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

The Needle: Is the NBA ready for Prime’s Game 7?

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during the second half of Game 2 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Spurs-Thunder sets new viewer mark in Game 2; Cavs-Knicks opens at high

6 days ago

The Spurs and Thunder delivered a second-straight milestone audience in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

Kyle Busch, (8) prepars during the first of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Death of NASCAR driver Busch is latest shock for the sport

6 days ago

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died after a sudden illness Thursday.

Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) celebrates victory following the overtime period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres Monday, May 18, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Canadiens-Sabres scores top audiences of resurgent Stanley Cup Playoffs

7 days ago

Despite pairing the league's smallest U.S. market against a Canadian team, Canadiens-Sabres delivered the two largest audiences of a strong...

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts next to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) after a dunk during the first half in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

After early round gains, NBA starts WCF with milestone for Spurs-Thunder

A highly-anticipated Western Conference Finals seems poised to turbocharge an NBA playoff audience already up double-digits through the first two...

News: NFL International Series, Versant, NBC Sports and more

NFL owners approve more international games starting in 2027; Versant CEO Mark Lazarus discusses the company's approach to sports streaming;...

Aaron Rai, of England, putts on the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

PGA Championship hits ratings, viewership highs

Like the Masters last month, the second major of the golf season delivered another multi-year high in both ratings and...

NASCAR moving away from Nielsen “Big Data + Panel” metric

The new Nielsen "Big Data + Panel" era has corresponded with record audiences but no shortage of detractors, and now...

Atlanta, GA - March 7, 2026 - Turner Studios: Shaquille O'Neal , Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley during the 2026 NBA marketing campaign featuring Inside the NBA on ESPN.
(Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images)

“Inside” crew staying in Atlanta for conference finals ahead of first Finals trip

With a bigger trip ahead, the "Inside the NBA" crew is remaining in Atlanta for the Eastern Conference Finals.

News: Fox Sports, Charlie Neal, NBA Draft Lottery and more

The Fox MLB studio team will call a Red Sox-Yankees game; Charlie Neal passes away at the age of 80;...

NFL believes it is meeting viewers where they are with streaming deals

The NFL sees Netflix not as a platform it is trying to drive viewers to join, but one where its...

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?

8 months ago

In ESPN-NFL Media deal, risks outweighed by rewards

10 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

9 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?

12 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 Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives the ball past Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) during the first half of an WNBA basketball in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

ABC

WNBA starts off of last year’s pace, but still on the high side

ABC

News: Fubo, Versant, Disney and more

Netflix

Netflix officially announces expanded NFL deal

ABC

News: NFL Network, Netflix, MLB and more

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after he was ejected for a flagrant foul during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoffs series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Amazon

The Wemby effect? Spurs emerging as top draw in second round

FOX

FOX, NBC, get two of ex-ESPN games at center of NFL media rights talks