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The explosion and remarkable impact of sports content has led to the publication of the first edition of 4SE in Sports Storytelling, which celebrates those at the intersection of sports and entertainment.
“The Last Dance” accelerated the demand for intimate documentaries. netflix
When ESPN first aired “The Last Dance” in April 2020, it was doing more than just satisfying the appetite for sports content created in the early days of the pandemic. The 10-part series, featuring Michael Jordan’s candid thoughts and never-before-seen footage of the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls, was a huge success (5.6 million viewers watched the ESPN documentary) At the same time, it proved to be a turning point in the new situation. A golden age of original sports content.
From Ed Sabol’s NFL films in the 1960s to HBO’s seminal works in the 1990s to the modern era that began with ESPN’s 2009 “30 for 30” series, sports have long been a field ripe for exploration. was. These days, it seems like every week brings news of another project. Just this fall, multi-part documentaries about David Beckham (Netflix) and Lionel Messi (Apple TV+) are captivating audiences around the world. Once a rare all-access follow-up to his docs, today he pulls the curtain on the NFL, F1, PGA Tour, ATP, WTA, and more. Scripted sports projects such as “Winning Time,” “Ted Lasso” and “Air” have received critical acclaim. And the already crowded space is now packed with new releases, production companies, investors and celebrities, including some of the biggest names in sports.
“I never expected Peyton Manning, or Michael Strahan, Tom Brady, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, or Skydance to be my competition,” said DLP Media founder and CEO. ) said Michael Hughes, a 20-year industry veteran. ESPN document on Lance Armstrong and Dennis Rodman. “It seems like everyone now has a sports department or is trying to get into sports, but there are really high-quality talent out there looking for programming and access to programming that is hard to market. I honestly think this is a good thing for consumers.”
The proliferation of sports content made it the perfect time for Sports Business Journal to debut 4SE in Sports Storytelling and recognize those who are changing the world of sports entertainment. Our inaugural 4SE (pronounced “Force”) list features the most prominent and engaging in sports entertainment, whether in feature films, scripted TV series, documentaries, radio/podcasts, or social and digital. Includes 38 companies and 82 individuals working in the industry. The winners were chosen by SBJ staff after months of research and consultation with sources across the industry (the original list published in May included removals from Meta and Showtime) , there were some changes, both with the sports department removed).
Netflix’s “Drive To Survive” spurred a push for follow-up docs.netflix
The sports content boom is being driven by a convergence of several key trends. The proliferation of streaming platforms is creating unprecedented demand from distribution partners who want original content. Leagues, teams, and athletes are providing more behind-the-scenes access than ever before, seeing how their content can foster fandom. Advances in technology have made filmmaking easier and lowered the barrier to entry for future storytellers. And sports content is no longer dismissed as a less serious art form.
So was HBO, which for decades was the sole leader in premium unscripted sports content. “There have always been people within the organization who looked at sports like a child playing in a sandbox,” said Ross Greenberg, president of HBO Sports for more than a decade. “That was across the board on every network. The power of sports as entertainment was unmatched until recently in the inner workings of corporations and the way they handled sports.”
no longer. In fact, in the past decade, he has won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature four times for sports documentaries. They have just as many wins in the last 36 years.
Sports content has proven resilient in a rapidly changing media landscape. “At a time when everything in entertainment and media is fragmented, sports feels bigger than ever,” said Logan Swaim, head of content at podcast network The Volume. “It feels like this is the last monoculture in existence, something that we’re all still connected to. And it feels like something that won’t change, but will only increase over time. .”
Such confidence in the future of sports content helps explain why investors are now pouring millions of dollars into sports-focused production companies. Skydance Media last year welcomed a $400 million funding round specifically aimed at supporting its newly launched sports division. Last year, Religion of Sports raised $50 million in Series B led by Shamrock Capital, and in 2021, Meadowlark Media raised $12.6 million in Series A. Earlier this year, Peter Chernin’s North Road Company acquired an undisclosed minority stake in Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. The reported business value is $400 million.
Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” has taken interest in scripted sports content to a new level.Apple TV+
And few in the industry seem concerned about weak demand. “How many medical and legal proceedings do you have each year?” asked Skydance Sports President John Weinbach. “In the last five years, he has had one or two sports or sports-adjacent series. [per year]. There are shows like “All American,” “Ted Lasso,” and “Swagger,” but not that many. I’m sure there is. ”
That sentiment was echoed by none other than Mr. Greenberg. Greenberg has been telling sports stories since the 1970s and was the executive producer of the Netflix documentary “Bill Russell: Legend” earlier this year.
“You can see that he has a very large appetite and can connect with people and bring out all kinds of emotions,” Greenberg said. “There’s always going to be a huge group of people who devour this type of sports product. It makes for great drama and storytelling, so I don’t think the day will ever come when we turn off the spigot.”
4SE Winners in Sports Storytelling
amazon prime
apple
bar stool sport
boardwalk pictures
box to box film
CAA
DLP Media Group
perfect man
ESPN
movie 40s
fox sports
HBO
iheartmedia
john boy media
little monster movie
MSM
meadowlark media
NBA
Netflix
NFL
Omaha Productions
sports religion
ross greenberg productions
skydance sports
SMAC Entertainment
snap
ringer
springhill company
volume
35V
together
Media unanimously
Utah
Wave Sports + Entertainment
WME
words and pictures
WWE
YouTube
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