DraftKings Comes Under Fire Following Collusion Scandal Involving “Bachelor” Stars

Two stars from “The Bachelor” are facing allegations that they colluded in a DraftKings contest to win $1 million, adding to the controversies that the daily fantasy sports industry is facing.

Jade Roper-Tolbert won $1 million in the DraftKings Millionaire Maker involving the NFL playoffs. She entered 150 lineups, which is the maximum number allowed for a single contestant. Tanner Tolbert, her husband who she met while filming “Bachelor in Paradise,” also entered the same contest with 150 entries. However, it is alleged that none …

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If You’re Not First, You’re Last: IMG’s Summons Not Enough to Dismiss Pitt’s Suit

A sports marketing firm, IMG College LLC, and the University of Pittsburgh are suing each other as a result of a contract dispute. The contract granted IMG rights to broadcast and market some of Pitt’s sports teams. Now, they are both suing each other for money owed.

IMG’s summons alleges it is entitled to $4 million from the university under the contract’s buyout clause. Conversely, Pitt’s complaint alleges that IMG owes it $3.6 million for unpaid royalties and other payments. The point of contention is …

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Bizarre Inside Edition Lawsuit that Involves the Murder of a Former NFL Player

On August 6, 2018, Billups P. Percy sued Inside Edition Inc. after Inside Edition allegedly used Percy’s copyrighted video of Anthony Hayes. On December 26, 2005, Percy, a Louisiana-based photojournalist, video recorded Anthony Hayes wielding a knife while surrounded by New Orleans police officers. Hayes was shot and killed by a police officer after he lunged at a police lieutenant. Percy later registered the video with the U.S. Copyright Office and he was given rights to the video as the sole owner of all “right, …

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Will Showtime Take a Blow for Streaming Issues in Highly-Anticipated Mayweather-McGregor Fight?

In August, Showtime aired the highly-anticipated fight of Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. Customers had to pay $99.95 to live stream the event. However, some angry customers filed class actions against Showtime, NeuLion, Zuffa, Zuffa owner William Morris, and Endeavor Entertainment LLC alleging that the live streams did not live up to expectations. The cases are spread out through districts in New York, Nevada, California, and Oregon. Customers are upset because highly-anticipated live stream was disrupted because of pay-per-view issues.

Specifically, customers allege that “as …

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Showtime on the Ropes for Livestream Trouble During Mayweather-McGregor Fight

Showtime Networks is being sued by unhappy customers after it charged $99.99 to watch the Mayweather-McGregor fight in 1080p resolution, 60-frames-per-second, but then the livestream suffered numerous freezes and poor resolution. “Instead of being a ‘witness to history’ as defendant had promised, the only thing plaintiff witnessed was grainy video, error screens, buffer events, and stalls,” the complaint stated. The class action is alleging claims that Showtime willfully violated the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act, and was unjustly enriched.

A Showtime executive countered that they …

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Fox Sports Top Executive Fired

On Monday, July 3, 2017, Fox Sports, which is owned by 21st Century Fox, fired top executive Jamie Horowitz after a week-long investigation into alleged sexual harassment. Horowitz has been credited with introducing an influx of hotly-contested sports debate television shows to Fox Sports One following his departure from ESPN. His firing comes after other high profile Fox executives Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly were recently forced out or fired due to similar allegations, resulting in Fox paying approximately $45 million in settlements over the …

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Are Millennials’ TV Watching Habits Jeopardizing the Future of Sports?

Millennial sports fans are moving away from cable television and traditional sports towards online video game tournaments and other “eSports.

A study conducted by LEK Consulting revealed a “sharp generational divide” among sports fans. This divide is marked by a change in TV viewing habits between millennials (those between 18-25 years old) and those above 35. The report stipulated that millennials are spending less time watching traditional cable television, and thus, losing interest in traditional sports.

As background, LEK conducted a survey of …

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Documents Show Fox News Settled Sexual Harassment Case Against Bill O’Reilly

Fox News network has settled another sexual harassment scandal. Juliet Huddy, a local New York television personality, has alleged that both Bill O’Reilly and longtime Fox executive, Jack Abernethy, pursued her, albeit, unsuccessfully for sexual relationships. She rebuffed both relationships to her own demise. Fox has denied Huddy’s allegations, but nevertheless, settled the potential lawsuit for a disclosed sum on money combined with an expensive confidentiality clause.

Huddy and her family are well-known to the Fox family. Her father, John Huddy Sr., was consultant …

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Hand It Over: NCAA to Produce Redacted Broadcasting Agreement With CBS, Turner

On September 16, 2016, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins signed a stipulated order to produce redacted versions of the NCAA’s 2010 broadcasting agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting. This 2010 agreement was extended back in April for another eight years for a rights fee of $8.8 billion.

This order comes after all five major collegiate athletic conferences similarly agreed to reveal their own television deals. The plaintiff student-athletes have argued that they need the conferences’ broadcasting agreements along with other business documents in …

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CBS and Turner Extend Deal to Broadcast NCAA Tournament Through 2032

CBS and Turner Broadcasting have reached a deal with the NCAA to extend their right to broadcast the NCAA tournament for another eight years. With this new eight year extension, CBS and Turner will be broadcasting March Madness all the way through 2032. The extension itself pays an average of $1.1 billion per season, for a total of $8.8 billion, which is higher than the $770 million average under the current contract.

This year was the first year that the championship game was aired …

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