FOS PM: DJ Khaled Joins Wild-Card Coverage

ESPN has tapped an eclectic cast for its first “MegaCast” coverage of an NFL wild-card playoff game, making a play to acquire new viewers as NFL media rights negotiations are underway.

Specialized coverage of Baltimore Ravens-Tennessee Titans on Jan. 10 will air across six Walt Disney Co. networks — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, ABC, and Freeform — and feature announcers and analysts from multiple ESPN shows.

ESPN’s Maria Taylor, Jesse Palmer and unannounced special guests will target younger fans with a “Watch Party” on Disney’s Freeform channel, and include pop culture conversations alongside game commentary.

DJ Khaled, who hinted in a tweet that he has “surprises” in store, will perform at halftime during the Freeform broadcast. The Grammy-winning artist is known for his collaborations with superstars like Drake and Beyoncé.

The network will tap its more traditional NFL talent for the other broadcasts, including a betting and analytics-focused ESPN+ stream.

ViacomCBS plans to air its own Jan. 10 wild-card game on Nickelodeon with special effects like slime and virtual filters.

MGM Resorts’ latest $11 billion proposal to take over British online gambling company Entain was rejected. A previous $10 billion, all-cash offer was also rejected.

Entain said both offers “significantly undervalued” the company, and requested rationale behind why the two companies should join.

Entain, previously GVC Holdings, is MGM’s partner in its sports betting operation BetMGM. The venture’s mobile app is live in eight U.S. states and plans to be in more than 20 by the end of 2021.

In 2018, GVC acquired betting and gambling company Ladbrokes in a $5 billion deal, making it one of the largest gaming companies in the U.K. It rebranded as Entain in December.

The combination of MGM and Entain’s brick-and-mortar and online presences would make them a unique force in the industry. Online gambling has surged during the coronavirus pandemic with bettors restricted to their homes and many casinos shut down.

U.S. Betting Revenue Through 2020 Q3

• iGaming: $1.07 billion, up 205%
• Sports Betting: $677.8 million, up 27%
• Slots: $13.24 billion, down 38.3%
• Table Games: $3.63 billion, down 42.6%

MGM competitor Caesars Entertainment recently acquired U.K.-based William Hill — which has substantial mobile sports betting market share in the U.S. — for $4 billion.

MGM shares dropped nearly 6% Monday, while Entain’s jumped nearly 30% following news of the initial offer.

Defunct short-form streaming service Quibi is reportedly in “advanced talks” to sell its content catalog to Roku. 

Film mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg’s project infamously raised $1.75 billion with a plan to develop mobile-first content before launching last April. The $4.99 per month service never gained traction, and the company announced in October that it was shutting down. 

In addition to shows with big stars like Will Smith and Chrissy Teigen, Quibi had a lineup of sports content. 

• LeBron James-produced “I Promise” 
• Steph Curry-produced “Benedict Men”
• Megan Rapinoe-hosted “Prodigy”
• Sneaker show “You Ain’t Got Those”
• TSN’s “SportsCentre AM”
• ESPN’s “The Replay”
• WWE female superstars’ show “Fight Like A Girl”

Roku makes the most popular streaming device in the U.S. and has been pushing into content with its ad-supported Roku Channel. Its platform could increase the appeal of Quibi’s shows, which were designed for on-the-go mobile viewing — less than ideal with potential viewers at home amid the pandemic.

Quibi had reportedly also pitched NBCUniversal on a sale. 

Prior to its launch, Quibi generated more than $150 million in revenue from advertisers like Pepsi, Walmart and Anheuser-Busch. The company reportedly had $750 million in cash on hand when it shut down.