Austin Karp
@AustinKarp
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Longtime @SBJ editor/writer. Dishing out TV viewership data since 2006. Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech. Don't try and convince me the end to "Lost" was good.
Charlotte, NC
Joined September 2009
With the early U.S. exits (especially on women's side), I'm impressed with ESPN Wimbledon numbers. 488,000 viewers for men's/women's quarterfinals across ESPN/ESPN2. Best figure for the round in 6 years. 25% from 2024. And a great men's semifinal on right now with Fritz-Alcaraz.
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The @Mets-@Yankees rivalry getting hotter. 3 Subway Series games from July 4-6 averaged 356,000 viewers on @SNYtv, +70% over what YES Network drew for series. SNY was 154% better among adults 25-54, and 166% better among adults 18-34. Also best July 4 game ever on @MLBNetwork
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No shortage of topics this week fo the SBJ Sports Media Pod:. 🔲 F1 rights chatter ($200 million annually aint happening folks). 🔲 With the MLB @AllStarGame around the bend, we're talking with @Joe_Davis of @FOXSports and @RoFlo of @MLBNetwork.
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If anyone thinks Apple would pay anywhere near $200 million annually for F1, I have a bridge to sell you. 🤷🏻‍♂️.
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Sources telling me not to rule out ESPN from F1 media rights even with report on Apple TV today. Jimmy Pitaro, Roz Durant and Co. are remaining fiscally responsible. If it happens, it won’t be because ESPN overreached. But F1 looking at good numbers across ESPN this season.
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Apparently the network name has changed to ESPN 🤦‍♂️.
Some solid EPSN holiday numbers. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest scored its best audience since 2014. The Savannah Bananas also got their best TV audience yet.
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Some solid EPSN holiday numbers. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest scored its best audience since 2014. The Savannah Bananas also got their best TV audience yet.
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Big news.
BREAKING: Tim Leiweke is stepping down as Oak View Group CEO and transitioning to Vice Chair of OVG’s Board of Directors. The move comes in the wake of today's U.S. DOJ's indictment of Leiweke for bid rigging. More via @bretjust1t 🔻.
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Here we go.
Sources: Georgia Tech is hiring Ryan Alpert as the next athletic director. He's Tennessee's Senior Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Revenue Officer. He's agreed to a five-year deal that's pending board approval today.
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Well hot damn!.
Out-of-home viewing added more than 30% to the in-home audience for the Gold Cup Final as measured by Nielsen. It’s a likely foreshadowing of next summer. The out-of-home audiences for the Men’s World Cup are going to be something else.
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Packed house here in Asheville for @GoTourists. Heard they sold out 10 days ago for July 4 game. Love me some @MiLB
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This week, a Mailbag reader suggested a six-team conference swap that almost makes too much sense.
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The Big Beautiful Bout 🤷🏻‍♂️.
.@UFC is planning to put on a fight card at the White House over the next year to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, a spokesperson for the TKO Group Holdings-owned property confirmed to SBJ, after President Trump revealed the idea Thursday night.
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The @NHL Draft drew its 2nd-best viewership yet on Friday night. ESPN averaged 534,000 viewers, which is up 6% from 502K last year. Record remains 681K for 2023 draft (with Connor Bedard driving numbers). The last 3 years = best 3 NHL Draft audience numbers on record
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No surprise that MLB and ESPN are formally talking again. A cooling of period was needed from the original breakup. ESPN's Jimmy Pitaro told SBJ months ago they'd be interested in talking about a potential national package of local rights that MLB now has (likely to ESPN DTC).
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Full 2-day @NBADraft viewership across ABC/ESPN down just 5% from 2024. After 1st round was down 14.5% on Wednesday, Thursday helped rebound. Didnt hurt that 2025 2nd round was in primetime vs. 4-7pm ET in 2024. Overall draft: just under 2.6 million vs. 2.74 million in 2024.
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Sometimes it’s just the little things that are so huge. F**k cancer.
The @NYIslanders placed a Hockey Fights Cancer ribbon on the jersey of No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer in honor of his late mother ⤵️.
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A source close to the situation tells SBJ that there have been zero talks between MLB and the NBA about having MLB Network operate NBA TV (similar to how MLB Network operates NHL Network).
The NBA will begin operating NBA TV starting Oct. 1. It will continue to carry regular-season games during the 2025-26 season (non-exclusive telecasts), plus WNBA, G League, other games and live content.
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