AMC Has No Big-League Deals, But Company Still Wants Sports

Key Points:

• AMC Global Media, known for acclaimed dramas like “Mad Men” and “Better Call Saul,” is expanding into sports-themed scripted and documentary programming to attract sports audiences without securing costly rights to major leagues like the NFL or NBA.
• The company has greenlit “Thunder Road,” a NASCAR-partnered scripted series starring Dennis Quaid, and renewed the sports documentary series “Rise,” while also hosting TNA Wrestling and developing a series based on the film “Point Break.”
• AMC aims to tell compelling stories behind sports moments rather than competing for expensive live sports rights, focusing on unique characters and narratives that resonate with its broad national audience, similar to fans of “The Walking Dead.”
• Partnering with NASCAR provides AMC with authentic content and advertising opportunities, though the company must adhere to NASCAR’s standards, such as avoiding depictions of driving under the influence, to maintain credibility.
• AMC is betting on long-term growth by blending sports culture with its storytelling expertise, hoping to emulate successes like the “F1” series and capture a dedicated sports-viewing audience through scripted drama.