Sports Betting Media

Timothee Chalamet and Pete Davidsion poke fun at the New York Jets in an SNL sketch. (Image: YouTube/Saturday Night Live)

SNL and Timothee Chalamet Clowns Winless New York Jets (Video)

You know things are near rock bottom when “Saturday Night Live” parodies your favorite football team in a sketch. Then again, when you’re known as the LOL Jets, everything you do is a dark comedy. In the latest episode of NBC’s SNL with guest host Timothee Chalamet, the 0-12 New […]

In April, Twin River Holdings -- now Bally's -- acquired Bally's Atlantic City for a song. (image: Bally's Atlantic City)

Bally’s Buys Bet.Works, Forges Sinclair Broadcast Partnership

Bally’s Corporation, formerly Twin River Worldwide Holdings, acquired the sportsbook and iGaming technology company, Bet.Works. But that wasn’t Bally’s only mega-deal this week. Bally’s also announced a strategic partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which sent both their stocks soaring. Bally’s recent deals should boost its sports betting profits. At least […]

ESPN Eliminates 500 Jobs, 300 Through Layoffs

ESPN Eliminates 500 Jobs, 300 Through Layoffs

ESPN’s financial woes, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have resulted in a massive layoff of 300 staffers along with the elimination of 200 currently unfilled job openings.  The layoffs will be spread throughout the sports cable empire, with on-air personnel being spared initially, according to a memo from ESPN Chairman […]

ESPN extended its partnership with Caesars, which already included a studio at the LINQ in Las Vegas. (Image: Al Powers/ESPN)(Photo by Al Powers / ESPN Images)

ESPN Inks Deals with Caesars, DraftKings to Bolster Sports Betting Credentials

ESPN announced Monday that it reached separate, co-exclusive deals with Caesars Entertainment and DraftKings, both of which are designed to expand the sports media giant’s exposure to the sports betting industry. Under the agreements, Caesars will become ESPN’s exclusive odds partner while DraftKings becomes its exclusive daily fantasy sports provider. […]

NBC announced a partnership with PointsBet, the latest in a string of deals between media companies and sports betting operators. (Image: NBC Sports)

NBC Announces Multiyear Sports Betting Partnership with PointsBet

NBC Universal became the latest major American media organization to partner with a sports betting operator on Thursday, announcing a multiyear partnership with Australian firm PointsBet. The deal makes PointsBet the official sports betting partner of NBC Sports. NBC Seeks Engagement, PointsBet Looks for Credibility PointsBet launched its US operations […]

Dave Portnoy is now day trading with his Bartsools' sale windfall. (Image: Cliff Hawkins/Getty)

Sports Bettors Bombard Stock Market, Drive Wall Street Insane

With many sports still in hiatus, sports bettors moved into the next best game in town — the stock market. Galvanized by Barstool Sports’ founder Dave Portnoy, throngs of aggressive novices are driving Wall Street’s institutional investors insane. Between Feb. 19 to March 23, the stock market tanked roughly 34%. […]

Being Heard: Natasha Cloud’s Groundbreaking Converse Deal

Being Heard: Natasha Cloud’s Groundbreaking Converse Deal

Converse has signed Natasha Cloud, the first woman basketball player to endorse its shoes. In doing so, the WNBA Mystics guard follows in the footsteps of some of basketball’s legends — from Chuck Taylor to Julius Erving. But even before the groundbreaking announcement, Cloud made headlines with an important message, […]

ESPN is set to replace Monday Night Football announcers Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland. (Image: ESPN Images)

ESPN Reportedly Looking for New Monday Night Football Announcers

Changes are apparently coming in the broadcast booth at Monday Night Football, where announcers Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland are not expected to return. Though ESPN has not confirmed the report, several stories over the weekend had the duo being replaced. Rumors about the future of the Monday Night Football […]

PGA ratings magnet, Tiger Woods will miss  -- after missing the Honda Classic and Arnold Parmer Invitational due to back problems. (Image: Getty)

PGA Scores 70 Percent Increase on New Media Rights Deals

The PGA Tour announced its new, nine-year domestic media rights deals on Monday. The 2022-2030 contracts with CBS, NBC, and ESPN+ reportedly represent a 70% increase over previous packages. The PGA’s television ratings have been lackluster this year. NBC’s Honda Classic drew the fewest third and final-round viewers of the […]

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he's "open to changing partners" as media rights deals expire. (Image: Cliff Hawkins/Getty)

NFL’s Two-Minute Drill to Renew Broadcast Rights at Risk

The NFL is eager to renegotiate its television rights on the heels of a good season. But improving ratings may not impress media buyers who worry the coronavirus could hurt advertisers. The NFL had a relatively good year, with television ratings up roughly 5% during the 2019 regular season. As […]

Without legalized sports betting in Massachusetts, the Celtics settled for a daily fanstasy sports deal with DraftKings. (Imate: Chris Elise?Getty)

NBA Franchises and XFL Forge New Sports Betting Partnerships

Three NBA franchises and the XFL all announced new partnerships last week, continuing the hookup frenzy between major sports leagues and the sports betting industry. The Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics all signed deals with DraftKings, while the XFL and The Action Network inked a content deal. Once […]

CBS Sports reached a partnership deal with William Hill, making the bookmaker its supplier of sports betting data. (Image: Sports Video Group)

William Hill Signs Sports Betting Data Partnership with CBS Sports

CBS Sports and bookmaker William Hill announced a partnership on Tuesday, making the oddsmaker the official sportsbook and wagering data provider for the network. William Hill gains the exclusive rights to promote its sportsbook brand on CBS Sports’ digital platforms, beginning with March Madness. William Hill Targets Huge CBS Audience […]

Bill Simmons developed The Ringer after ESPN killed off his first sports media company, Grantland. (Image:: David Paul Morris/Getty)

Spotify Buys The Ringer in Latest Sports Media Grab

Audio streaming company Spotify Technology announced on Wednesday that it agreed to buy the sports media outlet, The Ringer. And while much of the recent sports media acquisition frenzy is tied to the spread of legal sports betting, this latest deal may be motivated more by fit. The details of […]

Super Bowl 2020 saw a small increase in viewership. (Image: Getty)

Super Bowl Television Ratings Should Have Been Higher

This year’s Super Bowl television ratings were higher than last year’s, generating the first year-over-year increase in five years. Helped by increased sports betting, a close game, and a popular half-time show, the average number of viewers edged up 1.7 percent over last year. But given the favorable conditions, an […]

Penn National acquired a 36 percent stake in Barstool Sports for a package of cash and stock worth $163 million. (Image: Adam Glanzman/Getty)

Penn National Gaming Acquires Stake in Barstool Sports for $163 Million

Penn National Gaming became the latest gambling operator to get into the sports media business, announcing Wednesday that it was purchasing a 36 percent interest in Barstool Sports. Penn National paid $135 million in cash and $28 million in stock to close the deal, bringing the total purchase price to […]

Barstool Sports could find a new home with Penn National, a regional casino company looking to add to its sports media portfolio.

Barstool Sports Could be Acquired by Penn National

Barstool Sports is reportedly in talks to be acquired by the regional casino company, Penn National Gaming. As legal sports betting expands across the United States, sports media companies are becoming hot commodities. In November, The Big Lead reported that The Chernin Group was looking to sell its interest in […]