Sports Media Watch

17 hours ago

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

Disney reportedly decides against spinning off ESPN

1 day 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

1 day ago

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

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)

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

2 days ago

The opening round of the NFL Draft saw a slight dip in viewership from a year 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)

News: Football Night, Winter Classic, Lawson and more

3 days ago

NBC's "Football Night in America" is officially moving on-site every week of the season.

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 playoff viewership rebounds quickly after weeknight NBC games

6 days ago

NBA playoff viewership bounced back in a big way after back-to-back weeknight doubleheaders on primetime broadcast television.

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

7 days ago

The NFL has not yet approached NBCUniversal as it is widely expected to try and renegotiate media rights deals; several...

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)

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

If off from last year's high, the NBA Playoffs got off to one of its better starts of late in...

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)

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

Coming off of a strong regular season, the NHL opened its postseason at an even hotter pace.

WNBA unveils TV schedule with 40 games on major broadcast networks

The first year of the new WNBA media rights deal features a level of national television exposure that is rare...

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

9 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

12 months ago

“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

2YMP04D The National Football League West Coast Office is located outside of Sofi Stadium in Inglewood CA, in the Los Angeles suburbs.

Legal

NFL officials met with FCC last week, per report

ESPN

NHL regular season growth continues apparent momentum for hockey

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin faces reporters following an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Big Names

Tomlin reportedly joining NBC as “Football Night in America” analyst

Amazon

Dinner For Five (Billion): A look at the NFL’s media rights “menu”

by Ben Huddleston

CBS

UFC grows in second CBS outing

2 weeks ago

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Amazon

NBA Play-in viewership up thus far in streaming debut on Prime Video