Sports Media Watch: TV ratings, schedules and the latest news

2 days ago

A carriage dispute has led to NFL Network, RedZone channels being unavailable for Comcast users; Russell Wilson could reportedly join...

DAZN now on the record about interest in local NBA rights

2 days ago

DAZN has been mentioned for months as a possible option for local pro sports rights, and one of its top...

Pittsburgh, PA - April 23, 2026 - Acrisure Stadium: Stage during the 2026 NFL Draft.
(Photo by Al Powers / ESPN Images)

NFL Draft finishes further behind last year’s Sanders-fueled pace

3 days ago

The final two days of the NFL Draft fell further off pace without the notable drama that fueled last year's...

Washington, DC - February 21, 2026 - Capital One Arena: University of Michigan Wolverines and the Duke University Blue Devils during the 2026 Edward Jones Capital Showcase.
(Photo by Nick Wass / ESPN Images)

Prime Video gets Duke neutral site games, including vs. Michigan, UConn

3 days ago

In an apparent first for college basketball, and assuredly a sign of things to come, Prime Video has reached a...

News: Ian Rapoport, NCAA, ESPN and more

4 days ago

Ian Rapoport is reportedly finalizing a multiyear deal with ESPN; the NCAA is said to be in "the final steps"...

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

NBA playoff viewership rising at accelerating rate through Sunday

4 days ago

The new NBA media rights deal has already been a boon for the league's playoff viewership.

Minnesota Wild players celebrate after their team's win over the Dallas Stars during overtime of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Stanley Cup playoff viewership remains hot through second weekend

4 days ago

The hot start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs has sustained itself through the second weekend of play.

SOUTH BEND, IN - JANUARY 13: A The CW Sports microphone is pictured before a college basketball game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on January 13, 2024 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)

CW sporting events to stream on ESPN Unlimited

5 days ago

ESPN is picking up more programming for its expanding direct-to-subscriber service.

Disney reportedly decides against spinning off ESPN

5 days ago

The Walt Disney Company has decided against spinning off ESPN, an option that had apparently been under consideration, according to...

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 21: A view of an NBC Sports microphone before an AFC divisional playoff game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs on January 21, 2023 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

News: “Football Night,” Paramount-WBD, NWSL and more

5 days ago

Chris Simms is leaving NBC "Football Night in America," while Mike Florio is remaining with the show; John Malone believes...

NBA Media Coverage

The LED court in Amazon's NBA studio. (Amazon)

Media Rights Analysis

Are early NFL negotiations a trap or saving grace for linear?

7 months ago

In ESPN-NFL Media deal, risks outweighed by rewards

9 months ago

How will ESPN fill its Sunday Night Baseball vacancy?

Why NASCAR cut back on broadcast, not cable, in its new rights deal

What does the NBA media rights deal mean for its audience?

League and Event Profiles

New NBA media rights deal will be a “learning curve” for fans

8 months ago

Jul 19, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Team Collier guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks on before the 2025 WNBA All Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

WNBA at crossroads as second half begins

10 months ago

Dec 13, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) makes a three point basket over the defense of Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie (12) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Are the NBA’s ratings really a referendum on quality of play?

Sep 22, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) runs with the ball during the first quarter against Indiana Fever during game one of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images

How Caitlin Clark raised the bar for the WNBA

2XNYTJ2 Paris, France. 02nd Aug, 2024. Olympia, Paris 2024: The Olympic rings light up the Eiffel Tower. Credit: Jan Woitas/dpa/Alamy Live News

Network Profiles

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 09: A cameraman for the NHL on TNT shoots the action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators on February 9, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

The show goes on at TNT Sports, but for how long?

11 months ago

Nov 30, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; NBA TV sideline reporter Dennis Scott (left) interviews Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A niche concern: League-specific networks face end of an era

“Inside the NBA” latest example of ESPN’s new approach to content

2XA5TCM New York, United States. 03rd June, 2024. HBO's ''House Of The Dragon'' Season 2 Premiere. David Zaslav is attending HBO's ''House Of The Dragon'' Season 2 Premiere at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York, USA, on June 03, 2024. (Photo by Thenews2/NurPhoto) Credit: NurPhoto SRL/Alamy Live News

Can WBD build something out of a little bit of everything?

Dec 1, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; ESPN mics are seen before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

More than nostalgia: How NBC thrived and ESPN failed with the NBA

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is shown on a screen after being chosen by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)

ABC

NFL Draft opening round audience dips, but officially among most-watched

6 days ago

The Football Night in America set is seen before an NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Amazon

News: Football Night, Winter Classic, Lawson and more

1 week ago

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, second from right, shoots as Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson, left, forward Jabari Smith Jr., second from left, and forward Tari Eason defend during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

NBA

NBA playoff viewership rebounds quickly after weeknight NBC games

1 week ago

Big Names

News: NBC-NFL rights, FCC inquiry, Minnesota Lynx and more

2 weeks ago

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

ABC

NBA openers dip, but Sunday audience at Easter levels behind Wemby, NBC

2 weeks ago

Buffalo Sabres players celebrate a goal by defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (23) during the third period in Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

ESPN

Cup runneth over: NHL starts playoffs with most-watched opening weekend