Media
Rousey: Carano fight to set women’s purse record, challenge UFC’s MMA dominance
MMA fighter Ronda Rousey said that her fight with Gina Carano “will set a new purse record for female fighters” when they meet Saturday at Intuit Dome, with the bout set to be streamed on Netflix. Rousey “championed her bout with Carano as a landscape-shifting moment for the sport” and also “took ai...
Apple TV to show Mets-Yankees in Times Square
Apple TV will be “showing” Friday’s Mets-Yankees game for “free on a giant screen” in Times Square. Fans of the two teams will have to wait until the Subway Series finale to “watch the games on the teams’ networks.” After Apple TV’s broadcast on Friday, Fox will broadcast the game on Saturday. SNY a...
NFL defends games on streaming platforms amid pushback
The NFL is “defending its expanded lineup of games on streaming platforms” amid criticism from President Trump and scrutiny from the U.S. Dept. of Justice. NFL EVP/Media Distribution Hans Schroeder suggested that the league has “no intention of pulling back from its partnerships with streaming servi...
Sports Media Pod: Amazon is going all in on sports
On this week’s Sports Media Podcast, SBJ’s Austin Karp and Josh Carpenter discuss how Amazon isn’t just streaming games -- they’re building an entire sports ecosystem, from NFL deals to scripted shows like the upcoming Muhammad Ali series.
Audience Analysis: NBA Lottery sets record; USA Network WNBA debut up over 2025 cable
The NBA Draft Lottery set a record last weekend, with ABC drawing 2.3 million viewers. That led into the Knicks finishing a sweep of the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. ABC was up 23% from the lottery last year.
Lazarus: Versant ready to pounce on other leagues’ media rights in next cycle
Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said that as media companies are working the next costly and competitive media-rights contract cycle with the NFL, it leaves room for newly independent Versant to “nab rights to other leagues as they come up,” according to Jill Goldsmith of DEADLINE. On an earnings call Thur...
Sports Media Pod: Tennis is one of the only 50/50 sports
On this week’s Sports Media Podcast, Tennis Channel CEO Jeff Blackburn discusses how tennis is one of the rare sports where men’s and women’s competition draw nearly identical audiences.
China lands World Cup broadcasting deal less than a month before tournament
China Media Group, the parent of China’s national broadcaster, has “reached a World Cup broadcasting deal with FIFA,” ending a standoff over TV rights less than a month before the tournament. State broadcaster CCTV reported the package “covers the 2026 and 2030 men’s tournaments as well as the Wom...
Bills moving flagship radio station back to WGRF-FM
The Bills “will once again make WGRF-FM their official flagship radio station” after a 15-year absence. The team is “ending its relationship with WGR-AM” and will “produce, manage and sell advertising on all broadcasts on the Buffalo Bills Radio Network, including pregame and postgame coverage.” Pla...
ESPN simulcasts NFL schedule release show on NFL Network in lieu of unique NFLN broadcast
ESPN “leveraged” NFL Network’s air to “simulcast its two-hour ‘SportsCenter’ schedule release show” Thursday night -- which was also shown on the ESPN flagship station. In the past, NFL Network’s “NFL GameDay Morning” crew -- including anchor Rich Eisen, Pro Football HOFer Kurt Warner and others -- ...
Sponsored content
Quote of the Day
I do believe that that will put pressure on those companies that retain or grow their NFL expense to make decisions on other content, and that we will selectively look at contracts.-- Versant CEO Mark Lazarus, on being well-positioned to secure media rights for some leagues as other companies spend more for NFL rights.
PODCAST
SBJ TV
PROPERTIES
