But sports is going to be as valuable to the Internet, as programming, as it has been for television. That's saying a lot. TV, partly to try to fend off newer media outlets such as the Internet, has pumped ever-increasing sums into sports, jacking up the value of everything from players' pay to teams' worth. But the difference when sports becomes programming for the Internet is that it will be interactive. And that will not only change the face of sports, but how the media presents sports to masses.
Big change carries risk.
AOL is more solid than most, but I don't think it's impregnable . The risk isn't restricted to stockholders. Consolidation of power is always scary. But officially it's business as usual. Since then, the Braves got a new stadium, the Hawks got a new arena and Time Warner got the first-year NHL Thrashers.