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

3 days ago

The USMNT was already drawing lofty audiences throughout the group stage, but the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup...

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

News: ESPN-NFLN studio, Phillies RSN, PGA Tour and more

by Derek Futterman

4 days ago

ESPN is consolidating its West Coast production to the NFL Network facility in Inglewood; the Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly done...

UNCASVILLE, CT - JUNE 13: 2026 FIFA World Cup official broadcast Telemundo and Peacock streaming in Spanish signage during the WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun on June 13, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

NBCU “beyond exploring” adding English-language World Cup rights in Telemundo renewal

4 days ago

NBCUniversal has an eye of adding English-language World Cup rights to its existing Spanish-language package.

World Cup group stage a viewership hit for Fox, Telemundo

5 days ago

The first North American World Cup since 1994 met all viewership expectations in the group stage, and then some.

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, right, celebrates in front of New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, left, after hitting a walk-off one-run single in the tenth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

If nothing else, NBC’s PGA-MLB conflict a win-win in viewership

5 days ago

The circumstances were less than ideal, but NBC came away with multiple viewership milestones for a Sunday night pairing of...

Omaha, NE - June 12, 2026 - Charles Schwab Field: Trophy on the set of the 2026 Men's College World Series.
(Photo by Al Powers / ESPN Images)

The Needle: College sports viewership recap and NBC’s golf-baseball conflict

6 days ago

On the latest edition of "The Needle," a look at 2025-26 college sports viewership and NBC's decision to stay with...

Golics returning to ESPN Radio

by Derek Futterman

6 days ago

A familiar voice is returning to the ESPN Radio airwaves this summer. Six years after departing the company, Mike Golic...

Comcast plans spinoff of NBCU

6 days ago

In the latest tremor shaking an unstable media industry, Comcast announced plans Monday to spin off its NBCUniversal media business...

Viewership up for second season of NASCAR on Prime Video

The second season of NASCAR on Prime Video posted an increase in viewership.

3ETED06 ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 20: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever attacks the during a game between Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Clark’s Fever continue to lead WNBA viewership

Caitlin Clark and the Fever continue to rank as the biggest television draw in the WNBA.

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?

9 months ago

In ESPN-NFL Media deal, risks outweighed by rewards

11 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

10 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

12 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?

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

Turkey's Kaan Ayhan (22) celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

FIFA

USMNT, El Tri, wrap World Cup group stage with more viewership milestones

(Illustration) | CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 14: (L-R) Taylor Rooks, Udonis Haslem, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash speak during the unveiling of Prime Video's new NBA On Prime Studio at The Culver Studios on October 14, 2025 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Prime Video) | Other Images – Courtesy: Derek Futterman, Sports Media Watch

Amazon

Grading the NBA’s media partners after year one of the new rights deal

Omaha, NE - June 14, 2026 - Charles Schwab Field: University of Oklahoma Sooners after winning game three of the best-of-three and the 2026 Men's College World Series championship.
(Photo by Joshua R. Gateley / ESPN Images)

ESPN

MCWS among most-watched on record despite low for OU-UNC Final

Brooklyn, NY - June 23, 2026 - Barclays Center: Malika Andrews, Tim Legler, Andraya Carter, AJ Dybantsa and Jay Bilas on the ESPN set for round one of the 2026 NBA Draft.
(Photo by Ben Solomon / ESPN Images)

ABC

Viewership up for round one of NBA Draft

Courtesy: Derek Futterman, Sports Media Watch

ABC

News: Fox Sports, Dave Flemming, Chris Evert and more

by Derek Futterman

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, left, catches the ball before New York Mets' Juan Soto, right, steps on first for the out during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

FOX

NBC nears season-high for Mets-Phillies on “Sunday Night Baseball”