All articles tagged with #media rights
CNN’s report confirms Warner Bros. Discovery owns a minority stake in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a link long rumored; the exact share, rights, and impact on AEW’s media deals remain unclear, and Tony Khan has historically claimed full control over AEW’s decisions.
The Mountain West announced six-year media rights deals with CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and Kiswe, plus a five-year CW partnership to televise football and basketball across broadcast, cable, and streaming. The conference will launch a Kiswe-powered MW App in July 2026 as a premium direct-to-consumer service with two pricing tiers, offering 1,000+ live events annually, on-demand replays, and more, with subscription revenue reinvested back to member schools; fans can subscribe via Prime Video this fall and access the platform across various devices.
The NFL gains four games back from its ESPN-owned slate due to an equity deal, giving the league four extra games next season to sell to any broadcaster, with potential buyers including streamers (e.g., Peacock, Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV) or traditional networks, and the ultimate value depending on whether the games are exclusive or semi-exclusive and possibly influencing upcoming media-rights negotiations.
MLB will take over broadcasts for six more teams (Brewers, Marlins, Rays, Royals, Cardinals, Reds) in 2026 as part of a league-wide shift away from failing regional networks toward league-controlled streaming, following the Bally/Sports RSN collapse; the move could lower team revenues and influence payrolls and CBA talks, with several teams still finalizing deals as ESPN/NBC/Peacock and others reshape local rights.
Disney’s ESPN is valued at about $30 billion after a megadeal that gives Disney a majority stake in ESPN (roughly 72%) while the NFL holds a 10% stake and options to adjust ownership; Disney will fully own NFL Network and integrate RedZone into ESPN’s lineup, with rights and branding tied to ESPN streaming and fantasy products. The NFL can reacquire its stake after July 2034 and may buy up to an additional 4% later. Disney’s Q1 results show ESPN revenue of about $4.9 billion and operating income of $191 million, underscoring continued pay-TV headwinds highlighted by a recent blackout on YouTube TV.
A deal in which ESPN gains control of NFL Media assets (including NFL Network and RedZone) was approved by federal regulators unusually quickly, raising questions about why traditional antitrust reviews and public scrutiny were so muted. The article attributes the swift approval to long-running NFL–ESPN lobbying and relationship-building in Washington, noting the process was conducted with few public leaks or statements, despite DOJ/FTC considerations and the potential for preferential treatment in future media rights bidding.
President Trump says he will sign an executive order to grant an exclusive four-hour broadcast window for the Army-Navy football game, a move that would boost CBS's Paramount rights and potentially sideline ESPN's College Football Playoff coverage amid a broader playoff expansion; the exact content and enforceability remain unclear, but the measure underscores the game’s significance and the shifting landscape of college football broadcast rights.
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors hosted by Donald Trump experienced a significant drop in viewership to 3.01 million, the lowest ever, despite Trump's predictions of high ratings. The event, which included notable honorees like Sylvester Stallone and Kiss, aired on CBS and Paramount+ but faced backlash over the Trump name and the show's declining audience. The broadcast's poor ratings and the end of CBS's TV rights deal may lead to new negotiations with other media companies, including Netflix and Paramount.
The NFL has secured long-term deals including a partnership with EA Sports to continue Madden NFL through 2030, expanded its global reach with Amazon Prime Video for the Black Friday game, and signed a major media rights deal with ESPN and Disney. Additionally, the league is making significant changes to the Pro Bowl, moving it to Super Bowl week and incorporating new formats and coverage, while also addressing entertainment choices like the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Bad Bunny.
The Big Ten is in a holding pattern over a proposed private capital deal involving a new entity, Big Ten Enterprises, which aims to secure over $2 billion from a UC pension fund in exchange for a stake, but faces opposition from some schools and concerns about short-term financial strategies and long-term stability. The deal, still under negotiation, has not been voted on and is met with mixed reactions regarding its impact on college sports' financial health and future.
The Big Ten is close to approving a private equity deal that will create a new entity, Big Ten Enterprises, to manage media rights and sponsorships, infusing over $2 billion into league schools, with the deal extending the league's Grant of Rights through 2046 and involving the UC pension fund as a minority investor, aiming to boost financial stability and competitiveness.
The NFL aims to renegotiate its media rights deals as early as 2026, potentially increasing revenue and impacting other sports leagues, with discussions possibly starting sooner than the current agreement's 2030 opt-out, depending on regulatory and partnership considerations.
UFC's recent media rights deal was unexpectedly with Paramount instead of Netflix, primarily because Netflix was only interested in pay-per-view events and not the broader fight card package, leading UFC to pursue a more comprehensive deal with Paramount. Despite carrying WWE Raw, Netflix's focus on high-profile spectacles like Crawford vs. Álvarez suggests future collaborations may still occur, but on different terms.
Major League Baseball is close to finalizing new three-year media rights deals with ESPN, NBC, and Netflix, covering live games, playoffs, and special events like the Home Run Derby, as traditional TV viewership declines and streaming services seek sports content. The deals include NBC acquiring Sunday games and Wild Card playoffs, Netflix obtaining Derby rights, and ESPN securing a new package of in-market and national games, with all rights expiring after 2028.
Paramount has made a significant investment in sports media by acquiring UFC rights for $1.1 billion annually starting in 2026, surpassing previous spending by ESPN and signaling a bold move before the U.S. sports media market faces challenges.