All articles tagged with #broadcast deal
UFC has permanently moved its main event start time to 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT for all major numbered events starting with UFC 324, as part of its new broadcast partnership with Paramount, shifting away from the traditional 10 p.m. ET start time and moving towards a streaming-focused model.
ESPN Plus, now rebranded as ESPN Select, is increasing its subscription prices in October 2023, coinciding with its upcoming split from UFC, which has moved to Paramount in a $7.7 billion deal. The price hikes affect individual subscriptions and bundle packages, and come amid broader increases in Disney's streaming services. The UFC's move to Paramount also involves changes to its pay-per-view pricing, which has contributed to piracy issues, as the promotion prepares for its new broadcasting arrangement in 2026.
Joe Rogan believes the UFC's new seven-year, $7.7 billion streaming deal with Paramount+ could significantly boost MMA's popularity by making fights more accessible and affordable, potentially leading to a 'hypernova' growth in the sport, while also raising questions about the future of UFC's relationship with ESPN.
ESPN has secured a five-year, non-exclusive deal to televise the NFL draft through 2030, aligning with the expiration of current broadcast agreements, with ongoing questions about the future of NFL Network coverage.
Dana White hints that the UFC's next broadcast deal, starting in 2026, will likely involve a more global streaming platform, possibly Netflix or Amazon Prime, to expand its worldwide reach, as negotiations continue and the sport aims to level up its media partnerships.
FIFA has signed a $1 billion broadcast deal with DAZN for the rights to air the Club World Cup, marking a significant partnership in sports media.
The NFL has set the salary cap for the 2024 season at a record $255.4 million, up $30.6 million from 2023, due to the league's growing revenues, including a new broadcast deal worth over $110 billion. The increase is attributed to the full repayment of amounts advanced by clubs and deferred by players during the COVID pandemic, as well as an extraordinary rise in media revenue. This significant spike in the cap could lead to more liberal use of the franchise tag and higher salaries for pending free agents, but future cap increases may not be as substantial.
The NFL has set the salary cap for the 2024 season at a record $255.4 million, up $30.6 million from 2023, due to the league's growing revenues, including a new broadcast deal worth over $110 billion. The increase represents the largest year-to-year jump in free agency history, potentially impacting franchise tag usage and pending free agent salaries. The league attributes the spike to the full repayment of amounts advanced during the COVID-19 pandemic and an extraordinary increase in media revenue. However, concerns exist about the sustainability of such rapid cap growth in the coming years.
NASCAR has finalized a seven-year broadcast deal starting in 2025 with FOX, NBC, Warner Brothers Discovery, and Amazon, which includes five races exclusively available for streaming on Amazon. The deal aims to cater to both existing and new fans by adding a direct-to-consumer streaming element. NASCAR will now focus on extending its charter agreement with teams, determining how revenue from the broadcast package will be distributed. The new agreement will see FOX Sports telecasting the first 14 events of the Cup season, while Amazon Prime will stream the next five Cup events, marking their first foray into NASCAR. TNT will telecast the following five Cup events, and NBC Sports will telecast the final 14 events of the season. The Daytona 500 will remain as the first points race, and the all-star race may be scheduled a week earlier to fit into the FOX portion.
Golf announcer Jim Nantz took another subtle jab at the controversial Saudi Arabian-backed golf league, LIV Golf, during the PGA Championship. Nantz referenced Dustin Johnson's recent win at a LIV Golf tournament, which was poorly broadcasted and cut away from by most affiliates of The CW. Johnson is one of 16 LIV Golf members in the field this week. Nantz has previously made similar comments about LIV Golf during the Masters.