The Athletic

[catfish]

Lloyd said he was leaving yesterday
Now we know where is going
Never heard of it

View: https://twitter.com/KevinKleps/status/832588160064487424

 

[bigfoot5415]

They're a subscription based service that is currently only about Chicago or Toronto sports. Its localized sports content without the overhead of a newspaper.

If I had to bet, I would say they are expanding in a handful of markets in the very near future. I know they were looking for funding awhile back, I would assume they got it.

$40 a year for the content isn't terrible but I am not sure what is free & what is paid for.

Site looks like shit & the name is stupid as hell.

Smart business model if they can land a major partnership to promote their business. Pluck all of the local guys from dying papers and have them write for you.

Id be curious to see who is backing this.

 

[Pick6]

$5 a month or $50 a year. Don't see how anyone is actually going to pay for that.

Funding received per Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenh...a-sports-news-subscription-site/#6511989842c4

 

[bigfoot5415]

$5 a month or $50 a year. Don't see how anyone is actually going to pay for that.

Funding received per Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenh...a-sports-news-subscription-site/#6511989842c4

Meh...people will pay for what they enjoy. People pay $9.99 for the WWE network, to only watch it a handful of times a year. People pay to be on email lists all the time. Localized sports content is a lot easier of a sell than a lot of the email lists out there.

They will need some big names, exclusive interviews, large marketable partnerships...etc.

This sounds crazy, but I've always felt many of the larger names in sports are sick of ESPN.

 

[catfish]

Interesting read in Forbes. Trying to do local newpaper model in a cost efficient way. But wasnt that the Patch and that has basically failed?

 

[catfish]

If lloyd can give us scoops that he couldnt before it would be worth it.

 

[Huber.]

Interesting. Sounds like a terrible career move. I look forward to reading the screenshots.

 

[bigfoot5415]

What is most compelling is that The Athletic needs a bit less than 2,000 subscribers per team per market in order to break even, according to Founder and CEO Alex Mather.

So basically they need $100k in revenue per market, per team to make it work. My question is, how does that support the site, let alone multiple writers?

The model doesn't sound terrible IMO, but I feel like something key is missing.

 

[catfish]

What does a sports writer make? Looking at the site it is pretty low tech. 1 guy in his garage can probably keep it up. He probably can do the same on his lap top when he goes on VACA.

 

[bigfoot5415]

What does a sports writer make? Looking at the site it is pretty low tech. 1 guy in his garage can probably keep it up. He probably can do the same on his lap top when he goes on VACA.

Not sure what they make, but that & the cost of travel can be pretty expensive. Let alone factoring in taxes for the business beforehand.

 

[Pick6]

If lloyd can give us scoops that he couldnt before it would be worth it.

Agree. I like reading Lloyd. Not enough to pay for his content though when I can get similar analysis anywhere else. Not sure how he would suddenly be able to get scoops that he couldn't before though.

 

[Pick6]

So basically they need $100k in revenue per market, per team to make it work. My question is, how does that support the site, let alone multiple writers?

The model doesn't sound terrible IMO, but I feel like something key is missing.

Yeah it seems low considering travel cost. I imagine travel for the season/playoffs gets close to that itself.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Yeah it seems low considering travel cost. I imagine travel for the season/playoffs gets close to that itself.

Depending on the location you are looking at $800-1500 for flight, hotel, and a days worth of meals. Do that 41 times a year + playoffs would be tough. I wonder if they do have some sort of ad revenue on their site or podcasts that they aren't referencing.

Ill laugh if this company is a bunch of tight asses and makes Jason fly on Spirit & stay at a comfort inn for every trip.

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

Paid journalism is dead, that start up won't last 1 year.

 

[Jscc]

So who's taking over Lloyd's ABJ beat?