Why RSNs Aren't Dying and How Consolidation Is Saving Local Sports | Nana Kofi Amoh, Creator of Amoh Sports Media

Have a question? Send us a text! Tim sits down with Nana Kofi Amoh, creator of Amoh Sports Media and AD in activation at Omnicom Media Group, to break down the rapidly shifting business of local sports broadcast rights, app consolidation, and how advertisers should navigate regional sports inventory. Recorded on State of Streaming.  The RSN model isn't dying — it's evolving: Why DAZN, EverPass, and app consolidation are reshaping local rights. Local regional sports networks are shifting away from traditional cable packages toward direct-to-consumer apps and aggregated streaming platforms. Major moves—like DAZN acquiring EverPass to secure commercial bar and restaurant distribution, or channels like Gotham Sports transitioning to DAZN for the 2026–2027 season—highlight a broader push toward centralized sports destinations. Meanwhile, teams in smaller markets (such as St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Miami) are navigating rights shifts that force fans to rethink how and where they access their favorite games.  0:45 – How app consolidation and DAZN's takeover of commercial venue distribution are reshaping local sports  2:53 – From Sinclair and Spectrum to Omnicom: Nana's path into programmatic media and founding Amoh Sports Media  5:26 – RSN evolution, DAZN's Gotham Sports deal, and the rights dilemma for small-market MLB, NBA, and NHL teams  Audience-first over broad targeting: Tapping into non-biased, highly passionate regional fanbases. Live sports offer an environment driven by raw emotion, unscripted outcomes, and authentic regional engagement. Even when a franchise struggles on the field—such as the Pittsburgh Pirates—networks like SportsNet Pittsburgh generate strong ad revenue because local fandom remains deeply committed. Instead of applying broad demographic targeting, smart advertisers focus on where audience interest circles overlap, prioritizing regional nuances, multi-screen viewing habits, and personalities over traditional intellectual property.  7:47 – Why sports advertising provides non-biased engagement and brand safety for advertisers  8:49 – The Pittsburgh Pirates case study: Maintaining strong ad revenue despite fan discontent  9:57 – Moving beyond broad demographics: Prioritizing audience culture, multi-screen habits, and personalities over IP  The programmatic measurement dilemma: Balancing immediate conversion with long-tail brand awareness. Evaluating the exact business outcome of a programmatic sports ad is challenging when fans stream games while simultaneously engaging with secondary devices. Exposure during a live broadcast may not drive an immediate transaction—such as buying a vehicle or shopping at Walmart right away—but high-impact live inventory builds lasting top-of-mind brand equity. Media buyers must look past immediate 90-day conversion metrics and adopt a patient, long-term equity mindset when evaluating sports inventory.  11:26 – Casting wide nets vs. specific targeting in programmatic sports buying  14:43 – Building lasting top-of-mind brand equity vs. expecting immediate transactional outcomes  16:10 – The 21-year Ogilvy lesson on auto brand positioning and consumer patience  Commercial co-viewing, $1,500 streaming bills, and the rise of niche live sports inventory. With annual sports streaming costs reaching $1,200 to $1,500 for consumers, platform fragmentation is accelerating industry consolidation. DAZN's acquisition of EverPass addresses a critical co-viewing challenge by securing distribution in commercial venues like bars and restaurants, while platforms like Fubo integrate regional college networks and emerging properties like the Team Boxing League. These emerging leagues expand available live ad inventory while offering streaming platforms net-new subscriber segments.  16:53 – DAZN acquiring EverPass Media to control live sports distribution in commercial venues  19:19 – Managing $1,500 annual streaming costs, app fatigue, and network consolidation  20:20 – How emerging leagues (Team Boxing League, ACC/SEC networks on Fubo) expand live ad inventory  Connect with Nana Kofi Amoh on LinkedIn · Amoh Sports Media  Thanks to Looper Insights for sponsoring today’s show! Ready to unlock your streaming strategy edge? Head over to mystreamingvalue.com to compare CTV home screens and find out which spaces are worth the most. You’ll even learn exactly why Fox was willing to pay $22 billion for Roku. Stop guessing and start scaling—visit mystreamingvalue.com to get your free insights today!