ESPN in August of last year tried to prove its utility to all fans by unveiling a “Where to Watch” search feature in its mobile app and website that would do something every sports aficionado has craved since Amazon nabbed rights to stream portions of the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” in 2017: help die-hards increasingly frustrated in their efforts to find their favorite teams as sports began to stream across new broadband giants, league-owned outlets and regional venues.

Lydia Murphy-Stephans believes she did this first — and thinks Disney couldn’t have done it without her.

In a suit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, Murphy-Stephans, an entrepreneur who was once a programming executive for ABC Sports and president of a now-shuttered TV network devoted to Pac-12 Conference schools, alleges ESPN and Disney spurred her to reveal the inner workings of a sports-search product she had created at her own company, SportsBubble, then launched its own version of the product. Murphy-Stephans is seeking a jury trial, as well as damages that could total more than $600 million.

In the suit, she alleges that in 2021, ESPN “feigned interest in a partnership with SportsBubble (and signed a nondisclosure agreement) to induce SportsBubble to share its confidential trade and business secrets with ESPN,” but instead “misappropriated SportsBubble’s confidential information to develop a copycat product after stringing SportsBubble along for months in fruitless ‘negotiations,’ sidelining it from other lucrative partnerships.”

ESPN declined to comment.

“When I introduced SportsBubble to Bob Iger and ESPN executives years ago, they claimed to be excited about working with us and partnering on our flagship product, WatchSports. But, while under NDA to evaluate WatchSports for a business partnership, they publicly announced a copycat product as if we magically didn’t exist,” says Murphy-Stephans. “We firmly believe the ‘Where To Watch’ programming guide on the ESPN platforms is the same product SportsBubble presented to ESPN, and that they copied it, and put their own name on it.”

The legal imbroglio spotlights the growing importance of tracking sports as rights deals become increasingly spread out among different venues. With sports standing as the only TV format that seems able to continue the large, simultaneous audiences that advertisers and distributors crave, the fees to keep them on air have gone from eye-popping to exorbitant. With prices so high, media companies are narrowing their packages, leaving some big leagues like the NBA spread across more networks and streamers. Add a shifting landscape for local rights into the mix and it’s little wonder sports fans are often stymied in their efforts to quickly find the right game at the right time.

Stephans-Murphy thought she had come up with just the solution. While watching an NBA Finals game in 2018, she left her living room to get the snacks ready in the kitchen – and set about a task that she felt should have been a lot simpler: trying to stream the match on her iPad. Instead, she spent precious minutes trying to navigate authenticating into Comcast and then getting back into ESPN.

She launched the WatchSports app in 2021, after working on it for four years. The service — a live sports guide for the streaming era — helped consumers find their game and navigate the various outlets required in order to see it. She got paid by referral fees paid when consumers took out a subscription to watch a match.

ESPN was interested, she alleged. By February of 2022, ESPN and SportsBubble had struck a deal in principle that would list approximately 40,000 sporting events from the ESPN+ streaming service in WatchSports, and allow the app’s users to connect directly to ESPN’s platforms. During these negotiations, Stephans-Murphy alleges, ESPN requested confidential technical information about how the WatchSports app actually functioned. SportsBubble said it would do so under a non-disclosure agreeement.

In 2023, ESPN announced its intent to launch its own search product. And the Disney sports giant informed SportsBubble it no longer had any interest in any strategic partnership, nor had it been interested in one since conversations commenced in 2021.

“ESPN not only stole SportsBubble’s business model and product, but it also stymied SportsBubble’s growth by stringing SportsBubble along for months with false promises of a partnership, resource-intensive talks, and manufactured delays in the consummation of that partnership,” the company alleges in its lawsuit. “While SportsBubble focused on its prospective partnership with ESPN, it put
partnership discussions with the other major sports networks and event stakeholders on hold,
losing valuable time it could have spent capturing more of the market through other
opportunities.”

ESPN’s search technology could go much further in weeks to come. The company is about to launch a new stand-alone streaming app that gives subscribers all the content from its many cable networks, and, soon, it could offer the feeds from NFL Network as well as the NFL’s RedZone highlights service. In October, ESPN intends to offer a bundled service with Fox One, a streaming service from Fox Corp. that offers all of that company’s content in a single venue.

During a recent call with investors, Disney CEO Bob Iger talked up a potential search service for sports fans as quite the game changer. “”As a devoted sports fan, I often have to work to try to find what platform sports are on,” he said. “If we can help consumers in that regard, we’re certainly going to try.”

If sleep is important to you — and it should be — you might want to think twice before you put a lot of stock in the latest stress charts from your fitness wearable. A recent study from the Netherlands’ Leiden University, published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, has found that when smartwatches and similar devices record readings on stress, fatigue or sleep, they’re frequently getting it wrong.

Researchers studied 800 young adults using the same Garmin Vivosmart 4 smartwatch model. They compared the data the smartwatches produced with the reports that the users created four times per day about how sleepy or stressed they were feeling. Lead author and associate professor Eiko Fried said the correlation between the wearable data and the user-created data was “basically zero.”

A representative for Garmin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Stressed or sex? Your watch doesn’t know

So why do wearables like fitness smartwatches get it so wrong? Their sensors are fairly limited in what they can do. Watches like these need to be worn correctly at all times (a loose or tight watch may give poor readings, for example), and they typically use basic information like pulse rate and movement to make guesses about health.

Those guesses don’t always reflect real-world scenarios. A wearable may identify high stress when the real cause of the change was a workout, excitement over good news or sex. There are so many potential alternatives to stress or fatigue that the watches in the study never really got it right — and the devices sometimes guessed the complete opposite emotional state from what users recorded.

The Dutch study did note that Garmin’s Body Battery readings, which specifically measure physical fatigue, were more reliable than stress indicators, but still inaccurate. And sleep sensing performed the best of them all, with Garmin watches showing a two-thirds chance of noting the differences between a good night’s sleep and a bad one.

It’s also worth noting that smartwatch sensors can become more accurate as technology improves. It would be interesting to run a similar study with the newer Garmin Vivosmart 5 to see if anything has improved, as well as see if other models like the latest versions of the Apple Watch have similar accuracy results.

These days, football bettors work in a complex industry where they combine their intuition with data-driven insights. Remaining ahead of the competition requires knowing emerging trends and leveraging data to inform choices. Let’s explore the fascinating world of online football betting, WNBA betting trends dentify fresh strategies that fit the newest trends, and exchange practical knowledge that may boost your profits.

Bookmakers can now use massive volumes of data to provide more precise odds and forecasts thanks to developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. In addition to improving the user experience, this raises the betting platforms’ profitability. Furthermore, sports betting transactions are becoming transparent and secure due to blockchain technology. By allowing users to virtually attend games, place bets, and communicate with other fans, these technologies make betting more interesting and dynamic.

One of the most significant shifts in recent years is the rise of live or in-play betting. This form of wagering allows bettors to place bets after the match has started, reacting to real-time developments such as goals, penalties, injuries, or tactical changes. Successful live betting depends on watching the match closely, recognizing momentum shifts, and anticipating how teams might respond. The key is to avoid impulsive decisions and instead use live betting as a tool to capitalize on opportunities that may not have been obvious before kickoff.

These insights extend beyond basic win-loss records and help to identify patterns that influence match outcomes. Adapting to this trend means learning how to interpret these statistics and apply them to betting decisions. A team might be winning consistently but underperforming in key metrics, signaling potential weakness. By incorporating analytics into your strategy, you can make more calculated bets and gain an edge over those relying solely on intuition.

While traditional betting markets remain popular, niche options such as player-specific bets, corner counts, or first-half outcomes are gaining traction. These markets can offer better value if you understand specific aspects of the game. For example, a team with strong wingers might consistently win more corner kicks, or a striker with an exceptional scoring record against a particular opponent could be worth backing for a goal. Can betting the WNBA be profitable? Adapting to this trend involves studying team styles, individual player performance, and historical match data to identify betting opportunities that others may overlook.

Football leagues and tournaments occasionally adjust rules, schedules, or formats, and these changes can significantly affect betting outcomes. Player weariness and squad rotation may be impacted by fixture congestion in some seasons, while the advent of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has changed the frequency of penalty awards and goals being disallowed. Adapting to new betting trends means staying conscious of such developments and understanding how they might shift betting value. Being among the first to adjust your approach to these changes can create an advantage in the betting market.

Modern betting platforms now offer mobile apps, real-time notifications, and AI-driven betting suggestions. Bettors can track odds fluctuations, follow live match statistics, and place wagers instantly from anywhere. Setting up alerts for specific odds changes or betting opportunities can help ensure you never miss a favorable moment. However, it is essential to use these tools responsibly and avoid making hasty bets because the technology makes it easy.

Football betting has also seen the growth of online communities, expert tipsters, and subscription-based analysis services. Engaging with these sources can help you identify trends, spot undervalued markets, and learn from experienced bettors. However, it’s essential to approach expert predictions with a critical mindset and verify their reasoning before following their advice. The best adaptation strategy combines external insights with your research and understanding of the game, creating a well-rounded betting approach.

The football betting industry is likely to keep evolving, with virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain-based betting platforms already emerging. Bettors who adapt early to these innovations will get better positioned to understand and leverage them when they become mainstream. Staying curious, continually learning, and being open to testing new strategies will help ensure that you remain competitive in this ever-changing environment.

Adapting to new football betting trends is not just about chasing the latest buzz; it’s about developing the skills and awareness to navigate a dynamic betting landscape. By embracing live betting, using analytics, exploring niche markets, and leveraging technology, bettors can stay ahead of the curve. Coupling these strategies with disciplined bankroll management and ongoing learning ensures that you can make the most of every new opportunity the evolving football betting world presents. In this way, adaptation becomes not just a strategy but a long-term path to success.

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

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Despite skyrocketing prices for TV rights from name-brand sports leagues, even smaller streaming services know their future will be driven in part by that particularly sticky tune-in driver for audiences.

For evidence, look no further than this week’s news. First, Paramount Skydance followed up last week’s deal-closing merger by announcing Monday that it had signed a whopping $7.7 billion, seven-year deal for all UFC North American rights. That helped send share prices soaring Tuesday and Wednesday by roughly 60%.

Then on Tuesday, Comcast and the U.S. Golf Association announced a set of deals to carry the USGA’s many championships on its various outlets, some of which are headed off to become a separate company.

All this comes days after ESPN and Fox unveiled new sports-focused streaming apps that will debut in a week, at premium prices ($30/month for ESPN app, and $20/month for Fox One).

Fox One will also feature entertainment, business and news content from across Fox’s broadcast and cable operations, but live sports (NFL, Big 10 college football, Major League Baseball and Nascar) is almost certainly the big draw, given the app’s pricing and sports’ appeal to the biggest possible audiences.

Under the USGA deal, Comcast broadcaster NBC and streaming service Peacock will continue to carry the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. But Comcast also announced what will be a separate deal to carry 11 championships of the US Golf Association on the Golf Channel and USA Network, which are among the Comcast cable nets being spun off into a separate company called Versant.

The deal kicks in beginning in 202y and will run “through at least 2032,” USGA CEO Mike Whan said in a CNBC interview.

Perhaps having such a deal is near-existential for the Golf Channel, given its niche focus. But golf also figures into broader audience-retention strategies as Comcast prepares for the Versant spinoff.

Media companies have been investing heavily in live sports, particularly the NFL and college football, which remain the most-watched programming on traditional linear television.

Comcast CEO and controlling shareholder Brian Roberts said he will maintain a 30-percent stake in Versant, while promising the company will be a well-funded player in the looming reconfiguration and consolidation of U.S. media companies as they shift from cable distribution to streaming.

Whan said interest in golf has swelled in the five years since the pandemic lockdown, when the sport became a safe way many people could get outside, socialize and get some modest exercise and competition.

“Five years ago, I would tell you there are 30 million golfers and 6 million more who want to take it up in the next year,” Whan said. Now, those numbers are 47.2 million players, and another 24 million who want take it up soon.

It’s a valuable niche too, given the elevated household incomes of traditional golf audiences, with lots of corporate and finance advertises lined up to buy time.

Comcast also cross-promotes upcoming golf coverage onto its business-news network CNBC, which is also heading off as part of Versant. That’s cross-promotion is a no-brainer, given the huge overlap between business executives and golf players. Now it’ll be more important than ever as Versant heads to an uncertain new independent existence.

Comcast and Versant won’t be completely sundered after the split, as the USGA deal demonstrates. Under the deal, Golf Channel’s USGA championships will also appear on Peacock, which remains roughly half the size of Paramount Plus (and perhaps one-seventh of Netflix’s subscriber base). Comcast has moved to expand its sports holdings, adding rights to weekly NBA games this season.

“Peacock is a big part of this,” Whan said.

Peacock already has NBC’s weekly Sunday night NFL game, which is the most-watched show on linear television, and Big 10 football and other college sports. Peacock also features the Olympics, English Premier League soccer, Tour de France cycling, and other pro sports.

Comcast ponied up to keep its golf rights, despite a number of other bidders. Whan said the USGA was “enthused and impressed by the breadth of interest” among rights bidders, reportedly including Netflix.

Paramount Skydance shares jumped notably this week, opening Monday at around $10 a share, briefly topping $16 apiece before settling today to around $14. The UFC deal may have contributed to the big jump, though it’s also likely due to a short squeeze that briefly turned the company into a meme stock this week like AMC Entertainment.

Only 30% of the company’s shares are available to the public (the rest controlled by new company chief David Ellison and his partners). Those shares included a notably large number of shorts, reportedly as many as 89 million of 300 million available, according to Barron’s.

Regardless, the UFC deal with TKO Holdings is a big one, bringing one of the premier combat-sports leagues to Paramount Skydance as Ellison tries to reinvigorate and build a company hobbled for years by boardroom intrigue and inadequate resources. Combat sports, featuring both men and women, have proven hugely popular with younger audiences, especially compared to the aging followings of sports such as baseball and even football.

The $PSKY deal with UFC is notable for more than its girth. Company executives said they hope to extend the deal to international territories as they become available in the future, befitting Ellison’s global ambitions for Paramount Plus and CBS.

UFC matches also will no longer be pay-per-view, as they’ve been for many years, including with current rights holder ESPN. Instead, dozens of weekly fight nights and four big events a year will be freely available to all Paramount Plus subscribers. The big events will also be available on Paramount’s CBS broadcast network.

Both maneuvers should dramatically increase visibility and reach for UFC and for its fighters, though some have voiced concern that it will further erode leverage of the biggest-name fighters. Typically with PPV, ticket sales were driven by the biggest-name competitors, such as Irish star Conor McGregor, who was part of the four highest-selling cards in UFC history.

Paramount Plus currently has around 77 million subscribers, a notably low churn rate, and a batch of third-party customer surveys that suggest it’s one of the more well-liked omnibus subscription services in the market. Credit that to all those CBS and Taylor Sheridan shows, the Star Trek franchise, and NFL and college sports.

But Ellison now has flexed his family’s ample bank account (father Larry is ranked among the planet’s very richest humans) to shore up viewership even further, first with a $1.5 billion deal announced last week with the creators of South Park, and now with UFC.

There aren’t many other packages of notable sports rights in the market right now. ESPN walked away from its $500-million-a-year deal with Major League Baseball after this season, though it and other media companies reportedly are interested in smaller possible packages.

And Apple is reportedly in talks to double what Formula One is making from its North American rights to show the races on Apple TV+.

Apple recently collaborated closely with the racing circuit on F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt. That film has generated $575.6 million in worldwide box-office gross, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, and spurred Apple’s development of in-car camera technology that could be used to create compelling real-world race footage in the future.

Executives from Equinox, EOS Fitness, EGYM and more will gather in Chicago in October for the 2025 Fitness Technology Summit to tackle AI, data and the future of member personalization

With AI and data transforming how gyms attract and keep members, the Fitness Technology Summit is bringing the industry’s power players to Chicago this October.

The three-day, invite-only event runs Ocober 13–15 and will unite top executives, innovators and operators to explore how artificial intelligence, data and emerging tools are redefining member engagement and retention.

Hosted by ALTA Technology Group, the summit features an expanded lineup of panels, fireside chats and networking designed to tackle the industry’s biggest challenges, from scaling personalization to boosting efficiency and unlocking new revenue streams.

“This year’s theme is all about turning data into decisions,” ALTA Technology Group managing partner Al Noshirvani said. “Operators are under pressure to deliver more personalized, impactful experiences while also running smarter, leaner businesses. The Fitness Technology Summit brings together the brightest minds to share actionable strategies for making that happen.”

Tara Levitt, managing partner at ALTA, said the 2025 lineup reflects a wider, more diverse range of voices.

“Alongside established leaders, we have fresh perspectives from operators, innovators and experts who are pushing boundaries in entirely new ways,” she said.

Key Highlights of the 2025 Agenda:

Advisory Panel: Mastering Digital Personalization & Tools

• Focus: AI, data, and tools for creating unforgettable customer experiences
• Moderator: Rick Caro
• Speakers: Shilpi Sullivan (CMO, EOS Fitness), Eswar Veluri (EVP/CTO, Equinox), Fernando Chilvarguer (CIO, The Bay Club Company), Jennifer Anopolsky (CMO, Onelife Fitness)

Longevity by Design: The Club’s Role in the Continuum of Health

See Also

• Focus: How fitness operators can integrate wellness technology, medical partnerships and healthy aging strategies to tap into the growing longevity economy
• Speakers: Dan Wille (Chief Product Officer, Life Fitness / Hammer Strength), Tim Dettman (Director, The Silent Partner Project), Luke Carson (CEO, Discover Strength), Greta Wagner (EVP, Chelsea Piers Athletic Club) and Jeff Riney (COO, The St. James)

Smart Machines, Smarter Decisions

• A fireside chat featuring Al Noshirvani, Philip Roesch-Schlanderer (CEO, EGYM) and Andrew Kolman (VP of Global Product Development, Matrix) on how connected equipment, wearable data and AI insights are transforming programming and retention.

Other sessions will focus on marketing, boutique fitness and staffing. The final day will feature two educational tracks, one offering a technical deep dive and the other geared toward CEOs and COOs. The conference will also host its annual Startup Spotlight, where founders present their ideas in rapid-fire pitches and attendees vote on the most promising startup.

Networking events will include a Chicago-inspired welcome reception and a dinner at La Grande Boucherie with curated cocktails, live music and a piano bar singalong.

The Fitness Technology Summit typically sells out. Sponsorships and professional tickets are no longer available; however, a limited number of spots remain for operators and owners here.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Reality Based Group (RBG), realitybasedgroup.com, a leader in customer experience and performance measurement, is proud to announce Crunch Fitness as its newest partner, launching and successfully completing the first round of mystery shops for all U.S. Crunch Fitness clubs. This milestone reflects a shared commitment to delivering consistent brand standards and high-quality member experiences across Crunch’s rapidly expanding footprint.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Crunch Fitness,” said Josh Stern, CEO of Reality Based Group. “Not only is the Crunch team ‘all in’ on CX improvement, but they are also true partners, allowing our team to solve problems and deliver value in areas beyond our traditional programs. It’s really cool to innovate together.”

Building on the success of this initial phase of the Mystery Shopping Program, RBG will launch Phase 2 with a new initiative: a Post-Construction Audit. This program will focus on locations that have been open for 30 days or more, assessing alignment with design plans, overall brand standards, and layout functionality.

Unlike traditional mystery shops, the Post-Construction Audit serves as a quality control and observational tool that provides detailed documentation of how new construction elements impact the member experience and functionality within the club environment.

This integrated approach to performance measurement strengthens the relationship between franchise owners, contractors, and Crunch corporate under a shared vision, reinforcing brand trust and operational alignment.

About Reality Based Group Reality Based Group (RBG) is a leader in tech-enabled video mystery shopping, providing businesses with powerful insights to enhance customer satisfaction and drive operational success. With advanced tools and expert analysis, RBG helps companies deliver exceptional service and build stronger relationships with their customers. https://www.realitybasedgroup.com/about/

CONTACT: Monique Sadick, [email protected] 

SOURCE Reality Based Group