Stadium (sports network)

Stadium is a digital television and internet sports network operated as a multi-platform sports network. Stadium includes a 24/7 linear feed distributed across both digital and broadcast platforms, as well as on-demand (VOD) digital content including additional live games and events including AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. Stadium has a number of minority owners including BAMTech, Meredith Corporation, PGA Tour, Silver Chalice and Sinclair Broadcast Group. The network is headquartered at The United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Stadium
LaunchedAugust 21, 2017 (2017-08-21)
Owned by
SloganWelcome to the Game
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersChicago, Illinois
ReplacedAmerican Sports Network
Campus Insiders
Sister channel(s)Tennis Channel
(The T)
Honor Club
Charge!
Stirr
YES Network
Websitewatchstadium.com
Streaming media
watchstadium.com/liveWatch live
Twitch
PlutoTVInternet Protocol television
XumoInternet Protocol television
StirrInternet Protocol television
Sling TVInternet Protocol television
FuboTVInternet Protocol television
VidGoInternet Protocol television
Digital media receiverAmazon Fire TV
Roku
Apple TV

The service is distributed as an over-the-top streaming service through Stadium's website and other partners, digital subchannels on broadcast television stations.

History

In March 2017, unconfirmed reports speculated that Sinclair was planning to shutter its sports unit, American Sports Network, and give its remaining sports rights to Campus Insiders. The Charleston Gazette-Mail, however, citing ASN employees, reported that the rumors of a complete shuttering were false, but that the division was planning to re-locate its headquarters, restructure its operations, and achieve "stronger, more diversified distribution." The original rumors were based upon reports of layoffs from ASN's current headquarters in West Palm Beach, connected to the planned re-location.[1]

On April 13, 2017, Sinclair officially announced that ASN would be re-launched later in the year as part of a joint venture with Campus Insiders owner Silver Chalice (itself owned by the Chicago White Sox), and its online sports video service 120 Sports. The new operation will be operated as linear and digital offerings; the linear service would utilize the syndication and broadcast network built out for ASN, while the digital platform would stream full-time online and through Twitter. 120 Sports would provide original studio and long-form programming to the venture.[2][3]

On May 1, 2017, it was announced that the new joint venture would be known as Stadium.[4] On June 1, 2017, it was reported that Stadium would officially launch around late-July 2017.[5] The service officially launched on August 21, 2017.[6][7]

In 2019, with Sinclair's acquisitions of regional sports networks FSN, Marquee Sports Network and a minority stake in YES Network, Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley said of Stadium's role in the expanded sports offerings: "That will be our national play. I don’t see it competing head to head with FS1 or ESPN. It's not there yet with its maturity."[8]

Distribution

The service is distributed mainly via streaming television services and associated apps (including third-party services, as well as Sinclair's own Stirr service).[9] The American Sports Network linear service, which was distributed as a digital subchannel network, transitioned to Stadium on September 6, 2017.[10] The network has also reached deals for traditional cable distribution.[11] Stadium also offers a subscription service, "Stadium Plus", which offers access to premium events and on-demand content (including commercial-free replays of broadcasts, and classic games).[12]

In November 2017, Facebook acquired rights to 47 college basketball telecasts from Stadium, which stream exclusively on Facebook Watch and an associated Facebook page.[13]

In May 2018, Stadium partnered with Twitch to stream its content on the service, as well as an exclusive Twitch Stadium 2 channel that features additional commentary and analysis.[14]

Programming

Stadium's college sports programming will include content from Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League, the Southern Conference, and the West Coast Conference.[15]

Stadium's studio lineup includes:

The Territory - The Territory sets the editorial cycle for the day with a fast-paced, expansive look at the sports landscape, featuring news and storylines from coast-to-coast.

Sauce & Shram - Sauce & Shram showcases an irreverent and interactive conversation between Dave Ross and Tyler Jacobs along with user generated social media commentary and callers.

Emerge - Emerge spotlights the best high school talent across the country, featuring athlete-submitted training, game, and social content while also featuring interviews with players and coaches throughout prep sports.

Campus Insiders - Campus Insiders continues to focus on college conferences across the nation, including the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Mountain West, Pac-12, Patriot League, SEC, and the West Coast Conference. Each day, a different conference will be highlighted with exclusive interviews, Top 25 breakdowns, game picks and more.

The Rally: Gametime in America - Gametime in America sets the live sports scene as viewers will navigate in real time through the landscape of sports in America.[16]

Ring of Honor Wrestling, the weekly professional wrestling television series produced by the Sinclair-affiliated promotion Ring of Honor, began airing on the network from January 2018. The series was previously syndicated to sibling broadcast network Comet.[17]

Stadium, as with other networks distributed by digital multicast networks, is required to preempt three hours of its weekly schedule for educational children's programming. With the exception of DragonflyTV, most of Stadium's educational shows are sports-related to minimize interruption; The Real Winning Edge, Sports Lab, Future Phenoms and Sports Stars of Tomorrow make up Stadium's educational lineup as of 2019.

Affiliates
City of license/market Station Virtual
channel[18]		 Physical
channel		 Primary
affiliation
(on main channel)		 Owner
(Management Company)		 Date of affiliation Notes
BirminghamWBMA58.340ABCSinclair Broadcast Group
MobileWPMI-TV15.315NBC
FayettevilleKAJL-LD [19]16.1161DTV America Corporation
PhoenixKASW61.227The CWNexstar Media Group
Los AngelesKCAL-TV9.29IndependentViacomCBSApril 12, 2019
KHIZ-LD39.4 [19]2EscapeDTV America Corporation
SacramentoKMAX-TV31.421The CWViacomCBSNovember 27, 2018
DenverKTFD-TV50.350UniMasEntravision Communications
WaterburyWCCT-TV20.433The CWTegna
JacksonvilleWRCZ-LD35.235The Country NetworkDTV America Corporation
West Palm BeachWWHB-CD48.333Azteca AmericaSinclair Broadcast GroupAlso on WTVX sometimes for special occasion
OrlandoWFEF-LD28.325CometDTV America Corporation
AtlantaWDWW-LD28.3 [19]28The Country Network
BoiseKYUU-LD35.428The CWSinclair Broadcast Group
Idaho Falls/PocatelloKPIF15.415MeTV
Arlington Heights (Chicago)WRJK-LP22.424.4IndependentMajor Market Broadcasting
Hammond (Chicago)WJYS62.236.2IndependentOxford Media Group, Inc.
Springfield–Decatur–ChampaignWBUI23.322The CWGOCOM Media
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
IndianapolisWSDI-LD30.630QuestDTV America Corporation
Fort Dodge (Des Moines)KCYM-LD45.426Newsmax TV
LafayetteKXKW-LD32.132Antenna TVDelta Media CorporationReplaced ThisTV
New OrleansWQDT-LD34.433BuzzrDTV America Corporation
ShreveportKMSS-TV33.334FoxMarshall Broadcasting (operated by Nexstar Media Group)
PortlandWGME-TV13.315CBSSinclair Broadcast Group
Flint–Tri-CitiesWSMH66.416Fox
Kansas CityKCMN-LD42.438DecadesDTV America Corporation
St. LouisWODK-LD45.545Cozi TV
KDNL-TV30.431ABCSinclair Broadcast Group
OmahaKXVO15.438The CW
Las VegasKSNV3.422NBC
RenoKNSN-TV21.220Independent & MyNetworkTV (secondary)Deerfield Media
AlbuquerqueKTFQ-TV41.416UniMasEntravision Communications
Albany–Schenectady–TroyWCWN45.443The CWSinclair Broadcast Group
BuffaloWNYO-TV49.249MyNetworkTV
New York CityWRNN48.248IndependentWRNN License Company, LLC
Riverhead, New YorkWLNY-TV55.327→29IndependentViacomCBS
CharlotteWVEB-LD40.314Cozi TVDTV America Corporation
Winston-Salem–Greensboro–High PointWXLV-TV45.229ABCSinclair Broadcast Group
Raleigh–Durham–Chapel HillWLFL22.227The CW
WilmingtonWILM-LD10.340IndependentCapitol Broadcasting Company
FargoKRDK-TV4.938Cozi TVMajor Market Broadcasting
Akron (Cleveland)WQDI-LD20.4 [19]21Estrella TVDTV America Corporation
CincinnatiWKRC-TV12.3[20]12CBSSinclair Broadcast Group
ColumbusWTTE28.3[20]36Fox
DaytonWKEF22.218ABC
ToledoWNWO24.249NBC
Oklahoma CityKOKH-TV25.324Fox
Oklahoma CityKBZC-LD42.142Ind.DTV America Corporation
TulsaKZLL-LD39.339Ind.
PortlandKATU2.443ABCSinclair Broadcast Group
PittsburghWPNT22.242MyNetworkTV
Wilkes-BarreWSWB38.434The CWMPS Media, LLC
ViequesW34DY-D34.234getTVTV Red de Puerto Rico, Inc.
VillalbaW16CW-D16.216Justice Network
RincónW28DV-D28.1281
Florence–Myrtle Beach, SCWWMB21.321The CWHoward Stirk Holdings
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Greenville–SpartanburgWLOS13.413ABCSinclair Broadcast Group
ColumbiaWACH57.248Fox
MemphisWQEK-LD36.430Cozi TVDTV America Corporation
NashvilleWKUW-LD40.328Buzzr
WNAB58.223The CWTennessee Broadcasting
(Operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
AmarilloKVII-TV7.47ABCSinclair Broadcast Group
Dallas–Fort WorthKPFW-LD18.443America's Auction NetworkDTV America Corporation
KTXD-TV47.1231Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)		March 7, 2018Replaced independent format
El Paso–Las Cruces, NMKFOX-TV14.415FoxSinclair Broadcast Group
HoustonKEHO-LD24.529AltavisionDTV America Corporation
San AntonioKMYS35.232The CWDeerfield Media
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Salt Lake CityKSTU13.328FoxE.W. Scripps Co.January 12, 2018Replaced Justice Network
NorfolkWTVZ-TV33.233MyNetworkTVSinclair Broadcast Group
Lynchburg–RoanokeWSET-TV13.213ABC
Bellevue (Seattle–Tacoma)KUNS-TV51.3[21]50Univision
Charleston–HuntingtonWVAH-TV11.219FoxCunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Suring (Green Bay–Fox Cities)WCWF14.421The CWSinclair Broadcast Group
WausauWZAW-LD33.533FoxGray Television
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References
  1. Smock, Doug (March 12, 2017). "American Sports Network may remain after all". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  2. "Sinclair Partners to Revamp, Relaunch Sports Network". Broadcasting and Cable. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  3. "American Sports Network, Campus Insiders, and 120 Sports Announce Mega-Merger Deal". Underdog Dynasty (SBNation). Vox Media. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  4. "Is Twitter the new home for Southern Miss football?". Sun Herald. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  5. "Stadium multi-platform sports network soon will replace 120 Sports". Chicago Business Journal. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  6. "Stadium Streams to the Web, Twitter and Pluto TV". Multichannel News. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  7. "Stadium enters the fray". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  8. "Sinclair CEO see 'massive opportunity' with rebranding of Fox sports networks". Baltimore Business Journal. August 26, 2019.
  9. "TV broadcaster Sinclair launches STIRR, a free streaming service with local news and sports". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  10. Bartel, Jeffrey. "Introducing Stadium – CW 14.4". Fox11Online.com. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  11. "Is Sinclair-Led Sports Venture Stadium Greater Than Sum of its Parts?". Cablefax. August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  12. Perez, Sarah. "Stadium's live-streamed sports and original programming comes to Twitter". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  13. Spangler, Todd (November 16, 2017). "Facebook Acquires Exclusive Rights to 47 College Basketball Games From Smaller Conferences". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  14. "Twitch adds Stadium's traditional sports broadcasts to platform". SportsPro. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  15. "Twitter Punches Its 24-Hour Livestreaming Ticket to Sports Network Stadium". Adweek. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  16. "Stadium Announces New Fall Lineup Premiering September 4 - Stadium". Stadium. August 28, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  17. ""RING OF HONOR WRESTLING" NOW AVAILABLE ON STADIUM".
  18. "Stations for Network - Stadium". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  19. ASN Clearance Report for Wagner @ UMass football Oct-29-2016
  20. "ASN launches 24/7 broadcast network on Monday". americansportsnet.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  21. "Digital Television". Northwest Broadcasters. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
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