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TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:26 am
by 4th&long
https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/pr-fox- ... ng-league/

>>Today it was announced that Fox Sports and The Spring League have reached a TV deal.<<

The timing of this deal on the heals of a NO GO XFL 2021 is very curious. Sounds like Fox isn't waiting for XFL 202x. So XFL says no 2021 and Fox inks deal with Brian Wood's TSL? Tells me XFL blew it.

GEE that didn't take long.

>> LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fox Sports has reached a multi-year agreement to televise The Spring League along with the option to acquire a minority stake in the league.

The Spring League will begin its fall season on Oct. 27 with six teams competing in a 12-game format over four weeks in San Antonio. Fox Sports 1 will air games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The league has previously been used by the XFL and Alliance of American Football before they started playing. The XFL and AAF ceased operations midway through their first seasons. The XFL, though, was recently acquired by a group led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with hopes of resuming play in 2022.

The Spring League CEO Brian Woods said in a statement that they are conducting a fall season in order to give more playing and development opportunities due to reductions in rosters during NFL training camps and the CFL canceling its season. TSL does plan to return to a spring season next year.

This will be the fourth season for The Spring League. The league says almost 100 of its players were signed to NFL contracts and 65 to CFL deals. The league’s most famous alum is 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, who played two seasons for the Cleveland Browns.<<

OMG - They did EXACTLY what I said the XFL should do - A scaled down season of 4-6 teams and 6 - 8 games? AMAZING.
Duh obvious and these guys with all their 'name' power could not pull it off.

TSL going back to traditional spring format 2021; And FOX can buy into the league! That's 2 seasons of TSL before XFL hits ground in 2022? NOT happening. If they weren't playing in 2021 what was the point of buying the XFL?

TRANSLATION - XFL lost one of its TV partners, to a network that WILL be an owner in the league.

They should have played in 2021 and gotten FOX on board, Fox was so hungry for more Football (as I've illustrated in other threads). XFL toast - IMO. We are back to 2 spring leagues and TSL has FOX muscle now behind it.

Like I said with XFL announcement - MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT. Now this - Good luck. Good for B Woods who never gave up from FXFL to TSL. He has balz

Discuss

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:49 am
by Tank55
Are they getting paid?

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 12:27 pm
by 4th&long
Tank55 wrote: Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:49 am Are they getting paid?
Who knows but Fox has rights to acquire interest in league - that's telling. XFL and AAF did not get paid. XFL did not have to pay for prod cost.

Its a multi year deal

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Dai ... eague.aspx

>> Fox Sports signed a multiyear deal to carry football games from The Spring League, which, ironically, plans to start later this fall. Deal terms give Fox Sports an option to pick up a minority stake in the league. Starting Oct. 27, FS1 will carry TSL games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights through the league’s championship game, which will be held during the week of Nov. 23.

Founded by CEO Brian Woods, TSL launched in '17 as a developmental league for the NFL. It has competed four seasons, including an abbreviated one in March '20 before the pandemic shut down sports. Starting later this month, the league will have six teams playing in a bubble environment over four weeks. The 12-game format will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The league is hoping that the reduction in NFL rosters, the cancellation of the CFL and the number of college players who opted out will add quality talent this fall. It plans to return for a spring season in '21. <<

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-s ... r-BB19E9K8

>> “As we’ve said time and time again, FOX is football. We’re excited to add TSL to our already robust football programming lineup complementing our NFL and college football coverage,” said Mark Silverman, Fox Sports president of national networks, in an official statement.

“We believe in TSL’s mission as a developmental league and we are excited to grow with them in partnership over the coming years.”

Game schedules and broadcast teams have yet to be announced. But with play set to kick off in just over three weeks, that information will surely be released soon.<<

Which I've also state - that since the FOX Spin off to Disney, Remaining FOX TV is looking for SPORTS programming.

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:16 pm
by laxtreme56
It's zero risk for Fox. They won't pay a penny to televise the games and will be relegated to cable. TSL players have to PAY to be in the league. This is like watching a glorified scrimmage, I'd be surprised if the games average 200k viewers

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:55 pm
by 4th&long
laxtreme56 wrote: Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:16 pm It's zero risk for Fox. They won't pay a penny to televise the games and will be relegated to cable. TSL players have to PAY to be in the league. This is like watching a glorified scrimmage, I'd be surprised if the games average 200k viewers
XFL didn't get paid and 1/2 the games were on Cable including the chanmpionship (if they played).

FS1 is a major sports channel. half the Fox XFL games were on FS1.

Agreed on TSL pay structure - but that may chg with contract. We'll need to keep an eye on that.

So they'll beat MLS ? That's a win for FS1.

https://worldsoccertalk.com/2019/10/23/ ... -nosedive/

>>The downward trend of MLS TV ratings continues on FOX Sports where viewing numbers averaged 223,294 in 2019 compared to 235,581 in 2016, which is a 5.2% decline.<<

I think that's FOX proper and FS1.

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 5:36 pm
by laxtreme56
FS1 may be a proper sports channel, but how will production value look? Will we be getting big name commentators. As for network ownership, I wouldn't put much into that. ESPN owns like 20% of MLL and when was the last time you saw any clips on Sportscenter. Heck ESPN owned part of the AFL in 2007 and 2008 and didn't blink an eye when the league folded, in fact they were one of the first in line to sue to get their money back.

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:30 pm
by 4th&long
laxtreme56 wrote: Sat Oct 03, 2020 5:36 pm FS1 may be a proper sports channel, but how will production value look? Will we be getting big name commentators. As for network ownership, I wouldn't put much into that. ESPN owns like 20% of MLL and when was the last time you saw any clips on Sportscenter. Heck ESPN owned part of the AFL in 2007 and 2008 and didn't blink an eye when the league folded, in fact they were one of the first in line to sue to get their money back.
Some good points there.

LaCrosse is going no where. This is FB.

The 2008 crash was historically huge if that never happened AFL might be a diff story.

Look the TSL is no XFL 2.0 - no s##t. My point was the timing of this deal, speed of it, and structure tells me Fox was ready for XFL, wanted spring FB and lost confidence and can guide TSL as needed.

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:40 pm
by FootballYoda
Garcia and Johnson could have gotten a tv deal. They have about as much entertainment power as anyone. I believe they didn’t want to startup the league until 2022, no matter what.

1. The Rock’s schedule is already full next spring.
2. They want time to plan it out.
3. They want Covid to be over.

Remember when the last XFL gave themselves a two year runway and Charlie Ebersol came in to undercut them by a year? (Of course he failed). But, wouldn’t it be ironic if Ebersol restarted the AAF next year? :D Just kidding.

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:14 am
by 4th&long
FootballYoda wrote: Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:40 pm Garcia and Johnson could have gotten a tv deal. They have about as much entertainment power as anyone. I believe they didn’t want to startup the league until 2022, no matter what.

1. The Rock’s schedule is already full next spring.
2. They want time to plan it out.
3. They want Covid to be over.

Remember when the last XFL gave themselves a two year runway and Charlie Ebersol came in to undercut them by a year? (Of course he failed). But, wouldn’t it be ironic if Ebersol restarted the AAF next year? :D Just kidding.
Yeah I'm just not buying any of that - it looks like - its stall and fold tactic.

Re: TSL gets TV deal - but XFL can't? Wow!

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 1:09 am
by FootballYoda
Stall and fold? What’s the end game? Get the XFL logo so you can print it on weight belts? :D