The Ilitch Organization has created a new company and filed nearly a dozen trademark applications in connection to the launch of a new regional sports network.
According to records from U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the applications were filed from the Detroit Sports Network, LLC, which is a limited liability corporation based in Delaware but whose offices are at the Fox Office Centre on Woodward in downtown Detroit. The news was first reported by Crain's Detroit Business.
On Thursday, the Ilitch Organization announced it was exploring the launch of a regional sports network that would broadcast both Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings games, as well as other sports and entertainment-related content. The teams are currently under contract with Fox Sports Detroit.
With New York-based attorney Jeffrey C. Katz from Davis & Gilbert LLP, the Ilitches filed 10 different trademark applications for possible names of the regional sports network. Those names are:
- Ilitch Communications
- Ilitch Media
- Ilitch Sports Regional Network
- Ilitch Regional Sports Network
- Ilitch Media Network
- Ilitch Sports Detroit
- Ilitch Sports Media
- Ilitch Sports Network
- Ilitch Sports TV
- Ilitch Sports Net
The applications also include a description of what goods and services they would provide. Each one has the same description for those goods and services.
"Television and radio broadcasting services; Internet broadcasting and streaming services," according to the application.
It also lists that the company would produce and distribute sports programming, sports news, sports information, as well as computer games and other sports and entertainment content through TV, radio, satellite, cable, digital streaming, mobile and the internet.
Other descriptions include, "Providing downloadable software applications for mobile and other devices
featuring sports programming, sports news and information, computer games,
and related sports and entertainment content and information," "
Last year, Fox Sports Detroit was bought by Disney, but because Disney also owns ESPN, they must sell the Fox regional sports networks.
“As leaders in the rapidly evolving sports and entertainment industry, the creation of a new network would be a natural business extension for our organization,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports and Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Several RSNs in the country are either owned fully or in part by sports teams. Those include the YES Network with the New York Yankees, NESN with the Boston Red Sox, MASN with the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, MSG Network owned by Madison Square Garden which broadcasts the New York Knicks and New York Rangers and more.
