All articles tagged with #broadcasting rights
NFL's 2026 game slate appears to be moving away from YouTube, with Netflix expected to carry three of five games and the remaining two potentially shopped to CBS, NBC, ESPN, or Fox. YouTube could end up with nothing beyond its existing Sunday Ticket package as the league shifts to broader weekly packages and broader partner deals.
Netflix will televise the Week 1 49ers-Rams game from Australia, marking its third NFL telecast of 2026 as the league splits four games absorbed from ESPN between Netflix and YouTube; NBC will carry the season opener on Sept. 9 and the second game will stream, with Netflix expected to pick up more big events later in 2026, including a first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game.
A Florio column warns that weakening or removing the NFL’s antitrust exemption could force changes to how game rights are sold (potentially ending the current broadcast bundle), create large gaps in team profitability, disrupt the salary-cap system, and even drive a split into rival leagues or relegation-like outcomes. It draws a parallel to ongoing college-football upheaval, but suggests the NFL’s chaos could be harder to fix and may require federal intervention.
To avoid Friday broadcast conflicts, the NFL will open Week 1 this year with a Wednesday-Thursday slate, starting with the Seahawks hosting on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and the 49ers-Rams game on Thursday, Sept. 10 in Australia. The plan is expected to recur in 2027–2028, with Wednesday-Thursday as the likely format when Thursday-Friday won’t work, and a potential return of Friday play in 2029–2033. A future Labor Day weekend shift could occur if the league expands to 18 games and two byes.
The NFL is exploring adding a Wednesday night game the week of Thanksgiving to the 2026 schedule. Meetings at the end of March will discuss the idea, and if approved the league would pursue selling broadcasting rights for a standalone game as part of an expanded Thanksgiving slate.
NASCAR has announced revised practice and qualifying formats for the 2025 season, increasing practice times and simplifying starting lineup rules across its national series. The changes include longer group practice sessions, single-round qualifying at most tracks, and specific procedures for different track types. The Daytona Speedweek schedule has also been set, with a new 50-minute practice session before the Daytona 500. Broadcast rights for these sessions will be shared among Prime Video, TNT Sports, FOX Sports, and The CW, as part of a new seven-year media rights deal.
Penn State's College Football Playoff game against SMU will be a White Out but will kick off at noon instead of primetime. This decision was made because ESPN, which sublicensed the game to TNT, chose to air other matchups in primetime slots. ESPN prioritized games like Notre Dame-Indiana and Ohio State-Tennessee for primetime due to their high-profile nature and potential for better ratings.
FIFA has secured a $1 billion deal with DAZN to broadcast the 2024 Club World Cup in the United States, making all 63 matches available for free on DAZN's platform. This agreement follows failed negotiations with Apple and allows DAZN to sub-license to local broadcasters. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the deal as making the tournament the most accessible ever, featuring 32 top clubs, including Manchester City and Real Madrid. The tournament will run from June 15 to July 13, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York.
TNT Sports has secured a five-year sub-licensing deal with ESPN to broadcast College Football Playoff games, starting this season. The agreement includes two first-round games for the first two years and expands to include two quarterfinals in the following three years. The games will be produced by ESPN but branded as TNT Sports. This deal is separate from TNT's ongoing negotiations with the NBA. ESPN retains the majority of CFP rights under its $7.8 billion agreement.
Warner Bros. Discovery has signed a five-year sublicensing deal with ESPN to broadcast first-round and quarterfinal College Football Playoff games on TNT, starting this year. The deal, which runs through 2031, allows Warner Bros. Discovery to air two first-round games initially, with additional quarterfinals starting in 2026. Disney retains exclusivity on the championship game and may sublicense a semifinals game in the future. This move bolsters Warner Bros. Discovery's sports offerings amid ongoing negotiations with the NBA and the launch of the Venu Sports streaming service.
Diamond Sports Group, which holds broadcasting rights for 38 teams across MLB, NBA, and NHL, has been allowed to continue working on a restructuring plan backed by $450 million in financing. Major League Baseball remains skeptical about the plan's viability and the long-term health of Diamond. The next crucial step is the confirmation of the plan, scheduled for June 18, with objections due by May 22. MLB and other partner leagues have expressed concerns, and Diamond is in talks with distributors and pursuing longer-term deals with the NBA and NHL.
Diamond Sports Group has reached a restructuring agreement with debt holders, allowing Amazon to acquire streaming rights for NBA, NHL, and MLB teams. The deal is pending approval from the bankruptcy court, with Amazon set to pay $115MM initially and a possible additional $50MM. Diamond is seeking to renegotiate broadcasting deals with some MLB teams, leaving uncertainty for the affected clubs. Meanwhile, MLB may handle broadcasts for teams without RSN deals, including the Rockies, D-Backs, Padres, and potentially the Guardians, Rangers, and Twins.
The National Hockey League (NHL) has warned a bankruptcy court that it may seek emergency relief if negotiations with Diamond Sports Group (DSG) over broadcasting rights for 12 hockey teams do not progress quickly. DSG, the parent company of Bally Sports, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has been battling with MLB over rights fees. The NHL wants certainty for the upcoming season and may request relief from Bally Sports Regional Network contracts if negotiations with DSG do not yield favorable results. The deadline for DSG to file a reorganization plan has been extended by 80 days, but the NHL is concerned about the lack of commitment from DSG for the 2023-2024 season.
The Atlanta Braves have become the only publicly traded franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB) after shareholders approved a split from their former parent company, Liberty Media. The Braves, trading under ticker symbols "BATRA," "BATRB," and "BATRK" on Nasdaq, are selling shares at a favorable time with a successful team, a new stadium, and a roster of all-stars. Meanwhile, MLB took over broadcasts of the Arizona Diamondbacks' games after Diamond Sports Group, which owned broadcast rights to 14 MLB teams, filed for bankruptcy. MLB's takeover allows for wider distribution and streaming options for fans.
A bankruptcy judge ruled in favor of Major League Baseball against Diamond Sports, which means Diamond Sports still has to fulfill its end of contracts for the rights to broadcast MLB games. The Arizona Diamondbacks are ordered to still receive the full payment of $18 million. MLB will take over broadcasts of San Diego Padres games beginning Wednesday after Diamond missed a rights fees payment to the regional sports network’s parent company and let the grace period expire.