20. Sport Specifics

sport specifics
  1. General - The SWA member reserves the right to be specific about the order of importance of the sport, season segment, and sport-specific events when administering this CBA within their households.
  2.  Importance Ranking - The SWA member, at the start of each viewing year will rank the different sports they'd watch by listing them and ranking them to the household. For example, if the list of sports they're interested in is: hockey, lacrosse, football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, racing, curling, combat sports and extreme sports, the SWA member may disclose that to the household by way of list and rank at the start of each viewing year. The list may be electronic of physical. The list will be used to govern this CBA, where listed, high-ranking sports will get higher priority than lower-ranking or non-listed sports.
  3. Sports specific events - SWA members reserve the right to put sport specific events on the household calendar as mandatory. This could be season segment games or events such as the ‘draft’ for that sport.  The only differing events that may override mandatory specific sports events (i.e. Game 7 finals) are life changing events such as births, deaths or things that are one of a kind and their event time can't be changed. The household may negotiate the week at their weekly meeting, and these sport specific events must be considered mandatory. The more notice to the household the better.
  4. Sport shows - SWA members can rank sports shows and podcasts by importance and then create a space on the weekly calendar where the show must be consumed. This will ensure that all members of the household are aware of when the sports show is airing and can plan accordingly. This will also help to avoid any conflicts with other mandatory sports events or activities. Great examples of this would be morning sports shows on cable. The SWA member reserves the right to consume the content in their primary, secondary or tertiary household viewing area, or on mobile device if on the road. Should the content by non-time specific (recorded podcast), the SWA member reserves the right to listen to that within the week of it being published.
  5. Hockey - Hockey is a popular sport in North America and there are many leagues that play at different levels. Minor, junior and professional leagues all have their own pre-season typically starting in September, regular season from October to April and playoffs April to July. With 30+ teams in the NHL, SWA members can watch NHL hockey any night of the week, and some mid-day games on weekends. Game times are typically 7pm EST start.
  6. Lacrosse - Lacrosse is a sport that is growing in popularity in North America. There are three levels of lacrosse; minor box and field, junior, collegiate and professional. The minor league typically starts in April with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from May and June, playoffs in July and Provincials in August. The junior league typically starts in April with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from May to July and playoffs in July and August. The professional box league (National Lacrosse League) typically starts in November with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from December to April and playoffs in April to June. The professional outdoor box league (Premier Lacrosse League) starts in June and is done in September. SWA members can expect the NLL and PLL play almost all of their games on the weekends during this time.
  7. Basketball - There are three levels of basketball in North America: minor, junior and professional. Minor league typically starts in April with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from May and June, playoffs in July and August. The junior league typically starts in April with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from May to July and playoffs in July and August. The National Basketball Association (NBA) typically starts in September/October with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from October to April and playoffs in April to June. There are 30+ NBA teams, so expect SWA member to be able to watch NBA games every weeknight and mid-day or night on weekends.
  8. (American) Football - Football is a sport that is played at many levels including minor club, high school, collegiate (NCAA) and professional (NFL). The high school football season typically starts in August with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from September to November and playoffs in November and December. The collegiate football season typically starts in September with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from September to December and bowl games in December and January. The professional football season (NFL) typically starts in September with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from September to December and playoffs in January. There are 32 NFL teams, so expect SWA members to be able to watch NFL games every weeknight and mid-day or night on weekends.
  9. Baseball - There are three levels of baseball in North America: minor, junior and professional. Minor league typically starts in April with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from May and June, playoffs in July and August. The junior league typically starts in April with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from May to July and playoffs in July and August. The professional baseball season (MLB) typically starts in April with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from April to September and playoffs in October. There are 30 MLB teams, so expect SWA members to be able to watch MLB games every weeknight and mid-day or night on weekends.
  10. Football / Soccer - Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.  There are literally leagues in many countries around the world, at all levels.  Too many to name.  Due to climate, season starts can vary based on the countries region.
  11. Golf - Golf is a sport that is played at many levels including amateur, collegiate (NCAA) and professional (PGA/LPGA). The amateur golf season typically runs from April to October. The collegiate golf season (NCAA) typically starts in September with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from September to May and Regionals and Nationals in May. The professional golf season (PGA/LPGA) typically starts in January and runs until November. Expect SWA members to be able to watch PGA/LPGA tournaments almost every weekend during the season.
  12. Racing - There are many different types of racing including auto (NASCAR), horse (Thoroughbred) and greyhound. The NASCAR season typically starts in February with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from February to November and playoffs in November. The Thoroughbred season typically starts in January and runs until December. The greyhound season typically starts in January and runs until December. Expect SWA members to be able to watch races almost every weekend during the season.
  13. Tennis - Tennis is a sport that is played at many levels including amateur, collegiate (NCAA) and professional (WTA/ATP). The amateur tennis season typically runs from May to September. The collegiate tennis season (NCAA) typically starts in August with the pre-season, followed by the regular season from August to May and Regionals and Nationals in May. The professional tennis season (WTA/ATP) typically starts in January and runs until December. Expect SWA members to be able to watch WTA/ATP tournaments almost every weekend during the season.
  14. Extreme sports - There are many different types of extreme sports including skateboarding, BMX, motocross and surfing. The extreme sports season typically runs from April to September. Expect SWA members to be able to watch extreme sports events almost every weekend during the season.
  15. Season Cycles - Different sports fans like to watch different sports. Some popular sports include hockey, lacrosse, basketball, football, baseball, golf, curling, combat sports, racing, tennis and extreme sports. Each sport has a regular season with specific dates as well as playoffs or post-season tournaments. The pre-season is typically used for training and practicing before the regular season starts. The regular season is when each team plays a set number of games in order to compete for a spot in the playoffs. The post-season or playoffs is when the top teams from the regular season compete against each other until there is a winner. The finals are the last round of the playoffs where only two teams remain. There may also be tournaments held during the regular season or post-season.
  16. Live game play cadence - Depending on the sport, ‘live game play’ has different cadences.  During live game play, it is critical that SWA members aren’t disturbed.  Any reactions to plays SWA members must take their own responsibility for.  Below is a list of the estimated percentage of ‘live game play’ for each sport, as it relates to the duration of the complete sport ‘event’.

Sport

Clock Duration

Amt of LIVE Action

% of Action

Amt of Commercial Time

Est # of 30-second commercials

# of commercials/hour

Soccer

1hr 55mins

57.6mins

50.09%

19

38

20

Hockey

2hrs 20mins

60mins

42.86%

30

60

26

Basketball

2hrs 18mins

48mins

34.78%

45

90

39

Baseball

2hrs 56mins

17mins, 58secs

10.21%

42.68

85

29

Football

3hrs 10mins

11mins

5.79%

75

150

47

 

  1. Recognized Championships - Some of the major events and tournaments for each sport include:

- Hockey: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals

- Lacrosse: National Lacrosse League playoffs, Mann Cup

- Basketball: NBA Finals, NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament

- Football: Super Bowl, CFL Grey Cup

- Baseball: World Series, Major League Baseball playoffs

- Golf: Masters Tournament, PGA Championship

- Curling: Brier, Scotties Tournament of Hearts

- Combat sports: UFC events, Boxing matches

- Racing: Indy 500, NASCAR

- Tennis: Wimbledon, French Open

- Extreme sports: X Games, Dew Tour