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Stadium (sports network)

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Stadium
Type
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersChicago, Illinois
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerSilver Chalice
History
LaunchedAugust 21, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-08-21)
ReplacedAmerican Sports Network
(broadcast)
Campus Insiders and 120 Sports
(online)
ClosedOctober 30, 2023; 13 months ago (2023-10-30) (OTA only)
Replaced byThe Nest (OTA only)
Links
WebcastWatch live
Websitewatchstadium.com
Availability
Streaming media
Twitch[1]
Plex, Stremium, Xumo, FuboTV, Roku Channel, VidGo, YouTube TV

Stadium is an American internet television sports network owned by Silver Chalice. It is headquartered at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

History

[edit]
Stadium logo used from 2017 to 2024.

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, Florida, 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 expansions into regional sports networks via acquisitions of Fox Sports Networks, a minority stake in YES Network, and the establishment of Marquee Sports Network with the Chicago Cubs, 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]

In 2021, Stadium began to synergize with the rebranded Bally Sports, including co-producing an Opening Day launch special for the networks on April 1,[9] and adopting its on-air graphics package for college sports broadcasts beginning in the 2021–22 academic season.[10] The Fox College Sports cable channels were quietly rebranded as Stadium College Sports in June,[11] and in 2022 Stadium began to produce the national studio show The Rally for the Bally Sports channels.[12]

In May 2023, amid the bankruptcy of Bally Sports' parent company Diamond Sports Group, Sinclair sold its controlling interest in Stadium to Silver Chalice. Sinclair stated that the network did not have enough viewership for Sinclair to continue funding it; Sinclair will continue to supply some programming.[13][14] As a consequence of the sale, Sinclair discontinued its distribution of Stadium in October 2023, replacing it with its new network The Nest.[15] Stadium College Sports also ceased operations at the end of the year.[16]

Distribution

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The service is distributed mainly via streaming television services and associated apps (including third-party services, as well as Sinclair's own Stirr service).[17] The American Sports Network linear service, which was distributed as a digital subchannel network, transitioned to Stadium on September 6, 2017.[18] The network has also reached deals for traditional cable distribution.[19] 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).[20]

In November 2017, Facebook acquired rights to 47 college basketball telecasts from Stadium, which stream exclusively on Facebook Watch and an associated Facebook page.[21]

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.[22]

Programming

[edit]

Live sports airing on Stadium include Minor League Baseball, the Savannah Bananas,[23] the A7FL,[24] the Indoor Football League,[25] and the United Fight Alliance.[26]

Its weekday lineup of studio programs currently include The Territory with Michael Kim, Emerge (which focuses on high school sports), Campus Insiders, and Sauce & Shram with Dave Ross and Tyler Jacobs, and The Fantasy Sportsbook.[27]

Podcasts

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Past programming

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Stadium's college sports programming at launch included events from Conference USA, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League, the Southern Conference, and the West Coast Conference.[28]

Stadium, as with other networks distributed by digital multicast networks, was 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. This has been discontinued since 2023.

Notable on-air staff

[edit]

Former over-the-air affiliates

[edit]
City of license/market Station Virtual
channel[29] 		Physical
channel 		Primary
affiliation
(on main channel) 		Owner
(Management Company) 		Date of affiliation Notes
Alabama
Birmingham WBMA-LD 58.3 32 ABC Sinclair Broadcast Group
Mobile WPMI-TV 15.3 15 NBC Deerfield Media
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Arkansas
Little Rock KKYK-CD 30.3 21 Telemundo KTV Media, LLC
Arizona
Phoenix KDVD-LD 50.6 25 Nuestra Visión Globe LPTV
Yuma KAJB 54.4 36 UniMás Entravision Communications
California
Bakersfield KBFX-CD 58.4 29 Fox Sinclair Broadcast Group
Chico KCVU 20.4 30 Fox Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Eureka KBVU 28.4 28 Fox Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Fresno KMPH-TV 26.4 28 Fox Sinclair Broadcast Group
Los Angeles KCAL-TV 9.2 9 Independent Paramount Global April 12, 2019
San Diego KBNT-CD 17.3 24 Univision Entravision Communications
Colorado
Denver KTFD-TV 50.3 28 UniMas Entravision Communications
Connecticut
Waterbury WCCT-TV 20.4 33 The CW Tegna
Florida
West Palm Beach WWHB-CD 48.3 33 TBD Sinclair Broadcast Group Also on WTVX sometimes for special occasion
Idaho
Boise KYUU-LD 35.4 28 The CW Sinclair Broadcast Group
Idaho Falls/Pocatello KPIF 15.4 15 MeTV Ventura Broadcasting
Illinois
Hammond (Chicago) WJYS 62.2 21 Independent Oxford Media Group, Inc.
Springfield–Decatur–Champaign WBUI 23.3 22 The CW GOCOM Media
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Iowa
Cedar Rapids KFXA 28.4 27 Dabl Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd.
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Sioux City KPTH 44.4 30 Fox Sinclair Broadcast Group
Kansas
Hutchinson/Wichita KMTW 36.2 35 Dabl Mercury Broadcasting Company, Inc.
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) 		Replaced getTV, after moving from 36.3 when it got replaced by sibling network Charge! On that channel.
Kentucky
Bowling Green WDNZ-LD 11.2 11 Antenna TV Daily News Broadcasting Company October 18, 2019
Paducah WDKA 49.4 25 MyNetworkTV Standard Media
Louisiana
Lafayette KXKW-LD 32.3 30 Newsnet Delta Media Corporation March 14, 2021 Was previously on the Channel's DT1 slot until Newsnet launched March 14, 2021
New Orleans WQDT-LD 33.4 32 Buzzr DTV America Corporation
Maine
Portland WGME-TV 13.3 15 CBS Sinclair Broadcast Group
Maryland
Baltimore WNUV 54.4 25 The CW Cunningham Broadcasting
(Operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Massachusetts
Worcester WUTF-TV 27.4 19 Unimas Entravision Communications
Michigan
Flint–Tri-Cities WSMH 66.4 16 Fox Sinclair Broadcast Group
Missouri
Kansas City KCMN-LD 42.4 28 Decades HC2 Holdings
St. Louis KDNL-TV 30.4 31 ABC Sinclair Broadcast Group
Nebraska
Omaha KXVO 15.4 29 The CW Sinclair Broadcast Group
Nevada
Las Vegas KSNV 3.4 22 NBC Sinclair Broadcast Group
Reno KNSN-TV 21.2 20 Independent & MyNetworkTV (secondary) Deerfield Media
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
New York
Albany–Schenectady–Troy WCWN 45.4 22 The CW Sinclair Broadcast Group
Buffalo WNYO-TV 49.2 49 MyNetworkTV
North Carolina
Asheville WLOS 13.4 13 ABC Sinclair Broadcast Group
Greenville WYDO 14.4 19 Fox Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Winston-Salem–Greensboro–High Point WXLV-TV 45.2 29 ABC Sinclair Broadcast Group
Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill WLFL 22.2 18 The CW
Ohio
Cincinnati WKRC-TV 12.3[30] 12 CBS Sinclair Broadcast Group
Columbus WSYX 6.4[30] 27 ABC
Dayton WKEF 22.3 34 ABC
Toledo WNWO-TV 24.2 49 NBC Replaced by "Charge!".
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City KOKH-TV 25.3 24 Fox Sinclair Broadcast Group
Oregon
Portland KATU-TV 2.4 24 ABC Sinclair Broadcast Group
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh WPNT 22.2 42 The CW Sinclair Broadcast Group
Wilkes-Barre WSWB 38.4 34 The CW MPS Media, LLC

(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)

South Carolina
Florence–Myrtle Beach, SC WWMB 21.3 26 Dabl Sinclair Broadcast Group
WVEB-LD 40.3 22 Timeless TV Innovate Corp. The station is nominally licensed to this market, but actually serves Charlotte, NC.
Greenville–Spartanburg WLOS 13.4 13 ABC Sinclair Broadcast Group
Columbia WACH 57.2 22 Fox
Charleston WCIV 36.3 25 MyNetworkTV
Tennessee
Nashville WNAB 58.2 23 Dabl Tennessee Broadcasting
(Operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Texas
Austin KGBS-CD 19.1 19 Stadium HC2 Holdings
Dallas–Fort Worth KTXD-TV 47.1 23 Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)		 March 7, 2018 Replaced independent format
El Paso–Las Cruces, NM KFOX-TV 14.4 15 Fox Sinclair Broadcast Group
Houston KEHO-LD 32.5 29 Court TV HC2 Holdings
Laredo KLDO-TV 27.4 19 Univision Entravision Communications
McAllen KTFV-CD 32.4 32 UniMás
Port Arthur KBTV-TV 4.4 27 Dabl Deerfield Media
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
San Antonio KMYS 35.2 32 The CW Deerfield Media
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Virginia
Norfolk WTVZ-TV 33.2 33 MyNetworkTV Sinclair Broadcast Group
Lynchburg–Roanoke WSET-TV 13.2 13 ABC
Washington
Bellevue (Seattle–Tacoma) KUNS-TV 51.3[31] 50 Univision Sinclair Broadcast Group
Yakima KUNW-CD 2.3 30
West Virginia
Charleston–Huntington WVAH-TV 11.2 24 Decades Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
Wisconsin
Suring (Green Bay–Fox Cities) WCWF 14.4 15 The CW Sinclair Broadcast Group

References

[edit]
  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. April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  3. ^ "American Sports Network, Campus Insiders, and 120 Sports Announce Mega-Merger Deal". Underdog Dynasty (SBNation). Vox Media. April 13, 2017. 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. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. 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. ^ Dachman, Jason (March 30, 2021). "How Sinclair Pulled Off the Gargantuan Bally Sports Networks Rebrand Amid the Pandemic". Sports Video Group. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Hernandez, Kristian (September 2, 2021). "College Football Kickoff 2021: Stadium Plans Bally Sports–Style Graphics, Real-Time Fan Interaction for 25-Game Schedule". Sports Video Group. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  11. ^ "Fox College Sports to become Stadium College Sports". Bend Broadband. June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Lafayette, Jon (January 24, 2022). "'The Rally' Launching on Sinclair's Bally Regional Sports Networks". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  13. ^ Fisher, Eric (May 29, 2023). "White Sox and Bulls Owner Acquires Controlling Stake of Stadium Network". Front Office Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  14. ^ Lafayette, Jon (May 30, 2023). "Sinclair Sells Control of Stadium to Jerry Reinsdorf's Silver Chalice". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  15. ^ Lafayette, Jon (October 10, 2023). "Sinclair Will Serve Up 'Comfort Food' on New Multicast Network The Nest". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  16. ^ France, Erin (December 21, 2023). "Stadium College Sports Channels Shutting Down". MIDTEL. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "TV broadcaster Sinclair launches STIRR, a free streaming service with local news and sports". TechCrunch. January 16, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  18. ^ Bartel, Jeffrey. "Introducing Stadium – CW 14.4". Fox11Online.com. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  19. ^ "Is Sinclair-Led Sports Venture Stadium Greater Than Sum of its Parts?". Cablefax. August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  20. ^ Perez, Sarah (August 24, 2017). "Stadium's live-streamed sports and original programming comes to Twitter". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  21. ^ Spangler, Todd (November 16, 2017). "Facebook Acquires Exclusive Rights to 47 College Basketball Games From Smaller Conferences". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  22. ^ "Twitch adds Stadium's traditional sports broadcasts to platform". SportsPro. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  23. ^ Dorsch, Eric (April 10, 2024). "Banana Ball games now available to stream on Stadium and Bally Live". WSAV. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  24. ^ "A7FL Inks Deal with Stadium to Air League's "Games of the Week" Football Package Nationwide". A7FL. April 2, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  25. ^ "IFL EXPANDS DISTRIBUTION TO STADIUM NETWORK FOR 2024 PLAYOFF GAMES". Indoor Football League. July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  26. ^ "UFA Television Schedule". United Fight Alliance. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  27. ^ "Weekday Studio Lineup". Stadium. October 11, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  28. ^ "Twitter Punches Its 24-Hour Livestreaming Ticket to Sports Network Stadium". Adweek. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  29. ^ "Stations for Network - Stadium". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  30. ^ a b "ASN launches 24/7 broadcast network on Monday". americansportsnet.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  31. ^ "Digital Television". Northwest Broadcasters. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
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