Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Fwd: LIVE PIAA Swimming & Diving Championships Coverage

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Weekly news & updates
March 14, 2023 | Issue 80
FEATURED PROGRAMMING | PIAA Swimming & Diving
March 15 - March 18, starting @ 12:30 PM
PCN is making a splash with LIVE coverage of the 2023 PIAA Swimming & Diving Championships March 15-18. With multiple camera angles, commentary, and instant replays, PCN is the best place to watch PIAA Championships on cable and streaming with PCN Select.

For more information on how to watch visit pcntv.com/how-to-watch/
BEHIND THE SCENES | Governor Budget Address
PCN provided LIVE coverage of Governor Shapiro's first Budget Address on Tuesday, March 7, from the State Capitol Building.

PCN's PA Budget coverage will continue with the Budget hearings from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, live proceedings from the General Assembly, and reactions from legislative leaders and policymakers, concluding with the signing of the state budget.

PCN's Budget coverage remains unbiased and unedited as part of the network's mission to bring Pennsylvania viewers complete, nonpartisan coverage of decisions that impact daily living in the Commonwealth.

For more information on PCN's budget coverage, or other programs discussing the PA Budget visit 
Monday - Wednesday LIVE at 7 PM

PCN has NEW ways for viewers to connect during the LIVE program! In addition to calling 1-877 PA6-5001 viewers can now TEXT 717-219-4001 with questions during the LIVE show. Viewers can also leave a comment on the program post on PCN's Facebook page before 5 PM the day of the program.
Starting Monday, 3/20 @ 9:30 AM

Watch the PA Senate and House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearings starting at 9:30 a.m. on cable in PA or streaming FREE with PCN Select.

Visit pcntv.com/pa-budget/ for more information.
PCN Select Exclusive

Kick off the month of basketball with PCN Select! PCN Sports Classics highlights the state's greatest high school athletes and unforgettable matchups. Stream PA Sports Classics on demand ANYTIME, ANYWHERE with PCN Select.

Visit pcntv.com/sports-classics/ for more information.
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PCN'S YOUTUBE | PA on Display
Civil War Battle Flags | PA on Display
Jason Wilson, Historian for the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Commitee, takes PCN on a tour of some of Pennsylvania's 400 Civil War Battle flags. Originally housed in the main rotunda of the Capitol Building, the flags have been removed and preserved for future generations.
 
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SUPPORT PCN | Pennsylvania Sports
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PCN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit television network located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania with bureaus in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. PCN receives no state or federal tax dollars.

Fwd: Inclusion Is a Win-Win



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From: Boston Consulting Group 


Inclusion isn't just nice. It's necessary.
BCG - The Boston Consulting Group
Leadership by Design
March 2023

Inclusion Isn't Just Nice. It's Necessary.
Inclusion Isn't Just Nice. It's Necessary.
 

The Premise
Business leaders invest billions in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives but have minimal insight into what works—and whether the investments lead to results. Most companies struggle to make progress on inclusion or to correct course confidently. Companies fall into a few common traps: making assumptions about the feelings and experiences that matter to employees, failing to use quantifiable and statistical data to identify the drivers of those feelings, and, crucially, overlooking the business impact of inclusion.

This problem can be solved. To do so, BCG built the BLISS Index (BLISS stands for Bias-Free, Leadership, Inclusion, Safety, and Support), a comprehensive, statistically rigorous tool that uses modeling techniques to identify the feelings of inclusion that matter and that influence retention and recruiting. Done right, inclusion positively changes the workplace experience, and not just for minorities and marginalized groups: inclusive cultures benefit all employees.

Here are some ways to do it right.
BCG - The Boston Consulting Group
The Solution
01. Ensure that senior leaders commit to DEI
Building an inclusive environment starts at the top—and employees need to see that leaders make it a clear priority. Inclusion is driven by what leaders do daily: the actions they take, the messages they communicate, the cultures they nurture, and the teams they build. At companies whose senior leaders are committed to DEI, 84% of employees feel valued and respected; in contrast, at companies where leaders are not viewed as committed to DEI, only 44% do.
Learn more about the value of the senior leadership team →
02. Build a workplace that prioritizes respect and authenticity
Companies that safeguard against discrimination, eliminate experiences of bias, and ensure consequences for disrespectful behavior directly improve employees' feelings of psychological safety, and thereby improve feelings of inclusion. Employees who experience or even just witness discrimination, bias, or disrespect are nearly 1.4 times more likely to quit. Further, the BLISS Index establishes that authenticity at work is highly correlated with feelings of inclusion and retention. Employees who can be their authentic selves are happier, more motivated to give their best, feel like their perspectives matter—and are nearly 2.4 times less likely to quit.
See the benefits of being authentic at work →
03. Put tried-and-true programs in place
BCG's BLISS Index reveals how business leaders can increase feelings of inclusion. For instance, BLISS inclusion scores for women of color are 11.5 percentage points higher for those who have a mentor or sponsor in the workplace. So, to improve inclusion—and reduce attrition risk—leaders should provide mentorship. Companies that offer a suite of programs (comprising mentorship, 360-degree feedback, and more) to improve the employee experience achieve the biggest uptick in BLISS inclusion outcomes.
Explore the BLISS Index →

Gabrielle Novacek
Quote

There's now an undeniable connection between inclusion and retention. If people feel included, they will be happy, they will feel a greater sense of well-being, and they will stick around. This research has clear implications for the value that DEI programs actually deliver in shaping meaningful outcomes for employees.
Gabrielle Novacek
Managing Director and Partner, BCG
Further Reading
BHI Newsletter
Subscribe for the latest insights that are shaping business thinking, drawn from the BCG Henderson Institute and BCG Fellows as well as third parties.
Subscribe
Boston Consulting Group
200 Pier Four Boulevard
Boston, Massachusetts 02210, USA

Sunday, March 05, 2023

Fwd: Netflix Can Live Without Live Sports



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From: Front Office Sports <info@frntofficesport.com>


The question lingers as to if or when the streamer will bid for live sports rights. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

March 5, 2023

Read in Browser

Front Office Sports

PRESENTED BY

Good morning and welcome to today's Sunday feature. I'm Doug Greenberg, and if you're like me, there's a good chance you've binged Netflix's new sports docuseries "Break Point," "Full Swing," and "Formula 1: Drive to Survive," whose fifth season hit the streamer on Feb. 24.

Those series — in addition to its library of prestige retrospective content — has made Netflix a destination for sports docs. However, the question lingers as to if or when the company will bid for live sports rights — and the answer might be never.

Media

Netflix Needs Live Sports. It Just Won't Broadcast Them.

Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The first season of "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" hit Netflix in March 2019.

At the time, it was a moderate success both in the United States and abroad, but its real power was its ability to "penetrate the zeitgeist" as Paul Martin, a co-founder of "DTS" production company Box to Box Films, says.

"Someone just looked at [my credential] and was like, 'Oh my God, you made that Netflix show, we love that show. We've never been to a race before, and we've come to the race,'" he told Front Office Sports in October about filming season two of the show. "We came away from that weekend in Austin like, 'Holy s–t, something's going on here.'"

Five seasons in, "Drive to Survive" is now a certified global phenomenon — one that has both attracted racing fans and created them.

The success of the show led Netflix to contract Box to Box for two more: "Break Point," which follows professional tennis, and "Full Swing," which follows men's professional golf.

It goes beyond the Box to Box cinematic universe, though: For years, the streaming giant has made a name for itself producing prestige sports content, from the Oscar-winning "Icarus," to the Emmy-winning ESPN collaboration "The Last Dance," to "Bill Russell: Legend," which debuted on the platform in early February.

But there's one massive elephant in the room: live sports.

While Netflix continually refuses to take the plunge, with the company's cameras following so much action as it happens, it still needs live sports — they just won't broadcast them in the moment.

The Silicon Valley-based company has barely entertained the idea — even as its competitors, like Amazon, dive headfirst into live sports rights.

While Netflix declined FOS' request for comment on this story, in December, co-CEO Ted Sarandos shared a rare glimpse into the enigmatic streamer's thought process as it pertains to sports.

"We've not seen a profit path to renting big sports," he said. "We're not anti-sports … We're just pro-profit."

Living in the Cinematic Universe

Netflix cameraman filming a Red Bull pit stop for Formula 1: Drive to Survive"Formula 1: Drive to Survive." Credit: Netflix

Box to Box's Netflix shows have one common thread: they all follow individual sports.

In motorsports, tennis, and golf, the responsibility of winning — and earning paychecks — falls primarily on one person.

"I think golf being such an individual sport, unlike a team, it's truly on each player's back," "Full Swing" executive producer Chad Mumm told FOS. "The pressure of that is so much more than just the pressure of winning a trophy."

Those emotional stakes, evoked through several different elements and interviews, create just as much drama as a live sports event — just retroactively.

Additionally, in all three sports, athletes are whisking themselves around the globe in private jets, making millions of dollars each week playing a game, while signing endorsement deals and attending to adoring fans.

"This show is a full immersion into a lifestyle that is pretty aspirational," Mumm says. "It's a really fun world to live in. And so for us, there was no reason to shy away."

With three different sports, Box to Box is focused on delivering truly separate entities that are entertaining in their own right.

"We want these shows to have their individual identities, and I think they do because Formula 1 is very different from tennis, is very different from golf," Martin says. "And I think, tonally, you see that in the show."

Ultimately, Netflix's universe cannot replicate the inherent unpredictability of live sports — but the product's strength is its ability to deliver predictable amounts of drama.

Blasts From the Past

An archive photo of Bill Russell surrounded by fans.Celtics legend Bill Russell. Credit: Netflix

In April 2020, Netflix capitalized on the absence of live sports — filling the void by moving up the premiere of its co-production with ESPN Films, "The Last Dance." The 10-part docuseries on Michael Jordan's Bulls — which featured never-before-seen footage from the team's final year — was a global smash hit.

The most recent entry is last month's "Bill Russell: Legend," a definitive look at the remarkable life on and off the court of one of the NBA's all-time most influential players.

"Netflix understands that they want to have a foothold from a global perspective," says the film's director Sam Pollard. "I think they understood, particularly with the success of 'The Last Dance,' that there was an audience for these kinds of sports documentaries … they see there's an appetite for documentaries like this."

The streamer might be asking itself why it needs to broadcast live sports when it can cut up past highlights to make prestige films that go head-to-head with ESPN's prestigious "30 for 30" — "Untold" is Netflix's renowned version — or win awards.

In 2018, "Icarus," the explosive documentary exposing the Russian Olympic doping operation, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature — Netflix's first feature of any kind to take home an Oscar.

"The Last Dance" won the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

Reality Check

Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Christian Horner having an informal meeting.Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen and Christian Horner. Credit: Netflix

The NFL produced 88 of the top 100 most-watched television programs in 2022.

On the contrary, since its release in January, "Break Point" has struggled to find an audience, not once appearing on Netflix's Global Top 10 and only cracking the Top 10 in three countries: Australia (10), Ireland (9), and New Zealand (10).

Same goes for "Bill Russell: Legend," which did not make a Top 10 in any country.

The available Netflix data, which goes back to June 2021, also notes that no sports film or series is among the streamer's Most Popular, defined as hours viewed in the project's first 28 days.

It's hard to beat the drama and comedy that writers come up with for, say, "Stranger Things" (the most popular Netflix show ever) or "Outer Banks" (the current No. 1 show) — but Netflix will allegedly and controversially go to great lengths to try.

Two-time F1 Drivers' Champion Max Verstappen notably did not allow Box to Box to interview him for the fourth season of "Drive to Survive," saying he believes many of his quotes were taken out of context and the show manufactured drama. The 25-year-old is back for season five — and Box to Box wants to downplay that it was ever a controversy.

"It was never a big thing, I think, for us or him," Martin says. "He did it for a couple of years, decided that wasn't what he wanted to do, probably wanted to focus on becoming a world champion — which he did — and he's decided that it's the right time for him to come back into it."

But even in season five of "Drive to Survive" Netflix can't escape its own contrivance.

In the second episode, a meeting between the F1 team principals gets particularly contentious — leading Red Bull's Christian Horner to wonder if they were "playing to the cameras" and whether the meeting would be more productive off camera.

Mercedes' Toto Wolff's response in the scene: "No. I don't care."

You Get What You Need

A Netflix crew filming golfer Brooks Koepka showing off the shoes in his closet.LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka in "Full Swing." Credit: Netflix

Whether or not its manufacturing drama, Netflix's 40-plus sports documentaries hold one advantage over live sports: The degree to which moments are so deeply personal and candid.

"I think a good story, ultimately, is a good story," says "Break Point" showrunner Kari Lia. "I think a lot of the things that we have in the series — that feeling of loss, about perseverance — you can relate to."

Two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas told FOS that "Full Swing" will work the same way: "I just think it's going to give people that didn't know anything about golf or new viewers a reason to maybe relate to it or connect with it, or with a certain person or player."

Netflix will have its biggest opportunity yet to capitalize on this type of content, as it recently got its hands on American sports' most coveted media property: the NFL.

Of course, the original streamer getting in on live NFL rights would be "dramatically expensive," as Sarandos characterizes it. The most recent NFL media contracts signed in 2021 add up to an eye-popping $113 billion over 11 seasons.

So, no, Netflix won't shell out $1 billion a year for a weekly game, like Amazon. But it will produce its latest drama-filled series from the voices and highlights — gathered this past season — of Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota in "Quarterback."

"Maybe athletes will realize that we're not necessarily interested in the things that traditional sports media are interested in," Martin says. "We're probably not going to dissect that missed shot in that game, we're much more interested in the emotional side of the journey through these worlds."

Not committing to live sports rights may be an economic decision for Netflix — but its symbiosis with live sports, and our continued appetite for its packaged drama and storytelling, dictates it doesn't need them.

PRESENTED BY PITCHBOOK

The Journey From Athlete to Investor

Michelle Wie West, a five-time LPGA Tour winner, angel investor, and PitchBook partner is building her investment portfolio, supporting brands she believes in, and empowering women and minority entrepreneurs.

In Driven With Michelle Wie West, a new series from Front Office Sports and PitchBook, Michelle sits down with some of her favorite female athletes to discuss their journeys as investors, and what it takes to win.

Check out all three episodes, featuring Chiney Ogwumike, Kerri Walsh Jennings, and Leslie Osborne.

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