Digiday·2026-05-14

With sports fragmentation, following the fans is crucial

Drew Groner, svp, head of sales and marketing, DIRECTV Advertising Live sports remain one of the last true appointment-viewing experiences — audiences don t just tune in; they plan their schedules around it. That kind of attention is increasingly rare in modern media, and it is precisely why advertising inventory during live sports commands a premium. However, every new rights deal in which league

Drew Groner, svp, head of sales and marketing, DIRECTV Advertising Live sports remain one of the last true appointment-viewing experiences — audiences don t just tune in; they plan their schedules around it. That kind of attention is increasingly rare in modern media, and it is precisely why advertising inventory during live sports commands a premium. However, every new rights deal in which league