Bernard Stewart, "ESPN - An Insider's Story"

Published: Feb. 25, 2021, 1:12 p.m.

b'Enjoy our deep dive into the world of ESPN the "worldwide leader in Sports" through Bernard Stewart\'s eyes and stories.\\xa0\\nBernard has had an illustrious career at ESPN for 30 years, from the early days of the truly first Sports Network in the world to overseeing its expansions globally and many other roles. Learn how ESPN started, expanded, the challenges and growth stories told by a true insider.\\n\\xa0\\nKey Highlights\\nComing out of College and Air Force teaching Film and starting independent projects in TV & Movie Production\\nStart working at a Capital City company, WTNH TV New Haven \\u2013 first break and being taught the world of \\u201cBroadcast Politics\\u201d. Created Program called \\u201cFirst Edition\\u201d\\nESPN \\u2013 the start of the first Sports Network (1979) - father and son founding team (Bill and Scott Rasmussen) - \\xa0RCA\\u2019s first Satellite helps to distribute the channel across the US, start-up funding from Getty Oil (US$ 10 million)\\xa0\\nESPN = Entertainment Sports Programming Network, original programming from Tractor pulling to Softball (only 6 hours a day), major sports still at the big traditional broadcasters\\xa0\\nESPN Sports Center \\u2013 iconic show, first time stories beyond the action and beyond the 3 min News highlights on traditional TV\\nJohn Malone (Liberty Media), true leader in Cable growth and expansion and support of ESPN (the content piece)\\xa0 \\u2013 meeting with ESPN and Malone group, game changer in revenue share model\\nGetting into the big League sports, MLB and NFL \\u2013 didn\\u2019t come cheap \\u2013 ability to pay purely because of large and growing cable fees (affiliate fees)\\nA reflection on market reported numbers - ESPN in 2020, \\xa0US$ 11 billion Revenue, US$ 8.6 billion in Affiliate fees versus US$ 2.3b in advertising (only) \\u2013 game changer\\xa0\\nHis producer Role \\u2013 creating \\u201cstories\\u201d and working around broadcast embargos, etc - \\xa01984 Olympics in LA and Sarajevo\\xa0\\n1983 America\\u2019s Cup \\u2013 first time the US teams loses the Cup in 132 years \\u2013 Bernard had a crew at event from the start to capture the drama while its unfolding, big success\\xa0\\nShort sting at WBZ TV Boston before Round 2 at ESPN as Director Program Planning \\u2013 it\\u2019s a monster to plan (war room to map out two year worth of programming), together with Program Acquisition team\\xa0\\nShaping the sports world through smart programming and connecting different parts of the industry\\xa0\\nFirst overseas action \\u2013 Australian group showed up, trailer in Parking Lot, recording content and shipping tapes to Australia\\xa0 - syndication by tapes at that time\\xa0\\nTV Conferences and Conventions \\u2013 big part of the push for ESPN going global - new Sandbox to play in \\u2013 develop international division (syndicating US content globally)\\nSportel history - Monte Carlo, Monaco early days \\u2013 reminiscing on how it all started and ESPN\\u2019s \\u2013 \\u201cthe worldwide leader in Sports\\u201d role to shape the industry \\xa0\\nMoving to Hong Kong as VP & GM of ESPN Asia Pacific \\u2013 the opportunities and challenges to take the brand globally \\u2013 understand, listen and being sensitive to local differences, get a seat on the table first - Disney buying ESPN in mid 90s and leaving it mostly alone\\xa0\\nESPN/Star Sports (ESS) world \\u2013 ESPN & Murdoch JV in Asia \\u2013 his view as a Board Member \\u2013 how it started (my view) and his inside stories \\xa0\\xa0\\nThe challenges of how to make it work and Marcus recent discussion with a Senior executive in the new ESPN/Disney lead Fox Sports Asia \\u2013 Bernard\\u2019s career in a nutshell, creating opportunities - History of Cricket program example\\xa0\\nLook at the current world of Sports Media Rights and Cable industry vs OTT dynamics \\u2013 reverse world \\u2013 shrinking Cable subscriptions\\nDisney+,\\xa0 ESPN+,\\xa0 Netflix and big growth of OTT \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\n\\nESPN+ USD 5.99 in the US -\\xa0 cannibalization of business model? Is the House on fire or not discussion?\\nValue for money philosophy ingrained in Disney and how that shapes their decision making \\u2013 price vs value \\u2013 and change with the times\\nDisney & ESPN doubling down by purchasing FOX Sports channels globally (over US$ 70 billion transaction) -\\xa0 his v'