Major League Baseball (MLB)
MLB imposes lockout on players, heightening labor battle
League, union remain squarely at odds on core economic matters
MLB lockout looks all but certain amid minimal optimism in talks
Sport now nearing its first work stoppage since 1995
MLB clubs conduct free agent spending spree in front of CBA end
Clubs have committed more than $1.6bn to player contracts since the end of the World Series
MLB, MLBPA shift tender deadline as potential lockout looms
Move aimed at providing greater certainty for players
MLB expands its relationship with Adobe
League deepens its tie with US software giant
A’s make offer for a plot of land in Las Vegas
MLB club advances on its parallel-path search for a new venue
Sorare’s Nicolas Julia and Ryan Spoon on advancing the market for NFTs
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Sorare chief executive and co-founder Nicolas Julia and chief operating officer Ryan Spoon. Fisher and Russo also discuss the record-setting naming rights agreement in Los Angeles, California, between Anschutz Entertainment Group and cryptocurrency company Crypto.com, global sports data company Sportradar’s large-scale contract renewal with the National Basketball Association, and Fenway Sports Group’s advancing efforts to purchase the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
MLB Cleveland Guardians formalize identity transition
Previously delayed merchandise sales set to start at club's team shop
MLB completes new housing policy for minor league players
Club owners to provide furnished housing for most player prospects
Manfred talks more openly about potential for MLB lockout
Commissioner says "time is becoming an issue" in ongoing labor talks
MLB secures German free-to-air exposure in long-term Sport1 deal
German sports broadcaster Sport1 has secured free-to-air and pay-television rights to Major League Baseball until 2026
Boras: Braves’ WS title owes to ‘non-competitive cancer’ in MLB
Prominent agent decries perceived loss of integrity to 2021 season
Mark Locke on establishing a new paradigm in sports data
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Mark Locke, Genius Sports chief executive. Eric and Chris also wrap up Major League Baseball’s 2021 World Series, and discuss recent developments in the United States sports betting market, workplace conduct issues involving several pro teams, new funding for sports data and analytics company Kitman Labs, and the troubled efforts of Sinclair Broadcast Group to create a direct-to-consumer streaming product.
World Series ratings rise in 2021, but remain at historic low point
Viewership is smallest on record for event not played in a neutral site
Sinclair faces mounting headwinds for planned streaming service
After Sinclair Broadcast Group president and chief executive Chris Ripley said earlier this year the company had direct-to-consumer rights for “the vast majority of our teams,” he was forced to acknowledge in the company’s latest earnings call on November 3 it currently holds explicit direct-to-consumer streaming rights for just four MLB clubs. US Editor Eric Fisher reports.
Braves extend financial upswing with World Series title
Liberty Media-owned MLB club begins to enjoy fruits of first championship since 1995
MLB, Twitter unveil multi-language fan activation to emphasize ‘world’ in World Series
Will Exline, Twitter's senior sports partner manager, tells SportBusiness how the success of the #PostcardsFromHomePlate initiative highlights the truly global reach of baseball.
Buzzer’s Bo Han on redefining live sports consumption for a new generation
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Bo Han, Buzzer founder and chief executive. Eric and Chris also discuss issues surrounding Major League Baseball’s World Series, the merger of esports organization FaZe Clan with a special purpose acquisition company, potentially mounting issues for Peacock, growing scrutiny surround National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell, and Greg Norman’s developing effort to create a new golf series.