The Cavaliers’ Media Rights Pivot and Building a 24/7 Team-Run Network

The Cleveland Cavaliers EVP & CIO Mike Conley turned the Cavs’ digital channels from a cost center into a multimillion-dollar revenue engine. And that shift laid the groundwork for their boldest move yet: standing up a 24/7 sports network inside the organization.With RSN economics wobbling, Mike explains how the Cavs built optionality and formed a joint venture with Gray Media to launch Rock Entertainment Sports Network after a six-week sprint—so the club could produce live events, original programming, and distribute across both linear and streaming footprints. That mix already reaches ~2.4M Ohio households!You’ll also hear Mike’s tactical thoughts around why every team needs media DNA, what a club-side broadcast stack looks like now, where in-house production makes sense (and where it doesn’t!) and how governance and culture drive execution.In this episode, you’ll hear:How the Cavs and Gray Media stood up Rock Entertainment Sports Network before the ’24-’25 season to protect against RSN volatilityThe omnichannel footprint behind 2.4M households: OTA (22.1 NE Ohio), Spectrum/Charter, NCTC, plus new signals in Columbus, Cincinnati, and DaytonWhy broadcast now sits with IT/BI under the CIO, moving to IP video and Dante audio, and what that unlocksThe early Cavs mandate to shift web from PR to revenue, from $900K to $6.7M in two yearsMike’s honest view on going in-house, and lessons from peers like the Pelicans, Suns, Jazz, Rangers, and StarsResources and Links:Connect with Mike Conley on LinkedIn.Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.Dave’s book is available now! Get your copy of The Business of Sports Technology: How To Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward.