MLB's season opener between the Yankees and Giants was streamed exclusively on Netflix, triggering strong fan backlash over limited accessibility; the piece notes Netflix's growing dominance in sports rights and cites social-media criticism of the move.
Tony Khan is reportedly thrilled by Paramount Skydance's bid for Warner Bros Discovery, viewing it as the best possible scenario for AEW’s distribution. The deal would affect AEW's current media footprint, which includes WBD rights through 2027 with a Warner option for 2028, and faces regulatory hurdles from antitrust authorities and EU approvals amid a shifting streaming landscape and competition from UFC's owner.
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Netflix have signed a multi-year global Pay-1 licensing deal to stream Sony feature films on Netflix worldwide after their theatrical and home-entertainment windows, with full global rights rolling out by early 2029 and initial territory-by-territory rollout starting later this year. The pact expands Netflix’s existing arrangement and includes upcoming Sony titles such as Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda live-action film, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, and Sam Mendes’ Beatles films, reflecting a deepened, worldwide collaboration between the two companies.
Taylor Sheridan is shifting his television and film deals from Paramount to NBCUniversal, with a focus on expanding his Yellowstone universe and bringing his creative vision to Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming platform, while maintaining existing rights and projects with Paramount until 2028.
Apple has secured a 5-year U.S. streaming rights deal for Formula 1, adding live races to Apple TV, in a move that aligns with its broader strategy to expand sports content and capitalize on the sport's growing popularity in the U.S., boosted by the success of the F1 movie and recent races.
YouTube TV is engaging in carriage disputes with media companies like NBCUniversal over content ingestion and streaming rights, aiming to integrate partner programming directly into its platform for better user engagement, which has led to conflicts over fair rates and market advantages.
ESPN has secured a five-year, $1.625 billion per year deal to stream WWE's major live events, including WrestleMania, starting in 2026, marking a significant shift in WWE's broadcasting strategy and expanding ESPN's sports entertainment offerings.
Paramount has secured the global streaming rights to the entire South Park catalog for five years in a $1.5 billion deal, moving the show from HBO Max to Paramount+ amid recent corporate shifts and negotiations.
International viewers can no longer stream South Park on Paramount Plus due to ongoing disputes over digital rights and the complications arising from Paramount's merger with Skydance, which has also delayed the show's new season.
South Park has been removed from Paramount+ outside the U.S. due to expired international streaming rights amid ongoing negotiations and a legal dispute between the show's creators and Paramount Global. Fans outside the U.S. can still watch South Park specials on Paramount+ and Comedy Central, but the series' international availability is temporarily halted as the rights deal is being renegotiated.
Apple is likely to secure the rights to stream Formula 1 races in the US starting in 2026, bidding over $150 million annually, surpassing ESPN's current offer, and expanding Apple's sports streaming portfolio.
Apple is in negotiations to acquire the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the U.S., aiming to expand its live sports offerings, competing with ESPN and other bidders, amid a growing popularity of F1-related entertainment and viewership.
The premiere of 'South Park' Season 27 has been delayed from July 9 to July 23 on Comedy Central due to ongoing legal and licensing negotiations over its streaming rights, with the show’s future streaming platform still uncertain amid disputes involving HBO Max, Netflix, and Paramount+.
Paramount faces legal challenges and internal conflicts over South Park's streaming rights, with Park County accusing Paramount executive Jeff Shell of interfering in contract negotiations, complicating efforts to secure exclusive streaming on Paramount+ amidst ongoing legal disputes and corporate maneuvers.
The Atlanta Braves have granted Diamond Sports Group streaming rights, allowing in-market fans to stream games via Prime Video as a standalone subscription, marking a significant shift away from traditional cable and local blackouts. This move, part of Diamond's bankruptcy exit plan, includes other teams like the Angels and Cardinals, and reflects a broader trend towards cord-cutting in sports broadcasting.