MLB Advanced Media has become one of the heavy hitters in online media. Not only has it become a major success in streaming baseball, but it has clients outside of the sport. Some of its clients include the NHL, HBO, the WWE, PGA Tour and others. Now it’s looking to raise money for a non-baseball streaming service and potentially bid on sports rights.
Speaking at the Code/Media conference in Dana Point, CA, MLB Advanced Media President Bob Bowman explained that MLBAM is talking with potential investors about spinning off its non-baseball content and creating a new online service that would bid on sports rights.
Bowman said MLBAM probably won’t bid on Thursday Night Football because the technology doesn’t exist to provide enough streams without downgrading the experience. And he wondered if tech companies like Apple, Google and others would want to bid on an entire season of TNF for exactly that reason.
Bowman adds that MLBAM generates about $1.2-1.3 billion per year with roughly 30% coming from non-baseball streaming. He hopes that the new service will bring in more revenue to get generate a bigger piece of the MLBAM pie.
So as MLBAM looks to the future, it hopes to become an even bigger player in online sports. Bowman said he’s not looking for MLBAM to rival or replace ESPN, but hopes that the future in online streaming will be bright in the coming years.
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.