Media
Netflix adds UFC luminaries Jon Jones, Cain Velasquez to on-air talent team for MMA debut
Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions are putting on a mixed martial arts card with some legendary former UFC fighters this weekend, and they’ve assembled some noteworthy names with ties to the TKO Group property as part of the on-air talent team.
Upfronts roundup: The announcements setting the rates for TV ads
The annual upfronts from the major networks and streamers are more than a media story; it’s also about watching the ad rates they get from brands for their programming. And sports continue to play a key role in these advertising spends.
Fubo pulls its offers to NBA teams as local TV options dwindle
Fubo has withdrawn its multimillion-dollar offers to the 13 NBA teams searching for new local broadcast homes, SBJ learned Wednesday, leaving those franchises with one less option as they pursue single-year, stop-gap broadcast deals for the 2026-27 season.
ESPN’s Mike Foss to succeed retiring EVP David Roberts
ESPN has named SVP/Sports Studio & Entertainment Mike Foss to succeed retiring EVP and Exec Editor/Sports News & Entertainment David Roberts, with the promotion effective immediately. Roberts recently announced he would be retiring at the end of August. Foss had been expected to assume a lar...
Scripps Sports adds first NBA local rights with deal for Pistons games
Scripps Sports has scored local rights to its first NBA team, as the Pistons will air games over-the-air with the company beginning with the 2026-27 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Games will air in the Detroit DMA, surrounding areas and across the state of Michigan.
Longtime motorsports writer Jenna Fryer describes decision to leave AP
AP motorsports reporter Jenna Fryer has departed the company after 30 years, saying she “volunteered for a company buyout.” Fryer wrote on her new Substack account, “I loved how the AP allowed to me to learn and grow and promoted me, moving me to Charlotte and eventually promoting me to national wri...
MLS distributing World Cup content via Amazon, Apple TV, Fox
MLS is launching four original content series ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup that will live on a variety of platforms, including Amazon’s Prime Video, Apple TV and Fox-owned Tubi. The series, which range from short-form content to 15-minute-long features, are part of a broader content plan that wi...
PWR Championship to debut on ION, Grit amid league’s push to grow the women’s sport
Premier Women’s Rodeo will host the inaugural PWR Championship this week at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. The championship round takes place Friday and will be broadcast in collaboration with Scripps Sports on ION and Grit at 1pm ET Sunday. With the backing of Professional Bull Riders, the ...
Fox Sports’ World Cup matches to air on iHeartMedia
Fox Sports’ broadcasts of all FIFA World Cup matches this summer will get to iHeartMedia radio and digital streaming listeners as part of a new deal rolling out Wednesday. Financial terms of the deal were not available. The 104 matches will be available on the iHeartRadio app, while every USMNT matc...
‘ESPN Beach’ at Super Bowl among NFL highlights at Disney upfront
NEW YORK CITY -- It wasn’t all Super Bowl for Disney’s upfront on Tuesday afternoon, but the company’s return to the event couldn’t be missed. That included Jimmy Kimmel lightly roasting Disney ad sales chief Rita Ferro about the coming year to close things out at the event.
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Quote of the Day
The amount of discussion we’re having right now about access to our content, to our footage, access to our buildings, access to our players, to our executives, is the highest it’s ever been.-- MLS EVP/Media Seth Bacon, on the league licensing footage for more than a dozen soccer documentary projects.
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