Vertical Bar Media | Tech News

  The ManningCast, an alternative Monday Night Football broadcast featuring former NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning, has seen a sharp decline in viewership. The 2024 season opener marked an all-time low with only 872,000 viewers, as reported by Sports Business Daily. This figure represents a staggering 43% drop compared to Week 1 of the 2023 season and accounts for just 4.2% of ESPN's total Monday Night Football audience of 20.5 million. The drop raises questions about the long-term viability and value of the ManningCast, especially given its production costs and star power. Why the Drop in Viewership? The decline to under one million viewers has been looming over the ManningCast for some time. For context, ESPN's main broadcast remains the dominant choice for most viewers, drawing a far more substantial audience. Notably, ESPN's reported figures exclude the DirecTV audience, which includes 11 million potential viewers. However, the omission of this fact in ESPN's press...

 The NHL Sees Significant Viewership Surge With 2024 Playoffs   The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the second most-watched playoffs in the history of the league. This achievement is second only to the 1996 season, a nearly three-decade-old record. According to the Sports Business Journal, this year’s NHL Playoffs averaged 1.54 million viewers, surpassing all other seasons except for 1996. The viewership increase is notable, especially considering that out-of-home viewing figures, which can significantly boost total viewership, were not tracked prior to 2020. Broad Coverage Across Networks The extensive coverage of the 2024 playoffs spanned multiple networks including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and truTV. This diverse broadcasting strategy contributed to a 26% increase in viewership compared to the previous season. An additional factor was ABC's exclusive airing of the entire Stanley Cup Final, a strategy not employed in the previous se...

Always Watch Canadian Feed For Hockey   The Florida Panthers made history with their Stanley Cup victory over the Edmonton Oilers, but ESPN's coverage left many fans disappointed. A crucial moment was missed during the live broadcast, leading to a flurry of complaints on social media. Watch From 2:20 The Historic Moment On Monday night, the Florida Panthers clinched their first Stanley Cup victory at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Florida. The excitement was palpable as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman presented the coveted trophy to team captain Aleksander Barkov. This moment was highly anticipated by fans and players alike, marking a significant milestone in the team's history. The Camera Mishap  As Barkov prepared to lift the Stanley Cup over his head, symbolizing the culmination of a season's worth of hard work and dedication, ESPN's camera feed cut away. Viewers at home were left staring at the net, sparklers, and cheering fans in the stands instead of witnessing Barko...

The Blurring Lines Between Sports Coverage and Personal Allegiance   In the modern media landscape, the days of straight-laced journalists like Walter Cronkite are long gone. Today's media is driven by entertainment, opinion, and the ability to stir up reactions, whether positive or negative. This shift is evident in sports media, where personalities like Mike Greenberg, who openly supports the New York Jets, and Stephen A. Smith, a vocal New York Knicks fan, dominate the airwaves. But how does this trend sit with fans at home? Mike Greenberg, known for wearing his Aaron Rodgers Jets jersey on air, exemplifies a growing trend in sports media: the open display of personal fandom by analysts. This phenomenon raises questions about the impact on viewers and the integrity of sports coverage. As sports media becomes more partisan, the focus often shifts from the games themselves to the personalities covering them. The shift towards opinion-based media isn't just confined to sports. ...

Exploring the UFC’s Strategy for Upcoming Broadcast Negotiations and Potential Changes in Pay-Per-View Models   The UFC, under its current broadcast rights deal with ESPN, has seen significant growth and expanded its viewership considerably. As this contract approaches its expiration in 2025, the UFC is already strategizing for its next deal, aiming to offer substantial value to any potential partners. This forthcoming negotiation could potentially redefine how UFC content is consumed, marking a significant shift from traditional pay-per-view (PPV) models to more flexible and inclusive broadcast packages. The ESPN Era and UFC’s Undermonetized Status Since 2018, the UFC has partnered with ESPN, moving all its content, including PPV events, to the Disney-owned network. This deal, which was a record-setting agreement at the time, has played a crucial role in elevating UFC's profile. However, TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro has recently pointed out that the UFC has now outgro...

Exploring the Future of UFC Amidst Broadcast Negotiations and Unique Event Venues As the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) approaches the expiration of its current broadcast deal with ESPN in 2025, speculation is rampant about the future directions the promotion might take. UFC’s ongoing negotiations for its broadcast rights are pivotal as they will determine the strategic broadcasting partnerships for the coming years. Simultaneously, UFC's use of innovative venues like The Sphere in Las Vegas represents a bold move in sports event hosting, albeit with a cautious approach. Broadcast Rights: A New Era on the Horizon UFC, under the stewardship of TKO Group Holdings, remains a prime contender in sports broadcasting, drawing interest from various networks. Mark Shapiro, President of TKO Group Holdings, emphasized UFC's robust partnership with ESPN but acknowledged the necessity of exploring all potential offers. This flexibility suggests that UFC might consider diversifying its...

The ManningCast and More: Omaha Productions and ESPN Continue Their Successful Collaboration ESPN NFL Communications lead Derek Volner announced a significant extension of the media rights partnership between ESPN and Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions, set to continue until 2034. This extended collaboration will ensure the continuation of fan favorites like the ManningCast, Peyton's Places, and Eli's Places, solidifying the relationship between the sports broadcasting giant and the production company founded by the former NFL quarterback. The ManningCast: A New Staple of Monday Night Football Since its debut in 2021, the ManningCast, an alternate telecast of ESPN's Monday Night Football featuring Peyton and his brother Eli Manning, has captured the attention of football fans with its unique and entertaining approach to NFL commentary. The program has not only garnered a substantial viewer base but also clinched a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Series in 2022, highli...