John Consoli of TVNewsCheck.com recently spoke with several Ad buying executives about their thoughts on the new XFL coming in 2020. Their reaction is optimistic about the league’s chances, but it will all come down to TV ratings.
The XFL has a good chance to become a small, viable opportunity for clients based on its WWE ownership backing,” says Adam Schwartz, SVP and director of sports buying at Horizon Media.
“I don’t think the XFL will ever become the NFL, but if the product is strong, it will get viewers to watch and perhaps, to gamble on the games [and] that will draw more viewer interest.”
Neil Vendetti, president of investment at Zenith USA, is also game. “With the amount of interest in the NFL only increasing, there is potentially an opportunity for the XFL.”
The report goes on to say that TV ad buying for XFL games could start as early as mid-October after the XFL draft. Media buyers will take a look at names on XFL rosters and fan interest in determining how much they are willing to spend on the unproven sports league.
It also points out that Fox, one of the XFL’s broadcast partners. Will be televising this year’s Super Bowl. That game will take place on February 2nd at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. One week before kick-off of the XFL season.
“Fox is airing the Super Bowl this year, and sources within Fox say the network will more than likely promote the XFL during the game.“
That could be a tremendous boost for the league. With the nation watching the “Big Game” and most football fans eyeing the end of the football season. The option for more could bring those fans to the re-imagined league.
Super Bowl LIII last year was broadcasted on CBS, who was the primary broadcast partner for the AAF. CBS Sports carried the two inaugural AAF games and hardly mentioned the start-up league in their Super Bowl telecast. The AAF later ran out of money and never completed their season.
It looks like broadcast partners and ad executives are not seeing the same fate for the XFL.
Joe
September 13, 2019 at 3:10 pm
hopefully, the XFL doesn’t resort to advertising on their uniforms or the field
of play like the NBA does for it looks trashy and unprofessional. I guess for
an upstart league, it may have to be that way in this day and age unfortunately.
David Tress
September 15, 2019 at 1:26 pm
The Adds are not enough. The XFL needs a TV contract that pays or they will go the way of the AAF. The XFL also needs players like Johnny Manziel. If the XFL gets into financial difficulty it should consider merging with the CFL instead of folding like the AAF.