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

3 days ago

The first United States World Cup match on home soil in more than three decades delivered on both English and...

New York, NY - June 10, 2026 - Madison Square Garden: Karl-Anthony Towns (32), Mitchell Robinson (23), and Josh Hart (3) of the New York Knicks after winning game four of the 2026 NBA Finals.
(Photo by Marcus Stevens / ESPN Images)

Knicks-Spurs officially most-watched Finals since ’98 through Game 4

4 days ago

The Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals is now the most-watched since the end of the Michael Jordan era.

3ENX0TR Mexiko Stadt, Mexico. 11th June, 2026. Soccer, Men: World Cup, Mexico vs. South Africa, First Round, Group A, Matchday 1, Mexico City Stadium. Players from both teams in action while the attendance figure is displayed on the scoreboard. Credit: Tom Weller/dpa/Alamy Live News

FIFA World Cup sets viewership marks right out of the gate

4 days ago

If the opening match is any indication, any number of viewership records will be falling during the FIFA World Cup.

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake, second from right, celebrates his goal with defenseman Alexander Nikishin, left, and left wing Taylor Hall, second from left, as Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon looks on during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Cup Final fourth-most watched on record through four games

4 days ago

A Stanley Cup Final that started with low expectations now ranks among the most-watched on record through four games.

San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee, of South Korea, runs after hitting a one-run single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

“Sunday Night Baseball” scores MLB’s top audience since Opening Week

5 days ago

As "Sunday Night Baseball" starts to settle into a routine on NBC, the viewers may be following suit.

A view of the action during Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the New York Knicks and San Antonia Spurs, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Spurs-Knicks Finals hits new heights in Game 3 with nearly 24 million viewers

The anticipation for the first Knicks home Finals game in 27 years extended well beyond the city of New York.

NBCUniversal, Fubo reach new distribution agreement

by Derek Futterman

NBCUniversal channels will return to Fubo after the two sides reached a new distribution agreement on Wednesday, ending a six-month...

3EMXN01 Chicago Bulls television color commentator Stacey King laughs while taking in warmups before a game against the New York Knicks at the United Center in Chicago on November 12, 2019. King, a former Bulls player who won three NBA championships with Michael Jordan, was working as the team's broadcast analyst for the regular season matchup. (Photo by Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS/Sipa USA)

On the Air: Stacey King and the value of the local NBA analyst

by Armand Broady

Armand Broady looks back at the late Stacey King and what makes local TV analysts such an important part of...

New York, NY - June 8, 2026 - Madison Square Garden: Pat McAfee during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals.
(Photo by Marcus Stevens / ESPN Images)

News: Pat McAfee, MLB, Miami Heat and more

by Derek Futterman

Pat McAfee could reportedly receive a lucrative contract extension from ESPN; MLB players are reportedly "less enamored" with MLB salary...

Las Vegas, NV - June 6, 2026 - T-Mobile Arena: Mitch Marner (93), William Karlsson (71) of the Vegas Golden Knights and Alexander Nikishin (21), Brandon Bussi (32) of the Carolina Hurricanes during game three of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
(Photo by Al Powers / ESPN Images)

Stanley Cup Final hits more ratings, viewership highs in Game 3

7 days ago

The Stanley Cup Final continues light up the scoreboard, both literally and in the ratings.

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

3EMEYA8 Brooklyn, USA. 06th June, 2026. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on as New York Liberty guard Pauline Astier (18) makes a layup during the Indiana Fever V New York Liberty game at Barclays Center on Saturday, June 6, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA. (Photo by Jess Stiles/Sipa USA) (Photo by Jess Stiles/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa USA/Alamy Live News

CBS

Fever still running hot: Near-milestone audience for Clark and co. against Liberty

7 days ago

San Antonio, TX - June 5, 2026 - Frost Bank Center: Jalen Brunson (11) and Karl-Anthony Towns (32) of the New York Knicks during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals.
(Photo by Ben Solomon / ESPN Images)

ABC

NBA Finals hits second-straight high, most-watched through Game 2 since 2018

7 days ago

Raleigh, NC - June 4, 2026 - Lenovo Center: Logan Stankoven (22) of the Carolina Hurricanes during game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)

ABC

Cup Final ratings, viewership, maintain hot pace in Game 2

1 week ago

Oklahoma City, OK - June 4, 2026 - Devon Park: Leighann Goode (43) of the University of Texas Longhorns during game two of the best-of-three 2026 Women's College World Series championship.
(Photo by Joshua R. Gateley / ESPN Images)

ESPN

Texas two-step: Longhorn clincher sets WCWS mark for second-straight year

1 week ago

Chicago Bulls television announcer Stacey King in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Broadcasters

Longtime Bulls analyst Stacey King has died