July 13, 2012

Sporting Views—Top Execs Parse Sports Rights Costs, Multiplatforms

RSN rights deals have to stand on their own as opposed to bigger broadcast deals that can afford sometimes to be loss leaders, Fox Sports co-pres Eric Shanks at Variety’s Sports Entertainment Summit Thurs. The topic came up when Shanks and Time Warner Cable Sports pres David Rone were asked about the L.A. Dodgers, whose TV rights are thought to be worth up to $4bln. “There is a point where your spreadsheet says it doesn’t make sense. Some people are willing to risk further above that and some people aren’t,” Shanks said, explaining that a lot of it depends on the portfolio. “I think time will tell for both of us.”

Also in the July 13 issue of CableFAX Daily:

Interactive Corp chmn Barry Diller was crowing on Bloomberg TV Thurs about Aereo’s legal win Thurs, when a federal judge denied broadcasters’ request for a preliminary injunction for the Internet streaming service. Check out what Liberty Media's John Malone had to say about Aereo’s potential impact on retrans.
 
Viacom nets were still dark on DirecTV, but talks continued Thurs. DirecTV is making all 8 Encore Channels (including Encore Family) available to all customers through July 31 as a thank you for their patience as negotiations continue.
 
Executive Editor Mike Grebb has the inside scoop on stalking media execs at Allen & Co’s annual retreat in Sun Valley, ID.