Disgraced Former ESPN Head John Skipper Thinks The Super Bowl Will Move To A Pay-Per-View Model In The Near Future
Inside Hook - The former head of ESPN suggested in a recent interview that the biggest event in sports may eventually become a pay-per-view event.
Speaking to the Le Batard And Friends show, John Skipper suggested that the Super Bowl — which is always the most-watched TV program of the year with an average of more than 100 million viewers for CBS, NBC or Fox — may end up behind a PPV paywall as pro leagues look to compensate for declining ad revenues.
“You’ll have to supplement … You may end up with some pay-per-view stuff. Super Bowl. That’s an interesting thing. Take that to pay-per-view,” Skipper said. “I mean that’s how they’re gonna replace the money someday. Because there’s not gonna be enough money in the advertising. If people are willing to pay big money to see Floyd Mayweather fight a Paul brother, I would think the money generated by a pay-per-view … Maybe you’ll be able to pay a lifetime subscription.”
John Skipper. Remember him? The assclown responsible for pulling Bigcat and PFT's ill-fated "Van Talk" off the air after one episode? He eventually "resigned" aka was shown the door in an abrupt, bizarre, and very on-brand exit from ESPN that involved a "cocacine extortion plot."
Well you wanna know how I know you're an idiot John Skipper? Aside from the shit listed above? Because you think the big tv networks, that go to war every time a television contract expires, fighting each other to overpay for the rights to air NFL games, are going to continue to overpay for those rights, and then let the NFL take away the silver tuna that is the Super Bowl from them.
By my account, NBC, CBS, Fox, and ABC rotate the Super Bowl on a yearly basis and have for the past decade or so.
With the new TV contract that goes into effect in 2024, CBS, Fox and NBC will each get three Super Bowls, with ABC/ESPN receiving two. CBS will air the first Super Bowl in the new TV contract, which will take place in February 2024. The rotation for Super Bowls will go like this- CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC.
You're telling me, these networks that just shelled out $113 billion (yes, $113 BILLION) in this new deal are going to let the league run the biggest spectacle in sports behind a paywall that they control and reap the benefits of?
Hey John, the leagues pay those astronomical amounts of money so that they can yes, sell advertising to recoup, but also so they can shove promos for shit can shows like "Young Sheldon" down our throats once every other play stoppage, as well as lead us into hallmark programming like "60 Minutes", "The Simpsons" and "The Equalizer" starring Queen Latifah. Oh, and because once every 3 or 4 years they get to cash in on airing the biggest program in the history of television which they get to sell ad space for bukoo bucks.
Get this-
Airing on NBC, Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in California will be played on February 13, 2022. Though the game is more than six months away and NBC is asking for between $5.8 million and $6.2 million for a 30-second commercial, the network has already sold 85% of its ad inventory for Super Sunday. Seeking $5.5 million for a 30-second ad during Super Bowl LV earlier this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, CBS didn’t reach sell-out levels until late January, according to Variety.
Bonkers.