Magazine Producers Need Labor Resolution by NFL Draft

Anyone who hopes to watch NFL games in 2011 obviously first has to hope for a new labor deal. If your business includes producing fantasy football magazines, the timeline for such a deal becomes even more important.

The developments — or relative lack thereof — over the past week of negotiations brings that issue into focus. The NFL and its players association extended last week the collective-bargaining deadline, pausing a potential chain of events that could have led to months in the courtroom.

According to SI.com’s Jim Trotter, negotiations nearly reached the breaking point before the extension. That would seem to enhance the importance of this week’s talks in avoiding a summer-long feud, which would crush the fantasy-magazine market for 2011.

Periodical producers have to be on pins and needles this week, right? Well, although all are certainly watching with interest, most have their eyes trained harder on NFL Draft weekend.

“This week on its own does not mean much if there was another week extension and then a deal,” RotoWorld managing editor Gregg Rosenthal told FSB.com. “It will be business as usual as long as there is NFL free agency before the NFL Draft.”

That notion was echoed by RotoWire president Peter Schoenke: “I think the NFL draft is probably a bigger deadline because it’s around the time we usually put together all the specifics for the magazine and we’ll need to see how much the editorial may suffer without off-season transactions.”

That’s the key issue in fantasy circles. The national media might be focused more on the negotiating stumbling blocks, the whereabouts of NFLPA counsel Jeffrey Kessler and the impact it all could have on the 2011 season.

We, however, need free agents to settle somewhere — even more so than usual. The no-CBA rules of 2010 changed the timeline for a league veteran reaching unrestricted free agency, and the result is a free-agent class of more than 500 players. It’s hard enough in a normal NFL calendar to project the outlook for hundreds of players and 32 team situations months ahead of time. Right now, content producers don’t even have the colors necessary to paint those pictures.

“Right now I’m researching cover subjects and the uncertainty of numerous potential free agents makes that a tougher task than in the past,” said Matt McKenzie, the lead editor for Sporting News’ Fantasy Football yearbook. “It also doesn’t help when it comes to our team reports, as there are some teams that have major holes across the board, which makes it hard to key in on their fantasy focuses.”

Of course, any delay that the labor issues shove into the off-season calendar will affect production schedules and could shrink the window for sales. The relative upside — very relative — is that this issue didn’t surprise NFL followers.

We’ve known for two years that winter 2011 would likely bring acrimony, and companies have had time to think about how to treat a potential lockout.

“We have been working under the assumption that a lockout is inevitable,” said Mitch Light, managing editor for Athlon Sports. “This negotiation extension gives us some hope, we still have to plan for all different scenarios.

Light said that his staff is in the process of setting a “drop-dead” date for production to start.

“If the lockout drags on for too long it just doesn’t make sense for us to publish a fantasy magazine,” he said. “Once we come up with that date, we will just sit back and wait.”

Others, however, plan to go to press whether the bickering has ended or not.

“Unfortunately, there’s not much to do but move forward the best we can,” McKenzie said for the SN magazine. “Some of the articles and capsules will have to be written a little looser than years before given the unknown free-agent situation, but I have no doubt we can still put out a quality magazine.”

Rosenthal shared a similar sentiment, relaying RotoWorld’s plan to publish even in an NFL standstill. He did point out, though, that a long struggle could lead to just a single edition being produced rather than the normal two-edition cycle.

Fantasy Index co-owner Bruce Taylor said his company has changed its contract structure for advertisers this year to suit the NFL situation. Normally a “cash-basis business,” Index is instead selling ad space in its fantasy football magazine on a “bill-me-later basis.”

“If the players and owners reach a settlement prior to the NFL draft, then we’ll execute the contracts,” Taylor said. “If an agreement is reached after the NFL draft but before May 15, then we’ll publish as usual, but likely with a smaller press run and a shorter on-sale period. We will reduce our advertising rates in direct proportion with the reduction in press run, and we’ll give advertisers the option to cancel their insertion orders.”

Smaller sales windows and downward adjustments in advertising rates are clearly scenarios that all hope not to encounter. The magazine business is tough enough these days, and fantasy content providers likely face an uphill battle to generate profits from these publications under normal conditions.

This will be a telling week for many throughout our industry, whether it ends with a labor deal or not. A new collective bargaining agreement by Friday would be the ideal, so that all could proceed with annual off-season plans. A further extension would mean more waiting and building anxiety, though it would also foster hope of a deal before the draft. Of course, a breakdown-lockout-lawsuit finish would be bad news.

For now, Fantasy Sports Publications founder Emil Kadlec says it’s not worth dissecting every step of the bargaining process.

“We’re obviously watching with great interest but whether a deal is done this week isn’t vital to our plans,” he told FSB.com. “We believe the deal will be done by the NFL draft which would fit well into our normal timeframe. Worst case, if needed, a one or two week on-sale date change is the most logical contingency. I think it’s best not to get caught up in the day-to-day drama of negotiations.”

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

146 Responses to “Magazine Producers Need Labor Resolution by NFL Draft”

  1. Alexander7 Says:

    [email protected]

    Need cheap generic LEVITRA?…

  2. ANGEL Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric pills…

  3. SETH Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric pills…

  4. BRANDON Says:

    [email protected].

    Buyno prescription…

  5. PERRY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buywithout prescription…

  6. LEWIS Says:

    [email protected].

    Buynow it…

  7. DUSTIN Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric drugs…

  8. GUY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buywithout prescription…

  9. SALVADOR Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow…

  10. RENE Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs…

  11. SALVADOR Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric meds…

  12. TERRENCE Says:

    [email protected].

    Buyit now…

  13. ENRIQUE Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it…

  14. JAMES Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric meds…

  15. PERRY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric pills…

  16. ROY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buywithout prescription…

  17. RALPH Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs…

  18. TRACY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buywithout prescription…

  19. SAMUEL Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs…

  20. FELIX Says:

    [email protected]

    Buyit now…

  21. KELLY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric meds…

  22. NATHAN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it…

  23. ADAM Says:

    [email protected]

    Buyno prescription…

  24. BRUCE Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs…

  25. MATHEW Says:

    [email protected]

    Buyno prescription…

  26. KENNY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it…

  27. BILLY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs…

  28. WILLIAM Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric pills…

  29. CARL Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric meds…

  30. BOB Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs…

  31. ANDREW Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it…

  32. RUBEN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric meds…

  33. JONATHAN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric meds vbg…

  34. MARCUS Says:

    [email protected].

    Buynow it vhx…

  35. DARYL Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric drugs krg…

  36. VICTOR Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric pills zdg…

  37. CLIFTON Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric meds qmo…

  38. RAY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs zfk…

  39. LAWRENCE Says:

    [email protected].

    Buywithout prescription dyo…

  40. LLOYD Says:

    [email protected]

    Buywithout prescription xiu…

  41. SERGIO Says:

    [email protected]

    Buyno prescription luw…

  42. MITCHELL Says:

    [email protected].

    Buydrugs without prescription faj…

  43. LEWIS Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs axm…

  44. MARION Says:

    [email protected].

    Buyno prescription gdt…

  45. BRYAN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs nih…

  46. VINCENT Says:

    [email protected]

    Buyit now ojb…

  47. JOEL Says:

    [email protected].

    Buyno prescription wkp…

  48. GLENN Says:

    [email protected].

    Buyno prescription tao…

  49. AUSTIN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it fnp…

  50. WESLEY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buywithout prescription yyn…

  51. HOMER Says:

    [email protected].

    Buyit now irl…

  52. PHILIP Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric meds svb…

  53. BRUCE Says:

    [email protected].

    Buyno prescription jui…

  54. LEROY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buyit now sge…

  55. MARVIN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it lmg…

  56. RONALD Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs itj…

  57. BRUCE Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it zdg…

  58. JORGE Says:

    [email protected].

    Buynow it xmt…

  59. CHRIS Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric drugs nvr…

  60. JEREMIAH Says:

    [email protected].

    Buynow it tly…

  61. MARION Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric drugs mby…

  62. VINCENT Says:

    [email protected]

    Buydrugs without prescription xab…

  63. REGINALD Says:

    [email protected]

    Buydrugs without prescription jlg…

  64. EVAN Says:

    Buydrugs without prescription ygy…

  65. JON Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric drugs ajd…

  66. STEVE Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow fjl…

  67. BRENT Says:

    [email protected]

    Buyno prescription…

  68. WENDELL Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric drugs…

  69. OLIVER Says:

    [email protected].

    Buynow…

  70. MICHAEL Says:

    [email protected].

    Buynow…

  71. DAN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buynow it…

  72. OLIVER Says:

    [email protected].

    Buygeneric drugs…

  73. MARTIN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buydrugs without prescription…

  74. FERNANDO Says:

    [email protected].

    Buywithout prescription…

  75. LESTER Says:

    methotrexate and tricyclerides side effects

    Buy_generic pills…

  76. JOHNNY Says:

    antidepressant drugs for cats

    Buy_generic drugs…

  77. LUIS Says:

    cancer tattoos

    Buy_without prescription…

  78. LEON Says:

    steroids abuse sexual dysfunction

    Buy_it now…

  79. BILLY Says:

    hiv aids in california in 1997

    Buy_generic pills…

  80. FRANCIS Says:

    impact rating journal of clinical psychology

    Buy_now it…

  81. MILTON Says:

    drug detection testing

    Buy_generic meds…

  82. STUART Says:

    viagra in the uk

    Buy_no prescription…

  83. LESLIE Says:

    best life diet

    Buy_no prescription…

  84. AUSTIN Says:

    obesity children summer

    Buy_it now…

  85. NICK Says:

    prostate cancer injection treatment

    Buy_now it…

  86. KENNETH Says:

    arimidex and marathon

    Buy_generic drugs…

  87. DON Says:

    medication for ibs

    Buy_generic drugs…

  88. ALFRED Says:

    green nerf ds lite armour

    Buy_generic pills…

  89. FREDERICK Says:

    good and bad drugs

    Buy_without prescription…

  90. BILLY Says:

    drug rehab center british columbia

    Buy_generic drugs…

  91. PERRY Says:

    bmi chart for kids

    Buy_generic drugs…

  92. NICHOLAS Says:

    buy cheap clomid

    Buy_it now…

  93. ENRIQUE Says:

    effects of bulimia only sometimes

    Buy_generic meds…

  94. JESSIE Says:

    boniva price

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  95. COREY Says:

    australia clinical research resume

    Buy_generic drugs…

  96. ANDREW Says:

    iv zofran

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  97. KENT Says:

    tests for assessing anxiety

    Buy_now it…

  98. GERALD Says:

    thyroid scan image

    Buy_generic pills…

  99. JACOB Says:

    side effects of luvox

    Buy_now…

  100. FERNANDO Says:

    symptoms of chocolate allergy

    Buy_it now…

  101. AUSTIN Says:

    does birth control control moods

    Buy_generic drugs…

  102. JOSHUA Says:

    chf vs pulmonary edema

    Buy_generic drugs…

  103. MILTON Says:

    deadliest type of cancer

    Buy_generic pills…

  104. STEPHEN Says:

    genie francis weight loss

    Buy_now…

  105. DUSTIN Says:

    weight loss tricks for 40 somethings

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  106. EDWIN Says:

    zyrtec and drug tests

    Buy_generic meds…

  107. WAYNE Says:

    advantage of skin cancer

    Buy_generic drugs…

  108. WALLACE Says:

    persistent nausea and stomach pain

    Buy_generic meds…

  109. ELMER Says:

    household chemicals that kill fleas

    Buy_now it…

  110. NELSON Says:

    respiratory infection humidity dry antibiotics avelox

    Buy_generic pills…

  111. JUSTIN Says:

    find clomid cheap in us

    Buy_now…

  112. MARCUS Says:

    hypertension police ma

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  113. JOEY Says:

    atkins diet first week foods

    Buy_without prescription…

  114. GUY Says:

    fungi amazing facts

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  115. ALBERT Says:

    psychostimulant treatment of depression

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  116. LUKE Says:

    dog hives and what causes them

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  117. BRENT Says:

    images of tongue cancer

    Buy_generic meds…

  118. KYLE Says:

    depression amino acids

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  119. RANDALL Says:

    when develop toxemia pregnancy

    Buy_it now…

  120. JEFFREY Says:

    washington university marfan losartan study

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  121. NORMAN Says:

    clinical trial ediary data

    Buy_now it…

  122. LOUIS Says:

    acne teens start treatment age

    Buy_it now…

  123. LYNN Says:

    period changes leading up to menopause

    Buy_it now…

  124. VERNON Says:

    azithromycin doxycycline over the counter

    Buy_generic pills…

  125. RICK Says:

    forensic drug test swab

    Buy_no prescription…

  126. EDWIN Says:

    drug additiction symptoms

    Buy_generic meds…

  127. JERRY Says:

    juliet’s on the spot acne treatment

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  128. JORGE Says:

    rules on flying during pregnancy

    Buy_drugs without prescription…

  129. ANDRE Says:

    neurontin and mood lability

    Buy_generic meds…

  130. TROY Says:

    menses while on birth control pills

    Buy_generic drugs…

  131. ALFRED Says:

    new birth control pill

    Buy_now it…

  132. RUSSELL Says:

    dr loss phil ultimate weight

    Buy_no prescription…

  133. MILTON Says:

    zocor orange juice effects

    Buy_no prescription…

  134. JIM Says:

    indomethacin opthalmic drops

    Buy_generic pills…

  135. FREDDIE Says:

    childrens ibuprofen diabetes

    Buy_without prescription…

  136. FERNANDO Says:

    hormone shot for prostate cancer

    Buy_generic drugs…

  137. LAWRENCE Says:

    can iodine help thyroid function

    Buy_generic drugs…

  138. DONALD Says:

    tsa drug dogs for adoptino

    Buy_generic drugs…

  139. JOSHUA Says:

    breven medication for add

    Buy_generic drugs…

  140. NELSON Says:

    information about treatment for leg edema

    Buy_generic drugs…

  141. JIMMY Says:

    barbecue interactions with drugs

    Buy_generic meds…

  142. JOHNNIE Says:

    black molley slang drug name

    Buy_generic drugs…

  143. LANCE Says:

    dogs to detect cancer

    Buy_generic drugs…

  144. STANLEY Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric meds…

  145. JOHN Says:

    [email protected]

    Buygeneric meds…

  146. BOBBY Says:

    [email protected].

    Buynow…