The Political Economy of Sports Television

Drawing from theories of the political economy of communication, this book offers readers a comprehensive data-rich assessment of contemporary sports television and its evolution. Providing an in-depth look at the ownership and regulation of sports television in the United States, William M. Kunz analyzes a range of platforms, networks, and sports, with particular focus on the way ownership has become concentrated in five conglomerates: AT&T, CBS, Comcast, Disney and Fox. The end result of years of media consolidation is that broadcast networks are now married to cable and streaming services under a single conglomerate, which has implications for the cost of contracts and the negotiation of distribution deals. Examining multiple platforms, networks and sports in an all-inclusive manner, this volume documents the evolution and current state of affairs of sports television. With historic and current data on rights fees for sports television leagues and events as well as carriage fees and subscription levels for sports-related cable and satellite services, this comparative study offers critical information for students and scholars conducting research on sports television.

William M. Kunz is a Professor in the Division of Culture, Arts & Communication in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at the University of Washington Tacoma. He received his PhD in Communication and Society and MS in Journalism from the University of Oregon. He is the author of Culture Conglomerates: Consolidation in the Motion Picture and Television Industries and published various journal articles and book chapters focused on media ownership and regulation. He has also worked in sports television at the network level for over 30 years, most notably with ABC Sports, Turner Sports, and NBC Sports, specializing in international events such as the Olympic Games. He was a producer and writer for ABC's Wide World of Sports for a number of years and served as the head of production for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games in Lake Placid, New York, and 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. He served in executive roles in industry and academia, including Interim Director of what is now the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UW Tacoma.

- Introduction - Conglomeration of Sports Television Networks & Services - National Multi-Sport Networks - National Single Sport, League & Conference Networks - Regional Sports Networks - Streaming & Out-of-Market Services - Conclusion