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Sports Media Watch

Amazon

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

Netflix

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

ABC

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

Resources

WA9RAM Orlando, USA. 12th Aug, 2019. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, left, and Disney chairman and CEO Robert Alan "Bob" Iger on stage during the opening day for NBA Experience, a basketball-driven interactive attraction at Disney Springs, in Orlando, Fla., on August 12, 2019. Credit: Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS/Alamy Live News

List of sports media rights deals

2026 NFL Schedule Release Tracker

Sports on TV Today

Professional Bull Riders Tour - PBR World Finals
Championship
9:00 pm — Paramount+
College softball
7Innings Live
10:00 pm — ESPNU, ESPN+
College softball - NCAA Division I Softball Tournament
Mississippi State
vs
Saint Mary’s
10:00 pm — ESPN+
College softball - NCAA Division I Softball Tournament
South Carolina
vs
UCLA
10:00 pm — ESPN+

Features

A scoreboard displays late former New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling during a tribute to Sterling ahead of a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

On the Air: John Sterling and the bond between baseball radio voices and fans

Various screenshots from Sunday Night Baseball via NBC Sports' YouTube channel.

On the Air: Are there enough quality analysts for NBC’s MLB approach to work?

More Headlines

News: Fubo, Versant, Disney and more

by Derek Futterman

Fubo reportedly retracts offers to NBA teams for local broadcasts; Mark Lazarus discusses potential opportunities for Versant amid NFL renegotiations;...

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 25: A detailed view of a Netflix Christmas Gameday sign during the regular season NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on December 25, 2024 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)

Netflix officially announces expanded NFL deal

The NFL has officially reached a new deal with Netflix that will see the streamer bookend the season.

News: NFL Network, Netflix, MLB and more

by Derek Futterman

NFL Network will air five international games next season; Ted Sarandos defends Netflix's value with NFL games; and MLB labor...

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)

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

The San Antonio Spurs were a ratings drag during the days of Tim Duncan, but the Victor Wembanyama era promises...

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

The NFL is indeed set for additional broadcast television inventory this coming season, with FOX and NBC receiving some of...

News: March Madness expansion, Russell Wilson, Nexstar and more

by Derek Futterman

The NCAA basketball tournaments are officially expanding to 76 teams; Russell Wilson is mulling between playing football and starting career...

Fox Upfront

WSJ: Rupert Murdoch spoke to White House about NFL streaming deals

Fox Corporation's campaign against the NFL's streaming deals reportedly reached the highest levels of the company and the government.

3CH2M4M Los Angeles, California, USA 30th August 2025 NFL YouTube Billboard on Sunset Blvd on August 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Photo by Barry King/Alamy Stock Photo

YouTube balks at splitting NFL package with Netflix, broadcast TV back in mix, per Ourand

The twists and turns continue over the NFL's five-game media rights package. Just hours after Alex Sherman of CNBC reported...

YouTube, Netflix, reportedly expected to split NFL’s new package

The seemingly conflicting reporting on whether YouTube or Netflix would end up with the new five-game NFL rights package is...

Auburn forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) fights for the ball with St. John's forward Dillon Mitchell (1) and guard Joson Sanon (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Players Era tournament Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

ESPN acquires expanded Players Era tournament

What is quickly becoming one of the highest-profile early season college basketball events is now moving to ESPN.

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NBA Media Coverage

The LED court in Amazon's NBA studio. (Amazon)

Ready for Prime time players: Amazon studio highlights NBA debut

"Inside the NBA" on ESPN

“Inside the NBA” remains NBA show of record in ESPN debut

NBC Sports Basketball

Debut of new NBA on NBC models old in ways that matter most

Oct 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NBA will be better off without Stephen A. Smith

2NG6F8W Basketball NBA Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls during the 1993 NBA finals. Game 6 interview with NBC's Bob Costas (PCN Photography / Alamy Stock Photo)

Monday musings: How the new NBA on NBC can avoid the nostalgia trap

Media Rights Analysis

Are early NFL negotiations a trap or saving grace for linear?

In ESPN-NFL Media deal, risks outweighed by rewards

How will ESPN fill its Sunday Night Baseball vacancy?

Why NASCAR cut back on broadcast, not cable, in its new rights deal

NBA fans watch game

What does the NBA media rights deal mean for its audience?

League and Event Profiles

NBA watch guide graphic (Jon Lewis/SMW)

New NBA media rights deal will be a “learning curve” for fans

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

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

Is the Olympics “back”?

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

More Posts

Atlanta Braves including Jim Jarvis (74), Mike Yastrzemski (18), Matt Olson (28) and Drake Baldwin (30) stand of the field during a moment of silence for Ted Turner before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

CNN

Ted Turner, whose cable business transformed TV sports, dies

The Walt Disney Company

ABC

News: Disney, Comcast-Scripps, Peter Schrager and more

by Derek Futterman

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) controls the puck in front of Philadelphia Flyers' Denver Barkey (52) during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

ESPN

Stanley Cup follows banner first round viewership with strong start to second

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (right) and Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (left) embrace following Philadelphia's victory in Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Amazon

NBA caps strong first round with milestone audience for Derby-fueled Sixers-Celtics

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell participates in a panel discussion during groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park, Ohio, Thursday, April 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

FOX

Goodell praises streamers, suggests Netflix “bigger” than some nets

Big Names

News: Nielsen, Los Angeles Angels, ESPN and more

by Derek Futterman

Load More

Sports TV ratings

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

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

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

Stanley Cup follows banner first round viewership with strong start to second

NBA caps strong first round with milestone audience for Derby-fueled Sixers-Celtics

Sports media news

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

News: Fubo, Versant, Disney and more

Netflix officially announces expanded NFL deal

News: NFL Network, Netflix, MLB and more

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

Other features

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

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

How will the college hoops national title games fare in the ratings?

On the Air: A jumbled MLB debut for Netflix

SMW FAQ: A complete guide to MLB local broadcasts in 2026

About Sports Media Watch

From sports TV ratings and rights deals to the latest personnel moves, Sports Media Watch has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis for nearly two decades.

See the full SMW about page here.

About Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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