Fantasy Football's $1 Billion-a-Year Business, 27 Million Gamers: 'It's a Sickness'

Within the latest cover story from the Hollywood Reporter, west coast business editor Paul Bond looks into the flourishing business of fantasy football, such as the stars who're totally hooked on it and also the entertainment firms that are capitalizing from what is a $1 billion industry this season.our editor recommendsHollywood's Greatest Fantasy Football FansAshton Kutcher Wants 'Two . 5 Men' Character to experience Fantasy FootballAntonio Gates: 11 Questions Regarding Fantasy FootballWhat Fantasy Football Way to HollywoodThe Hollywood Reporter Cover Stories'Entourage's' Jerry Ferrara Describes His Fantasy Football ObsessionESPN's Fantasy Football Guru Shares the recommendation He Gave Hollywood This Season In interviews with celebs and sports athletes, along with the professionals who're billed with pushing fantasy football for everything its worth, THR goes right into a pastime that, because of the web, has had America by storm, by having an believed 27 million participants this season. Even better: It seems recession-proof. VIDEO: Behind the curtain of THR's Fantasy Football Photoshoot A sneak look of THR's fantasy football play-by-play: ASHTON KUTCHER, PAUL RUDD AND JERRY FERRARA Might Be CANDIDATES FOR 'FF ANONYMOUS' Paul Rudd, who next stars within our Idiot Brother, that the Weinstein Co. will release August. 26, calls his dependence on fantasy football "a sickness", one which irritates his wife and it has also stricken his Idiot Brother co-stars Elizabeth Banks and Zooey Deschanel. But there's a lengthy listing of fantasy football fans in Hollywood. One of these, Jerry Ferrara of Entourage, really wants to prove he's tops. "You know Ashton Kutcher and Paul Rudd: Whenever, anywhere, any format," he states. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Greatest Fantasy Football Fans The Current Recession AND National football league LABOR DISPUTES COULDN'T SLOW THE PHENOMENON The typical fantasy sports enthusiast is 41 years of age, college educated and makes a lot more than $50,000 annually. The recession and lately settled National football league labor dispute hasn't slowed down the incredibly rapid development of fantasy football, baffling the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. They expect 36 million people within the U.S. and Canada to experience fantasy sports this year, up 13% from last year. And 75% of individuals will have football. Tv stations Pays MEGA MILLIONS To Maintain FANS Updated IN TV marketers -- CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, DirecTV, and also the National football league Network -- pays a hefty $4 billion for broadcast privileges this season. In The month of january, ESPN decided to fork over $1.8 billion annually only for the privileges to Monday Evening Football from 2014 to 2022, which signifies a 63 percent increase. "Lots of fantasy games come lower to Monday evening," stated ESPN's Jason Waram, V.P. of fantasy games and social, "and even when you don't worry about the teams, you'll stay up late to look at if your gamers is playing." Forex's THE LEAGUE WAS RUSHED TO BROADCAST Due To FANTASY FOOTBALL'S Increasing Recognition The League was produced through the husband-and-wife team of Shaun Schaffer and Jackie Marcus Schaffer, who rushed Season 1 into production a few years ago simply because they were worried that fantasy football was becoming very popular that, surely, another person would produce a show around it. Naturally, both of them also play fantasy football. He plays with Rudd, plus they in The League from the League, featuring its the cast of, what else? The League. STORY: Antonio Gates: 11 Questions Regarding Fantasy Football National football league'S MATT HASSELBECK BENCHED Themself With Regard To HIS TEAM Even National football league gamers partake. Matt Hasselbeck notoriously benched themself 1 week on his fantasy team so he could rather start Favre Fined. Guess which quarterback were built with a better day about the gridiron that week -- much better than every other QB within the league, actually. And running back Maurice Johnson-Came is really enthusiastic about fantasy football he hosts a whole show about the subject at Sirius XM Radio, which produced a whole funnel with fantasy sports content 24/7. FANTASY FOOTBALL Produces STARS One Of The STARS Need advice inside your draft this season? The Hollywood Reporter drawn on ESPN's Matthew Berry, fantasy agent towards the stars, to determine what he's telling his legion of entertainment industry associates this season. States Berry: "Regardless of how wealthy or famous you're, everybody continues to have exactly the same question: 'Who will i begin Sunday?'" FANTASY FOOTBALL ISN'T Only A BOYS CLUB Rankings for National football league games are in an exciting-time high and also the last Super Bowl is easily the most-viewed telecast ever. The National football league certainly isn't ignorant to the fact that fantasy gamers are leaving all of this possible. About 5.4 million fantasy football gamers this season is going to be women, a demographic the National football league is salivating over. EXCLUSIVE:'Entourage's' Jerry Ferrara Describes His Fantasy Football Obsession TWITTER Is Really A FANTASY PLAYER'S Ace In The Hole National football league gamers like tight finish Antonio Gates and running back Arian Promote have grown to be big names. Fantasy gamers obsess over their performances as well as their health. Many will tweet them, seeking inside information the gamers can't share. "They behave like a coach, saying the number of touchdowns they require from me on that day. Sometimes I respond," states Gates. FANTASY FOOTBALL Took Its Begin In CALIFORNIA Wager you don't understand how fantasy football began. The Hollywood Reporter investigated that, too, and identifies "Ground Zero" for that hobby, a bar in Concord formerly referred to as Nobleman X, which introduced it to its patrons in 1969. Twenty-seven years later, Websites like SportsLine, now possessed by CBS, started helping leagues place their pastime online, simplifying the formerly laborious task and setting happens for massive growth. THE FRANCHISE HAS Created MANY COPYCATS Still not convinced fantasy football is perfect for you? You will find options, like fantasy box office, where rivals draft movies rather than National football league gamers, or fantasy celebrity, whereby participants draft a team of Celebrities and score points with respect to the media they generate during a period of time. You will find even fantasy games centered on The American Idol Show, Jersey Shoreline along with other reality Television shows, and THR identifies the web sites which are assisting these activities. Browse the full THR cover story now Related Subjects Elizabeth Banks Paul Rudd Zooey Deschanel National football league Jerry Ferrara