What?s ahead for league-owned networks?
MLB Network
Launch date: January 2009
Subscribers: 54 million
What will it look like in 2014?
MLB discovered the strength of live game programming almost immediately after its launch this year. The channel’s production of World Baseball Classic games during the spring was one of the key early drivers for the network.
MLB executives are quick to acknowledge the power of live MLB games as the surest way to expand the network. Last season, the MLB Network carried more than 50 live MLB games.
NBA TV
Launch date: November 1999
Subscribers: 45 million homes
What will it look like in 2014?
NBA executives are quick to credit Turner Sports for gains that NBA TV made in distribution and content quality over the past year since the league ceded day-to-day control of its channel.
The channel tripled its distribution to where it is now available in 45 million homes. And its programming has been invigorated with new talent and shows, including live games. In both cases, the NBA has relied on Turner’s business and production savvy.
One of the ways NBA TV was able to cut those deals was by tying carriage of its out-of-market NBA League Pass with better carriage terms for the network. It also dropped the per-subscriber license fee.
NBA TV will have 96 live regular-season games on its schedule this season, plus a slate of playoff games.
NHL Network (U.S.)
Launch date: October 2007
Subscribers: 30 million homes
What will it look like in 2014?
With 56 games on its schedule, NHL Network already depends much more on live games than other league-owned networks. As its TV deals with Versus and NBC come up in 2011, expect the league to put even more games on the network.
One of the reasons the NHL depends on NHL Network for live games, highlights and preview shows is to give its viewers content that is in short supply elsewhere on TV.
NFL Network
Launch date: November 2003
Subscribers: 50 million homes
What will it look like in 2014?
NFL Network’s deal to carry an annual schedule of eight live regular-season games ends in 2013. And league executives are quick to dismiss the notion that the channel’s biggest growth potential lies in the need to expand to a full 16-game schedule. Rather, they point to more cable distribution and increased ratings as two areas where the channel can still grow.
NFL Network hit the 50 million-home distribution mark earlier this year, thanks mainly to the carriage deal it cut with the country’s biggest cable operator, Comcast. The channel still hasn’t signed deals with top-five cable operators Time Warner, Charter and Cablevision. If signed, those deals would take NFL Network well north of the 60 million-home mark.
NFL Network’s growth is, in part, tied to the growth of the league’s newest channel, NFL Red Zone. In September, the league launched the channel, which provides live look-ins to Sunday afternoon games.
