Why the Blues aren’t going for free TV

Where Will You Watch the Blues This Season? Inside the Collapse of Regional Sports Networks

As regional sports networks collapse nationwide, professional sports teams are scrambling to reinvent how fans watch their games. In this episode of Arch City Report, business journal reporter Nathan Rubbelke joins host Erik Siemers to break down how the St. Louis Blues are overhauling both the production and distribution of their broadcasts for the upcoming NHL season — including a new partnership with the NHL's in-house production arm, an expanded slate of over-the-air games, and the search for a new cable and streaming partner.

Then, Patrick Rishe, director of the sports business program at Washington University's Olin School of Business, joins to unpack the bigger financial picture: why local media revenue is so hard to replace, how private equity is reshaping team ownership, and why some markets — and some owners — may be better positioned than others to weather the shift.

Topics covered:

Why FanDuel Sports Network Midwest's collapse is forcing the Blues to rethink their entire broadcast strategyHow NHL-produced broadcasts will change what fans see on screenThe trade-offs between free over-the-air TV, streaming, and pay cableWhy regional sports revenue can be nearly impossible to fully replaceThe rise of private equity investment in professional sportsHow state income tax policy may be influencing player free agency decisionsMixed-use sports districts as a new year-round revenue strategy

Read more of this reporting at www.bizjournals.com/stlouis. Thanks to our sponsors, Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank.