Today I read that Youtube is investing $100 million in content creation for their site aimed at mobile viewing and internet-connected televisions.  It seems to be something of a strategy shift for Youtube / Google who have mostly concentrated on building infrastructure and interfaces for independent content producers (IE dudes with cameras at drunken frat parties and / or people with really cute cats) to submit videos that other people can watch relatively easily.  Their tag line has been “Broadcast Yourself.”  This was then adopted by legitimate content-producing companies that wanted to open up their promotional videos up to the “viral” masses on the Internet.  It has given way to Youtube sensations over the last decade from Rebecca Black to even Justin Bieber who was discovered on Youtube.  Now, Youtube is shifting from that and investing in new original content more similar to what a TV network might do.  What does this have to do with sports?

I was reading this article yesterday about Las Vegas and their problems with Major League Baseball, specifically the MLB package.  ”No matter where the triple play, walk off, or no-no happens, you can be there” is the tag line for MLB Extra Innings.  Except in Las Vegas if you happen to be a fan of the San Francisco Giants or Oakland Athletics, apparently.  Those two clubs have been granted “terrtorial rights” to Las Vegas by Major League Baseball.  Included in these “rights” for the clubs, their games are also blacked out when they are on the road, so if they are in New York, Boston or Philly, all those games are blacked out in Las Vegas.  In case you were wondering, Oakland and Frisco are over 550 miles away from Las Vegas and it takes over 9 hours to drive there by car.  These are not exactly achievable distances for anyone in Las Vegas to be a season ticket holder without a private jet. [Read more...]