In a video-streamed discussion, businessman Horie Takafumi (堀江 貴文) pointed to the inactive broadcasting-rights business and the influence of terrestrial television networks as structural challenges facing professional sports revenue in Japan. Comparing Japan with MLB, he said the level of broadcasting-rights fees determines the revenue environment.
Horie Takafumi (堀江 貴文), who appeared on the official YouTube channel of the video-streaming service ZATSUDAN, gave his views on the structural revenue challenges facing Japan’s professional sports industry. As a new entertainment concept for sumo, he raised the possibility of developing a sumo musical and establishing a new organisation.
Horie criticised Japan’s broadcasting-rights business as “poorly run” and explained that terrestrial television networks were at the heart of the problem. He said their control of broadcasting rights had hindered the development of other media, citing the decline of All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling and PRIDE after their terrestrial television broadcasts ended.
He also discussed comparisons between the baseball industries in Japan and the United States. He cited high broadcasting-rights fees, subscription services’ ability to pay and the large number of teams as factors behind Shohei Ohtani’s (大谷 翔平) huge contract. He noted that although Japan’s professional baseball teams generate a certain level of profit from attendance and merchandise sales, their willingness to pursue structural reform is limited. He also expressed the view that Japan differs from MLB in the level of excitement surrounding the postseason.