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

Linda Cohn talks her ESPN exit and future plans on the SMW Podcast

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Viewership up for second season of NASCAR on Prime Video

3 days ago

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.

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)

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

The United States men's soccer team delivered another audience among the largest on record for the FIFA World Cup.

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)

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

The Men's College World Series finished among the most-watched on record, but that did not extend to the 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)

Viewership up for round one of NBA Draft

Featuring a highly-touted rookie class, the NBA Draft scored a solid viewership bump.

Courtesy: Derek Futterman, Sports Media Watch

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

by Derek Futterman

Fox Sports inks a multiyear agreement to air the Concacaf Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League through 2029; Dave Flemming...

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)

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

Getting a lift from the U.S. Open, NBC's "Sunday Night Baseball" delivered the largest MLB audience outside of Opening Day...

Fort Worth, TX - February 14, 2026 - Dickies Arena: Sean Farnham and Dave Pasch during a regular season between the University of Louisville Cardinals and the Baylor University Bears game.
(Photo by Liz Parke / ESPN Images)

Pasch adds NFL as part of exclusive ESPN role, leaves Cardinals

Longtime ESPN voice Dave Pasch is now joining the company exclusively, exiting his role as the voice of the NFL...

World Cup viewership remains on a roll as group stage nears end

The FIFA World Cup continues to deliver substantial audiences heading into the stretch run of the group stage.

3ET9974 Southhampton, United States. 21st June, 2026. Wyndham Clark celebrates with his father Randall Clark after winning the 126th U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, NY, on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Clark won with a four-under-par score of 276. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News

Wyndham rewards: US Open ekes out uptick opposite World Cup

6 days ago

Faced with tough competition from the FIFA World Cup, golf's US Open eked out an uptick in viewership over last...

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

11 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

3EPF368 Caledon Ontario, Canada. 14th June, 2026. Luke Clanton of United States tees off during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open held at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon Ontario, Canada. Daniel Lea/CSM/Alamy Live News

Big Names

News: PGA TOUR, Scripps, ESPN CFB and more

by Derek Futterman

6 days ago

ESPN

Kenny Smith joins ABC NBA Draft coverage

St. Louis MO - March 16, 2001 - Savis Center:
On air talent members Robin Roberts, Geno Auriemma, and Muffet McGraw are shown working on air during the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament Final Four games back in 2001.
(Photo by Rick Graefe / ESPN Images)

Big Names

News: WNBA on ESPN, Roger Clemens, Rece Davis and more

by Derek Futterman

FIFA

Viewership revised downward for Telemundo World Cup matches

Los Angeles, CA - August 27, 2021 - LAPC: Linda Cohn on the set of SportsCenter.
(Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images)

Broadcasters

Linda Cohn to retire from ESPN next week

3ENDCY1 New York, USA. 10th June, 2026. Victor Wembanyama (1st L) of San Antonio Spurs leaves the court after the final game 4 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 10, 2026. Credit: Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua/Alamy Live News

CBS

On the Air: Wembanyama and the sports debate ‘villain’ playbook

by Armand Broady