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The Michigan Wolverines will receive over $2 million in a deal with Amazon that allows the tech giant to air footage of the program's practices and other behind-the-scenes nonsense.
Also worth noting: People pretend there's not enough money in college sports to pay players.
We know this only because contracts had to be signed and the Detroit Free Press wisely put in a Freedom of Information Act request for the documents and found out that the school will be receiving exactly $2.25 million as a result of the venture. From the Detroit Free Press:
“Michigan will get $1.5 million from The Montag Group — the producer of the series — for access/licensing and an additional $750,000 (from TMG) for site access…
Per the 26-page access agreement, Michigan is required to provide Amazon with “reasonable access” that does not exceed “three to four” shooting days per week. Access includes Michigan Stadium, team offices and facilities, locker rooms, practice sessions, team meetings and games.
Also per the access agreement, student-athletes participating in the show were required to sign a formal release form (with parental permission) prior to the airing of the program.”
So, uh, the student-athletes — who are not allowed to profit off their own likeness — had to sign a release? Interesting. Also interesting is the fact that universities continue to be so willing to exploit kids as labor so obviously and not care about the optics of it all.
This would be like being asked to star in a documentary, potentially having your deepest secrets revealed, but the only thing you get out of it is the exposure of the film.
Basically, student-athletes are bloggers, I guess.
