Nielsen Media Research recently released new data consistent with the fact that cord-cutting is changing the media ecosystem as we know it. All cable channels responsible for carrying live sports have experienced steep subscriber losses, amassing a total multichannel audience of approximately 75.8 million homes, down 3.1 million subscribers, according to a new report by Sports Business Journal.
Of note in the Nielsen figures is Fox Sports 1 surpassing the total subscriber count of ESPN for the first time in its decade-long history. As of last measurement, ESPN is in nearly 71.321 million homes while FS1 is available in 71.375 million.
FOX is married to its linear TV products. On several occasions, CEO Lachland Murdoch has said that the network is content to use FOXSports.com rather than develop a proprietary streaming service. Conversely, ESPN not only streams some games exclusively on ESPN+, but it is also in the middle of “Project Flagship,” eyeing a 2025 launch for a direct-to-consumer product that would allow viewers to access ESPN without cable.
Other notable parts of the data include a slower drop for league-owned entities, including MLB Network, NFL Network and NBA TV. Compared to ESPN and FS1, NFL Network is in 51 million homes, while MLB Network is in 41 million. NBA TV, which is also partially owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, is available in 38 million homes. Warner Bros. Discovery’s networks also experienced declines – including TNT (-3.083 million) and TBS (-3.067 million) since the start of the calendar year.
Media professionals will surely watch whether or not this trend continues as television assimilates into a new age of consumption.
