas Tech

Culver is a great prospect and his March Madness performance has him rocketing up the board. A guard isn’t the perfect fit, but he’s the most talented player on the board. He has excellent size for a guard with a 6’9” wingspan. He plays above the rim and has a post-game better than some big men. He uses his size to score over smaller guards in the post. Playing more point guard during his sophomore year, his ball handling has improved tremendously.

5. Atlanta Hawks – Cam Reddish, Wing, Duke


Reddish is another uber-talented wing. Zion has taken some of his shine away, but there’s no denying he has the talent to be a top-notch NBA player. He had a solid jumper in high school, but if his shot returns, he’d be a great pick for the Hawks. He possesses outstanding size, length and fluidity for a wing prospect. Reddish is a capable standstill shooter when he has his rhythm going. The Hawks don’t need a guard; they need a wing to attack the rim.

Gronk the Great tosses his cleats

By
Stephen Patrick
-
0
Image Courtesy of: USA TODAY Sports

Storied NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski has taken his last spike of the ball in the end zone. The 29-year-old All-Star has four career, 1,000-yard receiving seasons, tying a league record with Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez. As Witten took off for a year and returned to the game, “Gronk” could do the same. He was a four-time, first team All Pro, five-time Pro bowler and has three Super Bowl rings. Let’s look where he ranks among the best tight ends.

5. Kellen Winslow – San Diego Chargers

Winslow undeniably defined the position of tight end despite the fact he and Gronk’s careers mirror one another. Both played nine years in some of the best offenses, while Gronk’s numbers are slightly ahead of Kellen’s. Winslow was the first Tight End who was a true deep threat for Chargers’ Hall of Fame QB Dan Fouts. While other teams used them as blockers, Winslow was downfield catching touchdown passes.

4. Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers

The 8 time Pro bowler has been as consistent as they come. Durability is the name to his game he has only missed 20 games in 16 years. As a former basketball player he has a rare skill he incorporated in his game as he boxed out other players like he was going for a rebound.  Gates has been the safety valve for Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense for most of his career. He has 60 passes or more in nine different times and leading all NFL tight ends with 116 career touchdown catches.

3. Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots

At his peak, Gronkowski was the most fearsome tight end to ever take the field. The only weakness in his game was durability. In nine years, he became the TE generation’s best all-around player. Gronk did his TD spike at a 6.6-catches-to-TD clip. His run may have been short, but it was among the best. He’s one of the better blocking tight ends the game has seen. While Gronk’s peak was short, it was dominant.

2. Shannon Sharpe – Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens

Speed, quickness and one hell of a trash talker is how analysts recall Sharpe. A wide receiver playing tight end, he became the first player at his position to post more than 10,000 career-receiving yards. In the postseason, Sharpe really shined. He earned three Super Bowl rings and played a pivotal role in each contest. Sharpe was productive until his retirement, ranking among the league’s top pass catchers in his prime with three, 1,000-yard campaigns. He paved the way for the big-play tight ends we see today.

1. Tony Gonzalez – Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons

No one did it as well as Tony for as long as Tony. He has 1,300 catches and 15,000 yards He wasn’t a freak of nature, yet all he did was get open. In 17 seasons, he missed a grand total of two games and 14 Pro Bowl selections, all proof of his sustained dominance. Gonzalez was a touchdown waiting to happen well into his 30’s. He’s even more impressive when you consider he played with average QBs for many years while everyone else on this list played with some of the best the game’s ever seen.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Competitors Away

By
Jeremy Evans
-
0

Have you ever noticed that the Apple logo looks like the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden after Eve took a bite?  If you did not, maybe you will now.  And in a Jeremy Clarkson voice, on that disturbing thought, let us move on with the matter at hand.

This will be a big week for Apple as it launches its streaming platform for entertainment, media, and sports content.  Monday, March 25, 2019, is the date in time many have been anxiously awaiting.  Within that launch, many also learned that Apple is again ahead of the competition by disrupting the sports industry by doing to it what it previously did to the music industry.  Apple is essentially taking the key moments out of a sporting event like it did with taking songs out of the album for easier consumption.  The above two points may change the way content is consumed, forever.  How, and why?  

First, unlike Verizon’s sadly unsuccessful launch into content distribution through AOL and Yahoo!, Apple has prepared for a more grassroots launch starting with an Apple TV app serving like a Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Prime/Fire Stick, Roku-like platform that has been around for a while.  Apple has and will rely on its loyal customer base to drive the brand, advertisers, and like to its app. 

Second, unlike Comcast and AT&T purchasing NBC Universal and Time Warner, but like Amazon, Apple is producing original content through its own platform, while licensing additional content from other studios.  NBC and Time Warner of course also produce original content, but they were purchased by the cable/cell phone provider/carrier through which distribution occurs.  Apple is already the trusted cell phone company taking a dive into the content creation and distribution pool.

Third, like the Chinese company Tencent and its app WeChat, Apple TV wants to be the app for everything and a major competitor to Amazon in two ways.  Like Amazon, Apple’s credit card deal with Goldman Sachs will open up opportunities for financial transactions to purchase content, apps, and services.  Missing is the e-commerce goods offering, but like Amazon, Apple will be selling and distributing content.  The difference will be that Apple sees serious revenue coming from its Apple TV app based on the A-list Hollywood talent that the company has signed, including teaming up with studio A24 (Oscar-winning Moonlight (2016)), whereas Amazon has likely not made a profit (and may not need to) from its foray into distributing content, yet. 

Lastly, like WeChat, but unlike any other company mentioned herein, Apple is a social-communication company with its iMessage, phones, and products.  Why is that significant?  Well, according to a 2018 Nielsen report, 66% of consumers chose to watch content based on recommendations by family and friends.  One could imagine a company that controls its own communication tools amongst a loyal customer base will indeed see an increase of sharing ideas for content-watching and binging with each other, which means more sales for Apple TV content.

The fact that Netflix does not want a piece of the Apple pie, pun intended, could be evidence of strong competitor entering the space by keeping an apple away for a day, or more.  Apple’s bite into content also feeds it cell phone sales and brand loyalty as more content means more screen time on Apple phones and products.    

If we were betting, we should bet on Apple to have a successful content production, distribution, and consumption run on its Apple TV app and platform.

The Madness of March begins!

By
Stephen Patrick
-
0
Image courtesy of USA Today

‘Tis the season for all basketball fans as Christmas comes in March, arguably the best postseason in sports. This year, three of the number one seeds come from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Duke has been seen as the favorite all year and with Zion Williams back in the fold, they once again look like the team to beat. SportsRadioAmerica.com breaks each number one seed heading into the tournament.


Duke 29-5, 14-4 in ACC

Besides losses without Zion Williamson, Duke’s road to a number one seed was seen since the beginning of the season. The injury to Williams hasn’t stopped Duke from looking like the best team in the country. Their three-point shots could be problematic as they’ve made 26.4 % from distance since their battle against UVA. While their three-point shooting has been horrible, their physically overwhelming play remains their calling card. They play the physical brand of basketball with a level of discipline that rarely sends opposing teams to the charity stripe.

University of Virginia 29-3, 16-2 in ACC

In two losses against Duke, the only other team to score more than 69 points against UVA’s defense was Maryland. This is no surprise as the team has posted one of the best defenses every year over the past decade. The way UVA executes late-in-shot clock forces opponents to be almost perfect during their possessions. Unlike other UVA teams which rely solely on defense, this Virginia squad boasts one of the best three-point shooting teams with three players hitting at least 40% from distance. Virginia is 7-6 under Tony Bennett during March Madness, but haven’t yet reached the Final Four. Will this be the year offense meets defense and UVA get over the hump? 

Gonzaga Bulldogs 30-3, 16-0 in WCC

The West Coast Conference championship game didn’t go the way Gonzaga wanted after winning 21 consecutive games. No longer are a storied Cinderella team, the Zags are one of the top candidates to win it all every year. Gonzaga has the most efficient offense in the nation. The Bulldogs have two legitimate All-Americans in Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke and that backcourt combo sure can ball. During March Madness, these All Americans could rise to take over the game and lead their team to the Promised Land.

  North Carolina 27-6, 16-2 in ACC

This Tar Heels team is similar to the one that won it all two years ago. They’re loaded with talent. It took some time for them to find their flow after losing their leading seniors as inconsistency plagued them during the first half of the season. However, the second month of the season was another story. UNC won 14 of their final 15 regular-season games. But, what could break UNC is their three point defense. Opponents shot better than 42 percent from three eight times and made at least 10 triples. North Carolina lost three of those games and if a team gets hot from the land of three, UNC is in trouble.

The Numbers About the Future of Entertainment, Media, Sports Content Consumption

By
Jeremy Evans
-
0
Image Courtesy of the Associated Press

While recently watching and listening to a Joe Rogan podcast via Alphabet, Inc./Google-owned YouTube, the discussion was about the future of production and distribution in media and entertainment.  The host and guest on the March 15 show gave an example of how the comic scene had changed from comics trying to land a sitcom on television after doing stand-up comedy performances to a different model now with the YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter platforms for the distribution of content that is direct to the consumer.  The guest on the show referenced the Tom Hanks movie Charlie Wilson’s War about America’s involvement in the Soviet Union/Afghanistan 1980s war helping the Afghan Freedom Fighters defeat the Soviets that contributed to the end of the Cold war, paraphrasing, when you fund a $5,000 rocket launcher to take down a $5 million helicopter, eventually the numbers and victory favors the cost savings.  The same thing is happening with the consumption of content. 

Of course, resources change everything and this is why so many companies in Hollywood and Silicon Valley are buying each other, avoiding the loses, and looking for the best and next advantage.  For example, Disney-Fox, AT&T-Time Warner, Comcast-Sky, the Yankees and Dodgers owning their own networks, and other smaller distribution and scale agreements between Netflix-Paramount, Apple/A24, with larger companies like Amazon and Alphabet distributing content as additional revenue on their platforms for exposure to their main businesses (e.g., goods, services, and advertising). 

In some sense, where television is currently dominating in its various forms of distribution, films are becoming more like television in their lack of theatrical windows, date and release, and with particular reference to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe that looks more like a long-running television series with multiple characters and plot changes.  Film content is also more likely to be seen or converted as a television show today (e.g., Lethal Weapon).

On the sports side, there is much of the same, meeting the consumer where they sit, stand, and walk while consuming content.  The difference with sports is that the content is made by playing the game.  In looking at the 2019 World Fame 100, the most well-known athletes are as follows by sport: soccer (37), basketball (16), cricket (11), tennis (9), football (8), boxing (6), golf (4), MMA (2), with baseball, snowboarding, swimming, Moto GP, figure skating, Formula One, and esports each with one (1) representative. 

This makes sense.  Soccer is consumed on an international scale and its players are easily seen on the pitch through the various available viewing lenses.  The leagues are truly international as teams in multiple countries play each other increasing distribution and scale.    

Cricket is unsurprisingly played mostly in the world’s second largest country by population (India), which loves cricket, but popularity also extends to New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.  Tennis and less-so boxing are probably two of the most popular and well-known sports worldwide, but the issue is smaller populations of people watch tennis and boxing in each of those countries.  Boxing and tennis also occur less—meaning they are not played as much as the team sports, thus decreasing their exposure and viewing numbers. 

Basketball like soccer is an international sport, but not on the level of soccer.  As leagues expand across international lines maybe it will grow.   The remaining sports have smaller distribution models and fan bases where hockey does not have one representative on the top 100 list. There is also a trend of seeing more sports heroes hit the silver screen, it its many forms of production and distribution. 

What can be determined about the status of the industry by looking at the numbers?  There are three reasons behind the shift from paywall to open form, cable and satellite packages to subscription services, and regulated to deregulated content.  

1. Cost

It is cheaper to distribute content that is the direct to the consumer and in some situations free to both the platform and the consumer/producer/content owner/creator.  For example, with social media, there is no cost or human energy to post content to the platform as the consumer handles that aspect, while posting such content is free to the owner or sharing party.  YouTube works the same way.  With Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, and the soon-to-be Apple and AT&T-Time Warner platforms, content is still less expensive to subscribe to (if not free or included in broader subscriptions) when compared to the price of cable or satellite television packages.  Consumers today are getting used to the free content and that is a good thing for the next two points. 

2. Quality & Authenticity

Consumers love user-generated content and authenticity.  Quality is the in the eye of the beholder, but the numbers do not lie.  Engagement and viewing numbers drive eyes and advertising dollars.  Quality according to the viewer rules the day.

3. Access

With lower cost, less paywalls, and free content, access goes up.  People are getting used to having what they want content-wise for free and their way and the platforms are responding to those needs to meet the consumer where they are at. 

In the end, cost, quality and authenticity, and access control consumption levels with entertainment, media, and sports content. 

Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt Suspended 8 Games

By
Kevin Gray
-
0

Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt has been suspended for eight games by the NFL for violating the Personal Conduct Policy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Hunt said in statement,

He will be eligible to return during Week 9 of the 2019 NFL season.

Hunt, the 2017 NFL Rushing Champion, was signed by the Browns on February 11th after the Kansas City Chiefs released him late in 2018.

Video from February 2018 surfaced of Brown having a physical altercation with a woman, showing him shoving and kicking her outside a Cleveland hotel room leading to his release.

Hunt will not be appealing the 8 game suspension and his agent stated in a tweet,

The Browns, who traded for Odell Beckham, Jr earlier this week, said in statement when they initially signed the Ohio native,

The signing of Hunt was met with fierce criticism and opponents of the signing still remain even with Hunt apologizing several times saying,

Upon Hunt’s return, especially with the likes of Beckham, WR Jarvis Landry, TE David Njoku, etc., the Browns offensively could be one of the best in all of the NFL.

For now though the Browns must wait to get their new running back on the field to see him in action.

Baltimore Ravens Sign Earl Thomas

By
Kevin Gray
-
0

Earl Thomas has landed.

The Ravens have signed S Earl Thomas to a 4-year, $55 million deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Thomas will receive $32 million guaranteed as part of his new deal.

The former Seahawk will have an annual average salary of nearly $14 million, rivaling that of new Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu and new Redskins safety Landon Collins.

He will be paid $22 million of his guaranteed $32 million within the first nine months of his new deal.

Day Three NFL Free Agency: Updates, Rumors, And More

By
Kevin Gray
-
0

Happy New League Year.

Day three of NFL Free Agency is underway as the new league year has arrived.

After Tuesday nights trades of Odell Beckham, Jr. to the Browns, Dee Ford to the 49ers, and the signing of Le’Veon Bell to the Jets, today’s NFL Free Agency moves are expected to be action-packed.

With names still available such as S Earl Thomas. WR Tyrell Williams, and DE Ezekiel Ansah, teams are still well-positioned to pick up players at positions of need.

Check our Day 2 NFL Free Agency Tracker if you missed anything from yesterday’s action.

Follow us here all day for continuing coverage of day three of NFL Free Agency.

  • LB Dee Ford will sign a 5-year, $87.5 million extension with $45 million guaranteed with the San Francisco 49ers per NFL Network’s James Palmer

Stay tuned for additional updates throughout the day…

New York Jets Sign RB Le’Veon Bell

By
Kevin Gray
-
0

The New York Jets have a new running back and his name is Le’Veon Bell.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter the New York Jets are signing RB Le’Veon Bell to a 4-year, $52.5 million deal, with $35 million guaranteed.

The two-time All-Pro will now join new head coach Adam Gase and second-year QB Sam Darnold in the Big Apple.

In what had already been an incredible evening with the news of the Odell Beckham, Jr. trade to the Cleveland Browns, Bell topped with his free agency announcement to the Jets.

Bell tweeted after the news broke,

Bell sat out the 2018 NFL season after refusing to sign his franchise tender of $14.5 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers opting to take his chances during free agency.

The running back sat out the 2018 NFL season in hopes that the Steelers would not franchise him for a third consecutive season, which ultimately proved true.

The pro-bowler, averaged of 128.9 total yards per game from 2013 to 2017, the highest for an NFL back over the first five seasons of a career.

During that span, he rushed for 5,336 yards and 35 touchdowns while catching 312 passes for 2,660 yards and another 7 scores.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the San Francisco 49ers made an eleventh hour push to try and sign Bell, but the Jets were able to secure the back with their final and best offer.

One of the great running back in Jets history in Curtis Martin, will now see a new generation of Gang Green attempt to duplicate his Hall of Fame successs in the form of Le’Veon Bell, who loved the former Jets star.

Bell will now be with the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.

1...254255256...269Page 255 of 269

Shows on the SRA Network