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Disney Nearing Deal to Own One-Third of MLB's $3.5 Billion Digital Business
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Just for clarification MLBAM is not just baseball.
MLBAM also runs and/or owns the official web sites of Minor League Baseball, YES Network (the television broadcaster of the New York Yankees), SportsNet New York(the television broadcaster of the New York Mets), the World Championship Sports Network,[5] and rehearsals.com.[6] It has also provided the backend infrastructure forThe Blaze TV, March Madness on Demand, WWE Network, WatchESPN, HBO Now, and PGA Tour Live.[7][8][9]
MLBAM also runs and/or owns the official web sites of Minor League Baseball, YES Network (the television broadcaster of the New York Yankees), SportsNet New York(the television broadcaster of the New York Mets), the World Championship Sports Network,[5] and rehearsals.com.[6] It has also provided the backend infrastructure forThe Blaze TV, March Madness on Demand, WWE Network, WatchESPN, HBO Now, and PGA Tour Live.[7][8][9]
The story of how MLB became one of the leaders in streaming is interesting. They were really on the ground level and thinking about this stuff back when dial up was still the most used method, which is odd considering how they like to cling to the past more than any other sport.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/4/9090897/mlb-bam-live-streaming-internet-tv-nhl-hbo-now-espn
http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/4/9090897/mlb-bam-live-streaming-internet-tv-nhl-hbo-now-espn
It's darn near like that at sporting events now. There's been a concerted effort by sports teams to cater to fans with kids... cuz kids like stuff and stuff costs money.maybe they can start having sporting events at the theme parks. or have theme parks at the sporting events. It's all blurring...
Yes. I meant Nike. The point remains the same.
I guess, but they're separate entities that offer different services...not like tesla where apple has already tested the waters with carplay and other services. so if anything it'd compliment with the health & fitness stuff apple is pursuing. but highly doubt leaks of the next nike shoes will be prominent here. so no need to worry.
Call the boys in white, Uncle vkd got out of the home again.
The Walt Disney Company is nearing a deal that will net it a one-third stake in Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the streaming division of MLB whose business is valued at around $3.5 billion (via Bloomberg). According to those close to the deal, an agreement between the two companies has not yet been officially finalized, but once it is the contract will allow Disney to purchase another 33 percent of MLB's digital sector over the next four years.
Disney currently owns ESPN, which has been reported recently to be facing troubles with its traditional, broadcast viewing numbers with the rise of streaming and web-only packages. WatchESPN offers viewers the option to watch live sports broadcasts on platforms like the Apple TV, as long as they have a cable package that includes ESPN's content channels.
Disney has also been a key Apple content partner over the years, due in large part to Disney's partnership with and ultimate 2006 acquisition of Pixar that made Steve Jobs the largest individual Disney shareholder and gave him a seat on the company's board. Long-standing rumors of Apple seeking to launch an over-the-top streaming television service have generally included Disney as one of the key early content partners on board with the project, although Apple has so far been unable to secure all of the deals it would need to launch the service at the price point it wants to hit.
Given that the deal between Disney and MLBAM is not yet official, there's no word yet on what the ultimate outcome of the acquisition would entail for the company's streaming services. Still, some knowledgable of the deal and the streaming sports world see the move as a way for Disney to continue to bolster ESPN's streaming offerings if MLBAM were to be rolled into the company's online video platforms.
Disney currently offers a number of its services as streaming options on the fourth-generation Apple TV, including Watch ABC, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Jr, and Watch ESPN. MLB has also been a strong Apple content partner, with an advanced live streaming app being one of the key demos during the introduction of the fourth-generation Apple TV.
Article Link: Disney Nearing Deal to Own One-Third of MLB's $3.5 Billion Digital Business
Hopefully this will get rid of the MLBs insanely stupid blackout rules.
I think ESPN is preparing to go heavily in to streaming BIG time. This could mean a lot more college sports available online in the next few years.
Nobody? Really?
Gosh, somebody dropped the (base)ball here then didn't they
And all those advertisers are just wasting their money
And the teams have no money to pay those player salaries
I guess the sport will have to shut down at the end of the season
Wait... I think you were wrong