The NBA is the big fish in the sports rights marketplace, but it is far from the only property up for bid. Here is an update on what other properties are available in the next few years.
IndyCar
Last weekend’s weather delayed Indy 500 hit a three-year viewership high and was also the last in NBC’s three-year deal with INDYCAR. The network has carried exclusive rights for the circuit since 2019, but will reportedly face competition from FOX before renewing its deal. With FOX losing NASCAR’s Coca Cola 600 to Amazon next season, the network will have an opening on its Memorial Day weekend schedule that would be filled nicely with the Indy 500. However, NBC would reportedly like to retain its rights to the circuit. Penske Entertainment CEO made clear early this month that INDYCAR would like to continue to have a broadcast component in its next deal, in addition to a streamer.
UFC
The UFC enters its negotiating window for a new rights deal in January 2025, though UFC’s parent company TKO CEO Mark Shapiro disclosed in March that multiple bidders have already kicked the tires about securing a deal with the league. While Shapiro said his preference was to stay with Disney, the incumbent, he seemed to welcome conversation with other potential buyers. WWE, the second half of TKO, recently inked a deal with Netflix for its Raw series beginning in 2025. Netflix has shown an increased interest in live rights recently, having reached an agreement with the NFL to air two Christmas Day games the upcoming season. Perhaps the streamer’s prior relationship with TKO will make it a frontrunner for UFC rights, though Shapiro did not name any of the multiple bidders that have expressed interest in the league.
Preakness Stakes and Breeders Cup
The second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown is reportedly under contract with NBC through 2025, per Puck‘s John Ourand. With FOX now owning broadcast rights to the Belmont Stakes, the Preakness may take on less importance for NBC — though the race still delivered 5.5 million viewers for the network this year. The Preakness finds itself in a precarious spot as owners and trainers of Kentucky Derby horses hesitate to run their horses so soon after the race. However, one positive for the Preakness’ spot on the calendar is that the possibility of a Triple Crown horse will always exist entering the race, assuming the horse participates. NBC recently locked up the Kentucky Derby through 2032, but will have to make decisions on the Preakness Stakes as well as the Breeders Cup soon, as both deals now expire in 2025.
French Open
As the French Open enters its second week, NBC is in what could be its final days broadcasting the tournament. The network signed a 12-year deal for the tournament in 2012, and there has yet to be any indication of what the future holds for the tournament from a media rights perspective. NBC has aired the French Open every year since 1975, save for a three-year span where CBS held the tournament. However, it has been the only tennis inventory the network has owned since losing Wimbledon rights to ESPN in 2011 after 43 years broadcasting the tournament. The Tennis Channel also holds a piece of the French Open, having secured broadcast rights in 2016 to air matches not slated for NBC’s coverage. That deal was reported to last through 2023, though Tennis Channel seems to have extended a similar agreement (at least for this year) as it continues to broadcast the tournament.
International Soccer
Though the media rights market for domestic leagues may be rather sparse, plenty of opportunities exist to acquire international soccer rights in the coming years. Two of the top five domestic leagues in the world are seeking new deals for next season, while a third will expire after the 2025-26 season.
France’s Ligue 1 is eager to expand its distribution in the United States after its decade-long deal with beIN Sports ended earlier this month. The French league has been stuck with the most narrow distribution of any top European league in the United States during its agreement with the small cable network. Now, the league has tapped the media rights team at Octagon to help it break through in the American market. Per World Soccer Talk, Ligue 1 is seeking a three to five year rights deal with a new media partner beginning next season. With world famous clubs like PSG and AS Monaco, Ligue 1 will likely draw interest from a larger network this summer, though the expected departure of superstar Kylian Mbappé to a Spanish club this summer certainly makes the league less marketable to an American audience.
The top Italian league, Serie A, will also seek a new media rights deal in the United States for next season. The league’s current deal with CBS/Paramount ended when the season wrapped up earlier this month, and talks between the network and league have reportedly stalled. The two sides are apparently far apart according to World Soccer Talk, perhaps opening the door for another partner. CBS is heavily invested in global soccer coverage between UEFA Champions League, NWSL, South American domestic leagues, and more. The network even launched a 24/7 FAST channel, CBS Sports Golazo, last year. However, Serie A is seeking a substantial increase from the $75.8m CBS pays annually for the league under the current agreement; and the timing of a renewal may not work out as Paramount faces uncertainty around a likely sale.
The German Bundesliga has an agreement with ESPN that goes through the 2025-26 season, though its not likely these rights will hit the open market. Speaking ahead of a match between top Bundesliga sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich last year, ESPN vice president of programming Tim Bunnell signaled his intentions to extend the network’s relationship with the league long term, though the two sides had not yet engaged in formal renewal talks.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will reportedly find a home on Apple TV, though a deal has yet to be formally announced. The competition which features top club teams from around the world will expand to a 32 team format for 2025. Similar to its MLS deal, Apple is looking to purchase global rights to the tournament. The New York Times reports that FIFA will likely receive substantially less than the $4b it originally sought for the tournament.
Lastly, the 2030 FIFA World Cup will likely come to market at some point in the next couple years. FIFA has already begun shopping rights for the tournament in other countries, though those deals are being paired with the 2026 World Cup (which already belongs to FOX in the United States). As one of the premier sporting events in the world, there will likely be heavy competition to secure rights for 2030 which is set to be held primarily in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal.
The “Big Four”
As for the other “Big Four” North American pro sports leagues, there is little available inventory in the immediate future. The NFL is locked up through at least 2029 — when the league can opt out of its existing deals — excluding any additional inventory that the league could make available. Major League Baseball’s national media rights extend through 2028, though ESPN could reportedly exercise its opt-out following this season in hopes of negotiating a better deal. Likewise, the NHL is locked into deals through the 2027-28 season with Turner Sports and ESPN.
