Skip to main content

Screen Wars Thought Leader Interviews are also available on

SpotifyApple PodcastGoogle Podcast
State of the Screens

Why Amazon Wants to Buy 22 Regional Sports Networks

By November 28, 2018No Comments

D’oh! Last week we wrote about the potential bidders and left out potentially the most disruptive in Amazon.

Flashback: The bids are in for RSN sale

Key questions from TV[R]EV’s Mike Shields:
1)
Does Amazon think owning these RSNs will drive Prime subs? If so, that suggests it will only carry them on Prime. I can’t imagine leagues would allow that?

2) If not, that means Amazon plans to keep RSNs on cable systems. If so, how does that help them?

Amazon paid $130M for 2-years of streaming rights for NFL Thursday Night Football, but this bet would be 150X larger if the estimated $20B+ price tag is real.

Watch: BTIG’s Rich Greenfield — Regional Sports Would Solve a Problem for Amazon

More #1: Amazon Among Bidders for Fox Regional Sports Networks

More #2: Amazon Prime Is Muscling Its Way Into Live Sports Coverage

More #3: Amazon’s bid for Disney’s regional sports networks is ‘a big deal’ for sports broadcasting

Michael Beach

Michael Beach is the Chief Executive Officer of Cross Screen Media, a media analytics and software company that enables marketers to plan, activate, and measure CTV and linear TV at the local level. Michael is also the founder and editor of State of the Screens, a weekly newsletter focused on video advertising that is a must-read for thought leaders in the advertising industry. He has appeared in such publications as PBS Frontline, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Axios, CNBC and Bloomberg, and on NPR’s Planet Money podcast.