Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

SVG Sit-Down: Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley on ATSC 3.0, HDR Sports, Bally Sports+ DTC Streaming, and the Future of the RSN Business

12/05/2022

SVG Sit-Down: Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley on ATSC 3.0, HDR Sports, Bally Sports DTC Streaming, and the Future of the RSN Business ATSC's low latency and synchronicity promise an enhanced sports-viewing experience By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor

Thursday, May 12, 2022 - 1:56 pm

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

It's a busy time for Sinclair Broadcast Group when it comes to live sports. Not only is the company set to launch the Bally Sports DTC streaming service later this year, but it has also announced plans to offer HDR content for its Bally Sports Regional Sports Networks beginning in the third quarter.

Sinclair President/CEO Chris Ripley was on hand at last month's NAB 2022, addressing the company's plans for the future of ATSC 3.0 NextGen broadcasting, among other topics. During the show, he sat down with SVG and provided an update on the Bally Sports launch and discussed how ATSC 3.0 will impact the sports-viewing experience, why HDR is key to Bally Sports' future roadmap, how he sees betting and gamification exploding in the coming years, and the growth of Tennis Channel since Sinclair acquired it in 2016.

During NAB 2022, Sinclair President/CEO Chris Ripley addressed the future of ATSC 3.0 NextGen broadcasting.

How do you see the rollout of ATSC 3.0 potentially impacting the sports-viewing experience for fans in the future?

First, the rollout of more resolution - HDR and higher pixel counts - will definitely have a big impact for sports broadcasts. Sports are core to the [over-the-air] broadcast offering - especially the NFL, playoff sports, and other [high-profile] events - so that is certainly going to have a major impact.

The less talked-about but just as important impact [of ATSC 3.0] is low latency and synchronicity. Obviously, it's not a good consumer experience when one device is on one frame and another device is on another frame. Or if there is 40 seconds of delay on the stream, which is a very common delay in streaming. ATSC 3.0 is able to shrink that latency down to sub 10 seconds, and it's able to provide synchronicity across all devices - whether it's streaming or broadcast - so that everything's on the same frame.

That is going make a difference in the consumer experience, especially as it relates to sports betting and gaming. And that's what we're really excited about. We have a big push around gamification. We're working on watch-and-play experiences with our partners at Bally's, where you'll be able to watch and play on one screen and interact [with the broadcast]. Right now, that [type of experience] is based on traditional streaming, but we're working to figure out how to actually replace the streaming component with ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV to speed up that latency and enable synchronicity. That's going to make the watch-and-play experience much better.

Can you provide an update on your plans to launch a Bally Sports direct-to-consumer streaming service?

We're obviously very excited about the upcoming launch of our Bally Sports direct-to-consumer [streaming service]. In some ways, these three years [since acquiring the Fox Sports RSNs] have been all about getting to this point. Almost from day one, we have been working on this launch: clearing the way with the MVPs, which was no small task, building the backend technology, and getting the rights from the leagues. It has been a long process, but we're finally about to launch, and we couldn't be more excited about that. Getting that going is going to be a really big milestone for us.

We are soft-launching this quarter and then plan to fully launch in Q3. We'll be coming out with more specific dates soon.

Do you expect media rights for more pro teams to be added to the streaming service prior to its full launch?

The last set of rights we added in January were pretty significant. There could be additional rights between now and [the launch]. That's an active discussion, so we can't say one way or the other, but we will be launching, regardless. And we think, within the next 12 months, we will have all the rest of the rights we need.

What was behind Sinclair's decision to begin offering HDR content for Bally Sports RSNs beginning later this year? And how does that move to HDR factor into Sinclair's overall strategy?

Sports has always been at the forefront in terms of resolution and picture quality. And we think it's important to continue to push that envelope. HDR, specifically, gives you much greater depth and makes you actually feel like you're in the building and watching it live much more than just adding more pixels. We think it's important to continue to move that ball forward not only on behalf of our own business but also on behalf of our league and team partners. The more entertaining and visually exciting we can make our product, the better.

In terms of how it fits into our broader plans, we believe adding interactivity around [the broadcast] in terms of gamification is the next frontier. But you have to have a fundamentally state-of-the art, best-in-class picture to go along with that. This is a key step in that evolution.

It will definitely be a boost for viewers, but, obviously, upgrading all your regional sports facilities will also be costly. Why did it make sense from a return-on-investment perspective?

We absolutely believe it is worth [the investment]. Not every upgrade pencils out on a spreadsheet. I'm a finance guy, so it's not easy for me to say that. But you have to continue to innovate, and you have to continue to make your product best in class. And you have to have faith that, if you do that, you'll get rewarded for it in the long term.

How do you see Bally Sports' plans around betting growing in the next couple of years? Will we see m
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/05/12/svg-sit-down-sinclair-ceo-chris...
See more stories from svg

More from Sports Video Group

11/07/2025

Behind the Mic: Amazon Prime Preps for First Season of NBA Action; MSG Networks Adjusts Broadcast Booths for Rangers, Devils

Behind the Mic: Amazon Prime Preps for First Season of NBA Action; MSG Networks ...

11/07/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Suite Studios' Craig Hering on Adapting to Clients' Needs With Scalable Cloud-Based Storage

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Suite Studios' Craig Hering on Adapting to Client...

11/07/2025

2025 SVG Content Management Forum Breaks Down AI's Impact, Continued Transition to the Cloud

2025 SVG Content Management Forum Breaks Down AI's Impact, Continued Transit...

11/07/2025

A Journey HOME: University of Nebraska's HuskerVision Goes IP

A Journey HOME: University of Nebraska's HuskerVision Goes IP Leaders from the HuskerVision and Lawo share their IP learnings By SVG Staff Friday, July 1...

11/07/2025

CMSI, Remote Picture Labs, Ace ESPN's Cloud-Based Editing Efforts for Wimbledon

CMSI, Remote Picture Labs, Ace ESPN's Cloud-Based Editing Efforts for Wimble...

11/07/2025

Netflix Enters the Live-Boxing-Production Ring for Round 2 With Historic Taylor-Serrano 3 Card at MSG

Netflix Enters the Live-Boxing-Production Ring for Round 2 With Historic Taylor-...

10/07/2025

5G for All? What the DFL's Use of Easy5G, RefCam Could Mean for Events in the Future

5G for all? What the DFL's use of Easy5G and RefCam could mean for events in...

10/07/2025

Save the Date: PGA TOUR Studios Welcomes SVG Remote Production Summit on Oct 14-15

Save the Date: PGA TOUR Studios Welcomes SVG Remote Production Summit on Oct 14-...

10/07/2025

Cloud on the Road: How Remote-Production-Service Providers Are Adapting to a New Era

Cloud on the Road: How Remote-Production-Service Providers Are Adapting to a New...

10/07/2025

Seattle Kraken's Ryan Schaber on the NHL Team Taking Live Game Productions In-House

Seattle Kraken's Ryan Schaber on the NHL Team Taking Live Game Productions I...

10/07/2025

FOX Sports Reboots Small Control Room in Los Angeles as Hub for Vertical-First Production

FOX Sports Reboots Small Control Room in Los Angeles as Hub for Vertical-First P...

10/07/2025

SVG Sit-Down: MSE's Zach Leonsis, ViewLift's Rick Allen Go Deep on Joint Venture Targeting Local-Sports-Media Market

SVG Sit-Down: MSE's Zach Leonsis, ViewLift's Rick Allen Go Deep on Joint...

09/07/2025

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, ViewLift Unveil Broadcast/Streaming Joint Venture as Regional Sports Market Transforms

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, ViewLift Unveil Broadcast/Streaming Joint Ven...

09/07/2025

SVG Europe Audio - State of Wireless Mics Forum: If We Lose the Spectrum, It's Going Back to the Boring Stuff

SVG Europe Audio State of Wireless Mics Forum: If we lose the spectrum, it...

09/07/2025

Tech Focus: Athlete Audio - Venues Provide Sound Just for the Players

Tech Focus: Athlete Audio - Venues Provide Sound Just for the Players From locker room to field of play, personalized systems help rev up the athletes By Dan D...

08/07/2025

Groundbreaking Gamecocks: Inside University of South Carolina's Four-Control Room Production Palace

Groundbreaking Gamecocks: Inside University of South Carolina's Four-Control...

08/07/2025

Monumental Sports & Entertainment's Samantha Brady on the Power of the RSN's Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Service Monumental+

Monumental Sports & Entertainment's Samantha Brady on the Power of the RSN&#...

08/07/2025

Live From 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: FIFA, HBS Focus on Tournament Wrap, With an Eye to 2026 Men's World Cup

Live From 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: FIFA, HBS Focus on Tournament Wrap, With an ...

08/07/2025

SVG Rewind: NESN Goes Behind the Scenes of 1975 Red Sox Retro Broadcast

SVG Rewind: NESN Goes Behind the Scenes of 1975 Red Sox Retro Broadcast NESN is following up the retrocast with a week-long celebration of the Green Monster By...

07/07/2025

1-2 Punch: The Cloud, Generative AI, and the Future of Sports-Content Distribution

1-2 Punch: The Cloud, Generative AI, and the Future of Sports-Content Distributi...

07/07/2025

Formula E: Host Broadcaster Aurora on Launching New AR Graphics at the Jakarta E-Prix

Tests and decisions: Formula E host broadcaster Aurora on launching new AR graph...

07/07/2025

Formula E: Using New AR Graphics for Storytelling at the Formula E Penultimate, Final E-Prix of the Season

Building tension: Using new AR graphics for storytelling at the Formula E penult...

07/07/2025

SVG Rewind: Four NFL Clubs Bring Us on Set of Respective Media Day Shoots

SVG Rewind: Four NFL Clubs Bring Us on Set of Respective Media Day Shoots An in-depth conversation with 49ers Laura Johnson, Ravens Jay O'Brien, Las Vegas R...

07/07/2025

Cosm To Build Fifth Shared Reality Venue in Cleveland as Part of Bedrock's Rock Block' Development

Cosm To Build Fifth Shared Reality Venue in Cleveland as Part of Bedrock's ...

02/07/2025

World RX of Sweden: Aurora's Matt Beal on Taking Up the Broadcast Reins Alongside the FIA

Progressive realism: Aurora on taking up the broadcast reins for World RX alongs...

02/07/2025

World RX of Sweden: Getting the Production Together With NEP Finland, Cloudbass Graphics

Great speed: New host broadcaster Aurora on getting the World RX 2025 season pro...

02/07/2025

World RX of Sweden: Host Broadcaster Aurora Looks Ahead to This Weekend's Second Race of the Season in Hljes

Seat of its pants: Aurora boxes clever and looks ahead for the FIA as new host b...

02/07/2025

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: EBU, BBC Sport, Sunset+Vine Talk Coverage Plans, Distribution and Maintaining Momentum

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: EBU, BBC Sport and Sunset Vine talk coverage plans, ...

02/07/2025

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Women's Super League Launches New Content Series to Support Teams, Players Over Summer of Football

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Women's Super League launches new content series...

02/07/2025

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Ignite Puts Fans, Players Front and Center With Title Sequence for ITV

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Ignite puts fans and players front and centre with t...

02/07/2025

Storytelling in the Live Game Broadcast: ESPN Director Jimmy Platt Breaks Down the Craft

Storytelling in the Live Game Broadcast: ESPN Director Jimmy Platt Breaks Down t...

02/07/2025

CONCACAF's Miguel Angel Garcia on the Gold Cup's Enhanced 2025 Production Plan

CONCACAF's Miguel Angel Garcia on the Gold Cup's Enhanced 2025 Productio...

01/07/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Spyrosoft's Jonathan Witty on Futher Business Expansion in the U.S.

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Spyrosoft's Jonathan Witty on Futher Business Exp...

01/07/2025

The NIL Effect: How the Shifting Business of College Athletics Impacts On-Campus Video Production

The NIL Effect: How the Shifting Business of College Athletics Impacts On-Campus...

01/07/2025

Cherry On the Cake: Inside the Technical Production of the Tour de France 2025 with EMG / Gravity Media

Cherry on the cake: Inside the technical production of the Tour de France 2025 w...

01/07/2025

NESN's Josh Jun on Keeping Alternative Broadcasts Fresh for Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins Fans

NESN's Josh Jun on Keeping Alternative Broadcasts Fresh for Boston Red Sox, ...

01/07/2025

TNT Sports Races Back Into NASCAR With Fresh Look, Familiar Edge

TNT Sports Races Back Into NASCAR With Fresh Look, Familiar Edge Production approach emphasizes creative freedom, bold storytelling, casual-fan-friendly tone B...

27/06/2025

How Smarter Video Compression is Creating a Sustainable Future

How smarter compression is creating a sustainable future By Michael Burns Monday, June 23, 2025 - 14:13 Print This Story Live sport is especially vulnerab...

27/06/2025

RTL Group To Acquire Sky Deutschland

RTL Group To Acquire Sky Deutschland By George Bevir, Editorial Director, SVG Europe Friday, June 27, 2025 - 8:00 am Print This Story | Subscribe Story ...

27/06/2025

Frictionless, At Scale: The Current State of Live Video Streaming Techology

Frictionless, At Scale: The Current State of Live Video Streaming Techology Leaders from Bitmovin, Comcast Technology Solutions, Harmonic, IMAX, and Phenix brea...

27/06/2025

Marquee Sports Network's Nick Steger on Meeting the Moment of the Contending Chicago Cubs

Marquee Sports Network's Nick Steger on Meeting the Moment of the Contending...

27/06/2025

NHL Draft 2025: The League Is Primed for First Decentralized Draft in Non-Pandemic Era

NHL Draft 2025: The League Is Primed for First Decentralized Draft in Non-Pandem...

26/06/2025

10th-Annual SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Presents Useful Roadmap for the Future of the RSN, Local Media Business

10th-Annual SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Presents Useful Roadmap for th...

26/06/2025

The Big Cloud Debate: Public vs. Private vs. Hybrid

The Big Cloud Debate: Public vs. Private vs. Hybrid Tech leaders from CineSys, Diversified, and Net Insight breaks down all flavors of cloud By Jason Dachman, ...

26/06/2025

Program Productions' Jess Kowatch on Training the Next and Current Generation of Sports TV Technicians

Program Productions' Jess Kowatch on Training the Next and Current Gener...

25/06/2025

SVG College Summit 2025: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG College Summit 2025: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY Tackling the latest in college sports video: NIL, live production, virtual productio...

25/06/2025

ESPN Is Set To Bring AR Graphics to Wimbledon, Revamps Bunker and Studio 18 VO Booths

ESPN Is Set To Bring AR Graphics to Wimbledon, Revamps Bunker and Studio 18 VO B...

24/06/2025

2025 NBA Draft: ABC/ESPN Prepares for Two-Day Draft at Barclays Center

2025 NBA Draft: ABC/ESPN Prepares for Two-Day Draft at Barclays Center Partners Game Creek Video, CP Communications, NEP Specialty Capture will be on hand By M...