NBA Playoffs Set to Leave Local TV Behind in Streaming-Heavy Shift
The league’s new TV deals introduce a stark reality.
media rights
Poll: Worst Media Deals for Fans?
[Editor’s note: Welcome to Athlon Sports’ poll of the day, where we ask readers to weigh in on the biggest topic of the day. Thanks for voting, and be sure to sound off in the comment section.] There was a report in the Wall Street Journal Thursday that the Department of Justice is investigating ...
Could Fox’s hardball tactics land it the NFL’s new five-game package?
Fox wants in on the NFL’s five-game standalone package for the 2026 season. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, YouTube, Netflix, and Fox are all in play for the mini-slate, which the NFL has been shopping as it renegotiates its broader media rights landscape. The league has presented bidders with a menu of more…
The NFL will never lose its antitrust exemption, no matter how much D.C. cries foul
The first formal investigation into the longstanding antitrust exemption granted to the NFL under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 is officially upon us. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice has begun examining potential anticompetitive practices by the NFL in how it sells its media rights. Under the exemption granted…
John Ourand: FCC pressure, lack of bidding market could hurt NFL’s leverage in media deal renegotiations
Spurred on by a change-of-ownership clause in its broadcast rights deal with CBS, the NFL is trying to redo several of its agreements with other networks ahead of the 2026 season. The league could see around a 50 percent uptick in revenue from Paramount-owned CBS, and those talks reportedly have strong momentum. But as seen…
NFL Faces DOJ Investigation With Media-Rights Battle Heating Up
Washington’s growing scrutiny of the league is deeply layered.
Everything we know about WNBA broadcast plans across its 6 national network partners
The WNBA is full-steam ahead for the 2026 season after finally inking a new collective bargaining agreement last month. Fans will be in for an overhaul of the viewing experience this year, as NBC and Prime Video join the league’s assemblage of partners as an extension of the NBA’s new 11-year media rights package. The…
Hollywood analyst warns NFL rights deals spell bad news for entertainment industry
We’ve written at length about what the NFL’s quest to renegotiate its media rights deals this offseason means for the sports world. Networks are preparing to “rebalance” their sports portfolios in order to afford the NFL’s new asking price. Leagues are now trying to beat the NFL to market in hopes of securing their slice…
New NFL rights deals could approach $16 billion annually
The NFL is in the catbird seat when it comes to renegotiating its rights deals with television networks and streamers. And given the outsized importance of the league when it comes to attracting viewers and sponsors, media companies are already preparing their war chests. Networks and streamers have increasingly found that they can’t live without…
NFL Seeks Buyers for 5 Games, Drops ‘MNF’ Doubleheaders
The league looks at several major changes to its upcoming broadcast schedule. The post NFL Seeks Buyers for 5 Games, Drops ‘MNF’ Doubleheaders appeared first on Front Office Sports.
MLB's Strong NBC Debut Further Proves League Is More Popular Than NBA
As the sports world debates whether MLB or the NBA is the No. 2 league in America, early returns from NBC’s new MLB package provide a notable data point.
MLS teams do not expect to regain local rights after Apple deal ends
When MLS and Apple began a first-of-its-kind media rights deal in 2023, it was billed as the future. No longer were MLS clubs stuck selling local broadcast rights to regional sports networks or local substations; every game for every team would be available in sparkly high-definition on Apple TV. Whether that deal has succeeded on…
Netflix in talks over major NFL broadcasting change and wants to expand beyond Christmas Day schedule
NETFLIX is in talks over a major change to the NFL’s broadcasting slate. The streaming network is looking to expand its NFL coverage beyond its Christmas Day schedule. Streaming giant…
Netflix seeks to add more NFL games as league renegotiates media rights deals
The NFL is currently renegotiating its media rights deals with all its broadcast partners in the hopes of being able to create smaller broadcast packages of four or five games to offer up to streamers like Netflix.
Netflix reportedly eying four-game NFL package, including Thanksgiving Eve game
Netflix currently has the rights to two NFL games on Christmas Day. As a present to itself, it’s looking to double that. According to Jessica Toonkel and Joe Flint at the Wall Street Journal, the streamer wants to expand its current two-game package to four and is especially interested in the NFL’s new Thanksgiving Eve…
Are the Murdochs and Ellisons behind FCC’s recent interest in sports fragmentation?
Sometimes, writing about what’s happening in the media industry is simply about connecting dots. And with every passing day, some dots are seemingly coming into alignment that are almost too coincidental to not notice. Those dots center on the FCC’s recent interest in sports fragmentation, and the threat the federal government poses to the antitrust Read more... The post Are the Murdochs and Ellisons behind FCC’s recent interest in sports fragmentation? appeared first on Awful Announcing.
Poll: 6 in 10 sports fans report skipping games because they’re ‘too expensive’ to watch on TV
A new poll from Fox News finds that 72% of sports fans think major sports events should be required to air on free broadcast television. But cable networks and streaming services continue to acquire major sports rights. In addition, according to the poll, nearly 60% of sports fans have not watched a sports event because Read more... The post Poll: 6 in 10 sports fans report skipping games because they’re ‘too expensive’ to watch on TV appeared first on Awful Announcing.
Ion’s WNBA media rights deal reportedly runs for six years
The WNBA recently wrapped up what will likely be the last of its media rights agreements for quite some time. Last week, the league finalized a broadcast agreement with CBS Sports to carry 20 regular-season games on the broadcast channel each year. That deal was described as “long-term” in the announcement, though no exact length Read more... The post Ion’s WNBA media rights deal reportedly runs for six years appeared first on Awful Announcing.
NFL Annual Meeting to Tackle Rule Changes, Refs, and Media Rights
The league will advance its preparations for next season. The post NFL Annual Meeting to Tackle Rule Changes, Refs, and Media Rights appeared first on Front Office Sports.
TGL’s Next Deal May Depend on Aging Tiger Woods
The lights were bright, the stakes were high, and one familiar figure stood at the center of it all. Even after years of injuries and a long break from competitive play, Tiger Woods continues to cast a massive shadow over the sport of golf. His presence still carries enormous weight for leagues, ...
CBS extends WNBA media rights deal, reveals broadcast team
The WNBA has finalized what will seemingly be the last of its media rights deals for at least the next couple of years. On Wednesday, Paramount announced that it has reached a new “long-term” media rights agreement with the WNBA, under which CBS will broadcast up to 20 regular-season games each season, beginning in 2026. Read more... The post CBS extends WNBA media rights deal, reveals broadcast team appeared first on Awful Announcing.
CBS To Air 20 WNBA Games on Broadcast TV in 2026
The league will have a strong presence on network TV in 2026. The post CBS To Air 20 WNBA Games on Broadcast TV in 2026 appeared first on Front Office Sports.
Local TV Struggles Hit NBA Players in Their Pockets
Next year's salary cap is $1 million lower than projected. The post Local TV Struggles Hit NBA Players in Their Pockets appeared first on Front Office Sports.
John Ourand: Network execs may ‘hold off’ on early NFL renewals
The tides are slowly shifting in what is sure to be the most consequential sports media story of 2026. The NFL has officially began an effort to renegotiate its media rights deals several years prior to its contractual opt-out options at the end of the decade. Paramount is first up to bat on account of Read more... The post John Ourand: Network execs may ‘hold off’ on early NFL renewals appeared first on Awful Announcing.