Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

NBC Sports RSNs President David Preschlack Sees Direct-to-Consumer Blazers Pass Product as a Chance to Try Something New in a Unique Market

07/11/2017

NBC Sports RSNs President David Preschlack Sees Direct-to-Consumer Blazers Pass Product as a Chance to Try Something New in a Unique Market The regional-sports-network business should be an incubator for new ideas' By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Monday, November 6, 2017 - 2:31 pm

Print This Story

Story Highlights

Last week, NBC Sports announced the launch of a direct-to-consumer product called Blazers Pass. A first-of-its-kind service from a regional sports network, it will offer fans a way to purchase (without a cable subscription) a package of selected Portland Trailblazers games for live streaming on the NBC Sports Gold app.

NBC Sports' David Preschlack: What's really exciting for us is, a product like this gives us the opportunity to serve fans in a different way to create a bit of a different marketplace.

Through the product, fans who live in the Trailblazers' media territory (as determined by NBA laws) can purchase a preselected 15-game package for $34.99 ($31.50 if bought before Dec. 1). Think of it as a partial-season-ticket plan for tablets or smartphones of cord-cutters and cord-nevers.

From NBC Sports Regional Networks' perspective, Portland, which is served by NBC Sports Northwest, is a unique sports region. The network does not have a distribution deal with either DirecTV or Dish, and, with only two professional-sports franchises and a younger, tech-savvy demographic, it's an area ripe for cord-cutting.

To David Preschlack, president, NBC Sports Regional Networks and Platform and Content Strategy, it's a perfect playground to try something new and outside the box.

We all know that the marketplace is evolving in terms of how people are consuming content, says Preschlack. It certainly isn't one-size-fits-all, and what's really exciting for us is, a product like this gives us the opportunity to serve fans in a different way to create a bit of a different marketplace.

I think that, when people stack up which options they have to get content, it's not an either-or scenario, he continues. By way of example, the cable bundle still works well for lots of people, and now we're seeing a new marketplace evolve: the Digital MVPD marketplace is getting traction with people, and that works for them. We're going direct to consumer, and we're going to see how that product is going to resonate on a regional basis.

NBC Sports has been learning some lessons about direct-to-consumer products on a national stage from its NBC Sports Gold subscription packages for various Olympic sports, as well as a highly publicized offering of non-televised Premier League matches.

With an existing infrastructure, the effort to start up a project like Blazers Pass was much more manageable for the Regional Networks team.

One of the real beauties of all of this is that, from a technological perspective, we were able to just tap into a backend infrastructure in everything that we do with our national direct-to-consumer products, says Preschlack, noting that the unique challenge in this case is that it will be a geo-targeted product. Being housed under the NBC Sports Gold umbrella was a real advantage for us in getting this product to market.

So what exactly do NBC Sports and NBC Sports Regional Networks hope to accomplish with this type of service? Tangible metrics (outside of subscribers) are not so much Preschlack's concern. He considers Blazers Pass a unique, contained environment through which to figure out preferences and behaviors of consumers in today's changing media landscape.

The Blazers Pass product allows fans to purchase a package of 15 live games this season.

We are really focused on learning something, he explains. We're going to have our ear to the ground, and a key metric of success will be learning as much as we can about the product, the people who signed up for the product, the people who didn't sign up for the product, and everything in between. The regional-sports-network business should be an incubator for new ideas. It's much easier to try something like this regionally than it is nationally, and it's a lot more cost-efficient. If it works - and who knows what it to work' means in this case - then we can see if this is something we want to bring to other markets.

Preschlack adds that his team will try a few things through this product, including testing new ad models and different functionality for the network's apps and websites.

The beauty of it is, if it works, it's really scalable, he says. If it doesn't, you have a contained environment where it didn't take us a lot to get it up and running. We have the best of all worlds here, and we intend to take advantage of that.

Currently, NBC Sports Gold is available on Apple iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast and online at NBCSportsGold.com. NBC Sports Gold is powered by Playmaker Media, NBC Sports Digital's technology service, which provides end-to-end support for companies in need of best-in-class live-streaming and VOD solutions.
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2017/11/06/nbc-sports-rsns-david-preschlac...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

17/02/2025

How BBC Wales returned live to 1985

TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night By Jenny Priestley Published: February 14, 2025 ...

17/02/2025

Film studio tax relief programme gets underway in England

Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim By Matthew Corrigan Published: February 17, 20...

17/02/2025

Empowering progress from within

As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...

17/02/2025

EIB Global Lends 125 Million To Finance SES's Medium Earth Orbit Satellites

EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...

15/02/2025

Nielsen's Business Resource Groups celebrate inclusion with BRinG It! Campaign

At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...

15/02/2025

Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom

Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom Rob Christensen February 15, 2025 0 Comments Whether you want to remove distracting ...

15/02/2025

Wisycom Expands Into Argentina and Uruguay With EQUAPHON

Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...

15/02/2025

DPA Microphones Adds to Sales and Marketing Teams

DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...

15/02/2025

Tuxera brings media-optimized SMB technology to NAB Show...

Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...

15/02/2025

Bitmovin Report Ad Insertion Tops Streaming Challenges a...

Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...

15/02/2025

Oberc Lights Michelin-Star Hotel Guide Promo with DoPchoi...

When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...

15/02/2025

Formula E Supercharges Fan Experience with AI-Driven High...

Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...

15/02/2025

Agile Content is Now AgileTV

Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV. The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...

15/02/2025

Hiltron to Promote Latest-Generation Satellite Communicat...

Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...

15/02/2025

DoPchoice Debuts Airglow Float - Inflatable Round Topligh...

Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...

15/02/2025

Marshall to Debut RCP Plus Controller at 2025 NAB Show

LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...

15/02/2025

Gray Media Names Blake Sebo GM of Stations in Anchorage, Alaska

ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....

15/02/2025

DPA Microphones To Introduce CORE+ Technology at NAB Show

KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....

15/02/2025

QuickLink To Unveil StudioPro-NDI, StudioPro-3 at 2025 NAB Show

SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...

15/02/2025

Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In For Final Production

Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...

15/02/2025

NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season

NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...

14/02/2025

Spotify's Partner Program Helps Creators Increase Revenue and Consumption of Video Podcasts

Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...

14/02/2025

Four Ways L3Harris Targeting and Sensor Systems are Defining the Future of Land Missions

The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...

14/02/2025

ISE 2025: 5 Reasons to Join Calrec at ISE

Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025 Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...

14/02/2025

World Radio Day: On the same wavelength

World Radio Day: On the same wavelength By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...

14/02/2025

Tegna Inks Deal for Dallas Wings Broadcasts

DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...

14/02/2025

Prime Video Makes Significant Upgrades to Its Apple TV App

Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...

14/02/2025

Telos Alliance To Showcase Quasar V3.2 AoIP Software at NAB Show

CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...

14/02/2025

Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puget Bench for Creators

Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...

14/02/2025

Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow

Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow Brie Clayton February 14, 2025 0 Comments 80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...

14/02/2025

Paramount, Youtube TV Avoid Channel Blackout, Will Continue Negotiations

A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...

14/02/2025

Stop-motion triumph

Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail By C...

14/02/2025

BitFire appoints Jim Akimchuk as CEO

BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration By Jen...

14/02/2025

Arena TV liquidators dismiss banks' defence as unsustainable'

The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021 By Matthew Corrigan Published: February 14, ...

14/02/2025

YouTube TV Likely To Drop Paramount Channels Today

A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...

14/02/2025

LG Opens Its First Virtual Production Studio

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...

14/02/2025

CIMM, TVB Release Local TV and Video Innovation Showcase

NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...

14/02/2025

U.S. Senators Blast Weaponization of FCC' Against Broadcasters

WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...

14/02/2025

The Apple TV App Comes to Android

Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....

14/02/2025

Red Adds Nikon Z Mount To V-RAPTOR [X], KOMODO-X Camera Systems

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...

14/02/2025

Fox Sports Revs Up for Daytona 500 With New NASCAR Deal, Some New Tech

DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...

14/02/2025

Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn

Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...

14/02/2025

2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR Season

2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...

14/02/2025

VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2.6 Million for Demining in Ukraine

14 Feb 2025 VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....

14/02/2025

Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season

Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season Max Warner Bros. Television Group The Pitt New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...

14/02/2025

110 Years of Love in Every Frame: A Technicolor Celebration of Romance

This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...

14/02/2025

NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court

NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...

14/02/2025

LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access Features in Year 4

LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...