NBA Play-In Viewership up Thus Far in Streaming Debut on Prime Video
The NBA’s Play‑in Tournament debuted on Amazon Prime Video, averaging 2.69 million viewers—a 12% rise over last year’s TNT/ESPN windows. Younger audiences propelled the growth, with 18‑34, 18‑49 and 25‑54 demos up 32%, 31% and 26% respectively. The Warriors‑Clippers game peaked at 3.15 million viewers, a 47% jump from the comparable matchup a year earlier, and Wednesday’s doubleheader posted a 38% YoY increase. Nielsen’s new methodology, blending panel and big‑data sources, likely aided the uplift but does not fully explain it.
News: SBA, LIV Golf, Netflix and More
The U.S. Department of Justice is widening its antitrust inquiry into NFL media deals to include MLB, NBA and NHL streaming rights, spotlighting exclusive agreements with Apple TV and Netflix. LIV Golf’s CEO confirmed the league has secured funding through...
Rights to Next WBC Will Be Negotiated Alongside Broader MLB Package
Major League Baseball will negotiate the next World Baseball Classic (WBC) rights as part of its 2028 media‑rights package, a shift from the event’s historic stand‑alone deals. The league’s six incumbent partners—Fox, Netflix, NBCUniversal, TNT Sports, Apple and ESPN—are expected...
WNBA Draft Viewership up, Hits Seven Figures for Third-Straight Year
The 2026 WNBA Draft drew an average of 1.50 million viewers on ESPN, a 20% increase from the 2025 draft’s 1.25 million. Peak viewership reached 1.79 million during the 7:45 PM ET quarter‑hour, up 23% year‑over‑year. The surge follows a 15% rise in the...
Solid Audience for NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball Debut
NBC’s inaugural "Sunday Night Baseball" telecast featuring the Guardians and Braves attracted an average of 2.2 million viewers when Nielsen data was combined with Adobe Analytics, marking a 13% increase over ESPN’s 2025 Dodgers‑Cubs broadcast. The combined audience made the game...
News: LIV Golf, “For the Fans Act,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and More
LIV Golf faces a possible $5 billion funding cut from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, prompting senior executives to explore new jobs while the tour relies on a modest Fox Sports rights deal. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced the “For the Fans...
Cheryl Miller Back in TV as WNBA Analyst for NBC
Cheryl Miller returns to television as a WNBA studio analyst for NBC, marking her first on‑air role since departing Turner Sports in 2013. She will join host Maria Taylor and fellow analyst Sue Bird, while also sharing a network with...
NBC Plans to Air NBA Playoffs Following Derby, Preakness
NBC Sports announced it will use the Kentucky Derby and possibly the Preakness Stakes as lead‑ins for its 2026 NBA playoff broadcasts. The network will air three consecutive nights of double‑header games to kick off its first postseason coverage since...
NBC Will Have to Fend Off Fox, Streamers, to Retain Preakness
NBC is eager to keep the Preakness Stakes broadcast after its contract expires, but it now faces renewed competition from Fox and two major streaming platforms, Amazon and Netflix. A proposed rights renewal could coincide with moving the race to...
News: NFL on Netflix, Doc Rivers, Dianna Russini and More
Netflix has expressed interest in acquiring the NFL Kickoff Game, a marquee slot traditionally held by NBC under its long‑standing contract. Comcast, NBCUniversal’s parent, posted a $122 million media‑segment loss, heightening pressure on its NFL rights negotiations and prompting speculation about...
Fox Reportedly Competing with Streamers for New Five-Game NFL Package
Fox is among the three bidders—alongside YouTube and Netflix—for the NFL’s upcoming five‑game media rights package. The bid comes as the U.S. Justice Department investigates whether the league’s streaming deals violate the Sports Broadcasting Act’s antitrust exemption. Fox has publicly...
Depleted Lakers’ First Game Post-Injuries Draws Strong Easter Audience
The Lakers’ first game after the season‑ending injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves drew a combined 3.7 million viewers on NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball, the highest NBA audience since the February Celtics‑Lakers matchup. The strong Easter Sunday audience was amplified by...
News: Joe Buck, Scott Van Pelt, Disney and More
Joe Buck told a podcast he would sign any contract to stay at ESPN beyond his current deal, which expires after the NFL season and Super Bowl. Scott Van Pelt confirmed he will remain the host of the late‑night SportsCenter...
Longtime ESPN Play-by-Play Voice Mark Jones Leaving Network Sunday
ESPN veteran play‑by‑play announcer Mark Jones announced he will leave the network after the Magic‑Celtics game on Sunday, ending a 36‑year tenure that began in 1990. Jones, known for NBA and college basketball coverage and a former SportsCenter anchor, confirmed...
What Is Fox Really After with the NFL and Streaming?
Fox Corporation filed a public comment with the FCC urging regulators to extend the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act protections to streaming platforms, arguing that pay‑walled services threaten free over‑the‑air sports and local news. The move comes as broadcast sports inventories...