Fox Sports deal with Bobcats has redefined team

1189126qun.blogspot.com
Early results show the Bobcatsz are benefiting from thenew deal, but growth is likely to be Through the early part of March, average viewership for Bobcats gameds hovered in the range of 5,000 to 6,000 householdes per game, according to Nielsen Media Research. Those numbers are low by leagus standards. But gains made since January with several games drawing twice as manyhouseholds — are Fox and the Bobcats say. When the Bobcats finishj the regular seasonthis month, Fox — now known as Fox Sports Carolinas — will have aired 70 games on its two sportsd channels (Fox Sports Carolinas and SportSouth).
Some differencexs are obvious: In 2007-08, the Bobcats’ TV games coulxd be seen in 1.2 million homes across the that number has increasedto 1.7 million. And gamexs are now offered on satellitesubscriptiohn services, something the NBA franchiswe lacked during its first four seasons. Bobcats executivees praise the deal for helpinf the team broadenits audience. Fox is too. Jeff Genthner, senior vice president of the Fox sportws networks inthe South, offered his perspectivre on the first year. Following are excerpts: On gainin g a larger audience forthe Bobcats: “The big gain s are in Dish and We’re investing heavily in high-def for Bobcates games.
They never had high-ded games before. We’ve done 16 this year. We’re lookinyg to do as many as 30 next possibly more. We’ve crossee over the vortex — when a game’ss not in high-def, like, come on. So we’rr moving in that On working withthe team: “Thes relationship we have with all of our teams and we had to really educate the Bobcats on it was, ‘We’re not journalists, we’re partners. Your productt is my product.’ We want to make an emotional connection to the so we’ve invested to do thosse things (with special programming). There’s a trus factor there.
” On Bobcats ad sales: “There’s tremendou room for growth. The big challenge for ad salews is the product on the Winning cures a lotof things. The product on the court this year and the investmentg the team has made in players and thecommitmenf we’re making to productiojn and adding value to clients there’s a lot of opportunity On the broadcast crew: “We took it over this Suffice it to say, we are covering all What we’re doing now is looking at talenft for next season. We are going to sit down with everyoned at the end of the year and breakm it down and see whatmakes Overall, we’re very pleased with the way the crew has responded.
”