Today's Sports Business Pulse
Messi joins Ronaldo as billionaire after US endorsement deals
Lionel Messi has entered the billionaire club, driven by a series of high‑value U.S. endorsement and licensing agreements announced this month. His net worth now exceeds $1 billion, matching Cristiano Ronaldo as the only footballers to reach that milestone.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Lucra raises $20M to expand its eSports gamification platform
Trump Alone Can’t Save College Sports. But Congress Can.
Bruce Pearl argues that former President Trump lacks the political leverage to rescue the financial and governance crises plaguing college athletics, but Congress holds the authority to enact lasting reforms. He highlights mounting revenue gaps, escalating player compensation demands, and the NCAA’s outdated regulatory model. Pearl proposes federal legislation to standardize athlete compensation, enforce transparency, and protect the amateur ethos. The piece calls for bipartisan action to preserve college sports as a cultural and economic engine.
Bundesliga Uses UK as Test Bed for Fragmented, Multi-Platform Rights Strategy
Bundesliga International is testing a fragmented, multi‑platform rights model in the UK and Ireland, combining pay‑TV, free‑to‑air, FAST and pay‑per‑view. The league keeps Sky for premium matches, while BBC iPlayer streams Friday games free, Amazon’s Prime Video offers Sunday matches...
Delayed Nielsen Gauge Confirms the Olympics Were Great for NBCUniversal (and Versant)
Nielsen’s delayed February Gauge data show NBCUniversal and its spin‑off Versant captured 13.1% of all TV usage, overtaking YouTube for the first time. The surge was driven by the Super Bowl and the 2026 Winter Olympics, which lifted NBCU’s share...
The $500 Billion Blind Spot
S&P Global’s latest sports media rights report shows a $67.34 billion market in 2026, but that figure represents only a fraction of the broader sports economy, which exceeds $500 billion. The traditional rights model is heavily concentrated, with the NFL, NBA and...
Indian Football League 2025–26 to Be Broadcast on Sony Sports Network
Sony Pictures Networks India has secured both television and digital broadcast rights for the Indian Football League’s 2025‑26 season. The deal expands Sony’s football portfolio, which already includes the Indian Super League, UEFA competitions, the Bundesliga and the FA Cup....
British Equestrian Saddles up for Sponsorship Boost
British Equestrian has hired global agency Mongoose to overhaul its sponsorship and partnership strategy. The review will map the sport’s £5 billion (~$6.3 billion) economic footprint and an additional £1.2 billion (~$1.5 billion) of social value into a structured rights‑package model. Mongoose will craft...
Sunset+Vine Names Duncan East CEO to Drive Global Sports Production Growth
Sunset+Vine announced Duncan East as its new chief executive, effective immediately, to steer the company’s worldwide sports‑production expansion. East arrives from Buzz 16, where he led strategy as managing director and executive director. The move signals a push to deepen the...
LIV Golf’s Gambit to Rewrite Global Sports, with Scott O’Neil
In this episode, Bob Safian talks with Scott O’Neill, CEO of LIV Golf, about the league’s disruptive model that blends team‑based competition with traditional individual play, rapid global expansion, and a high‑stakes financial structure backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment...
Gary Neville’s Media Group Buys Football YouTuber Mark Goldbridge’s Channels
Gary Neville’s sports media venture, The Overlap, has purchased Mark Goldbridge’s YouTube channels The United Stand and That’s Football, together reaching 3.7 million subscribers. The deal, reported to be a seven‑figure sum (roughly $2‑$5 million), marks The Overlap’s first acquisition since its...
CARS24 Signs MS Dhoni as Goodwill Ambassador for National Road Safety Movement
CARS24 has appointed former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni as goodwill ambassador for Crashfree India, a nationwide road‑safety movement. The partnership aims to shift driver behaviour from mere rule‑following to a shared social responsibility, tackling India’s alarming 2024 road‑fatality toll of...
IPL 2026: SunRisers Hyderabad Retain Lubi Industries as Principal Sponsor
Lubi Industries has renewed its role as principal sponsor of SunRisers Hyderabad for IPL 2026, extending a partnership that leverages cricket’s nationwide reach. The deal includes an integrated marketing campaign featuring two digital films with SRH players to deepen fan...
ONE8 Signs Smriti Mandhana to Strengthen Women’s Sportswear Category
ONE8, the performance sportswear brand backed by Agilitas, has signed Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana to a long‑term partnership. Mandhana will serve as brand ambassador and co‑creator, working with design and R&D teams to develop women’s high‑performance apparel, especially for...
Flipkart and Leo India Turn Billy Bowden’s Iconic Signals Into Real-Time Shopping Moments
Flipkart has teamed with Leo India to turn umpire Billy Bowden’s iconic cricket gestures into real‑time shopping triggers on its platform. Viewers snap a photo of a signal during a live match, send it to a WhatsApp bot, and receive...
PXG Partners With PGA Tour Superstore For Custom-Fit Clubs At Retail
PXG, the high‑performance golf club maker, has partnered with PGA Tour Superstore to sell its custom‑fit clubs, bags, balls and apparel in retail locations. The rollout begins today at select stores and is slated to reach all 75 PGA Tour...
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...
Boss Becomes an Australian Open Partner
BOSS, the German fashion group, announced it will serve as the Official Lifestyle Outfitter for the Australian Open starting in 2027. The deal includes outfitting roughly 4,000 staff, officials and ball kids with tailored, heat‑friendly garments and showcasing the brand...
How To Attend The Masters In 2027: Lottery Dates, Odds And Costs
The Masters ticket lottery opens June 1 and closes June 20, with only about 1% of applicants selected. Official general‑admission tickets cost between $100 and $160, making the event relatively affordable for those who win. A secondary market has emerged, where weekend...
NAB Blasts CTA in FCC Sports Probe Comments
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed comments with the FCC urging policies that keep major sports on free‑to‑air broadcast TV, arguing that streaming services raise costs and fragment access. NAB criticized the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for defending the...
Rookie Hopeful, Grateful for Union’s Lockout Win
Asked @Flaujae what it was like watching the CBA process play out as an incoming draftee: “I was just like, ‘Can I please have a rookie season?’ I was hoping there was not gonna be a lockout. But the union handled...
In‑season Transfers Free NIL Cap for Fresh Talent
In-season transfers are tough, but they free up cap space for transfer portal / high school additions... How does in-season transfer activity impact how schools manage their NIL cap? This is explained in my book NIL 101: The House Settlement Get 40% off https://t.co/yBVisUkFCL https://t.co/wGeTKum079
JCPenney Brings Its Battle Against Fashion Elitism to Women’s Basketball
JCPenney has launched Inside Lane, a program that partners the retailer with five collegiate and professional women’s basketball athletes to showcase affordable, shoppable outfits. The looks are pulled from existing collections and offered in a wide range of sizes and price...
Fubo's Sports Lineup Has Big Gaps; Not Ideal
Is Fubo a Good Choice For Sports Fans? Streamer’s Lineup Has Some Big Holes https://t.co/IxtAzRYRFj via @TVAnswerMan
Fulham's £400m Losses Leave Them Unable to Afford a Stamp
Looks as if Fulham, who have lost £400m in the last decade, cannot afford a stamp to send in their accounts. I wonder why? https://t.co/KztWNTSMNj
Netflix Adds More Soccer
Netflix has signed a four‑year agreement to become the exclusive broadcaster of the CONCACAF Nations League Finals and Gold Cup in Mexico, covering the 2027 and 2029 editions of both tournaments. The deal expands Netflix’s live‑sports footprint beyond its U.S....
Limited Inventory Hints at an Upcoming 18th Game
Well, yeah and good point…But there’s just enough inventory room to push it so expect an 18th game, eventually….
People
Josh Oshinsky has been hired by ESPN as Senior Director of Original Content Development. In his new role, he will guide multiplatform storytelling across flagship properties such as the "30 for 30" documentary series, ESPN Films, podcasts, and scripted projects....
Nike’s Kit Glitch Draws Scrutiny, but a Champions League Coup Offers Relief
Nike’s latest international football kits sparked criticism after a noticeable shoulder‑seam bulge appeared on several national team jerseys, most famously on Kylian Mbappé’s shirt. The company acknowledged the aesthetic flaw but assured that performance remains unaffected. At the same time,...
2026 WNBA Draft: How Much Will No. 1 Overall Pick Azzi Fudd Make in Her Rookie Season with the Dallas...
Azzi Fudd was selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft and will earn a $500,000 base salary in her rookie year, the highest ever for a league rookie. The figure comes from a new collective bargaining agreement that introduced...
Deltatre Delivers Digital Platform for Serie A
Deltatre has completed a four‑season direct‑to‑fan website and app for Italy’s Serie A, delivering a bilingual hub for the league’s championships, cups and youth competitions. The platform runs on Deltatre FORGE and integrates a video player plus an AI‑driven search that surfaces...
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds and Promos for the NBA Play-In Tournament
FanDuel is promoting the NBA Play‑In Tournament with a $250 bonus‑bet offer for new users who place a minimum $5 wager. The opening games feature the Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns hosting the Portland Trail Blazers,...
MLB TV Now Allows DIRECTV Subs to Stream Ex-FanDuel Teams For Free
MLB TV announced that DIRECTV subscribers can now stream nine former FanDuel regional team channels at no extra charge. The eligible teams are the Reds, Tigers, Royals, Marlins, Brewers, Rays, Cardinals, Nationals and Mariners, expanding the free‑access roster that already...
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...
Inter Miami CF Kicks Off New Era For South Florida Soccer In Nu Stadium
Inter Miami CF opened Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park, a $1 billion mixed‑use complex, just before the 2026 MLS season. The 26,700‑seat venue adds a hotel, retail, office and residential components, creating a year‑round destination. Fans praise the dramatically shorter drive...
AT&T Spent a Month Inside March Madness. Was It Worth It?
AT&T devoted an entire month to the NCAA March Madness tournament, rolling out a multi‑channel campaign that included athlete‑led TV spots, ownership of the CBS Bracket Manager, a Vegas Sphere sponsorship, and on‑site activations in Indianapolis. The championship game attracted...
Vibe Twisted Sips Steps Up To The Plate As Minor League Baseball Sponsor
Vibe Twisted Sips, a 12% ABV wine‑based ready‑to‑drink brand owned by Gallo Wine & Spirits, has been named the official wine sponsor for Minor League Baseball’s 2026 season. The partnership will see Vibe featured across more than 100 MiLB teams,...
Penske Supports FCC Protecting Local Broadcast Sports Ecosystem
Indy racing legend Roger Penske, winner of the 2019 Presidential Medal of Freedom from @POTUS Trump, backs @FCC Chairman @BrendanCarrFCC on “the need to wisely connect the availability of professional sports on broadcast television to the societal benefits ......
Preakness Media Rights Signal Extra Week in Triple Crown Schedule
🚨🚨🚨The media rights future of the @PreaknessStakes is coming into focus, and it will likely be part of a historic shift in the Triple Crown calendar in the form of an extra week between the first and second legs 🚨🚨🚨 https://t.co/vay3ClpQ0x
MLB Sees Longer Games but Higher Attendance Early in ABS Era
Major League Baseball’s automated ball‑strike (ABS) system is now fully operational in the 2026 season, extending average nine‑inning games to 2 hours 42 minutes—four minutes longer than 2025. Despite the slower pace, early‑season attendance has risen 4.2% to 6.98 million fans...
Gabriela Jaquez Inks $1.21M Three-Year Deal with Sky
As the #5 overall pick in the 2026 #WNBA Draft, G Gabriela Jaquez will sign a 3-year, $1.21M fully protected contract with the Chicago Sky through 2028, plus a team option in 2029: 2026: $380,219 2027: $395,428 2028: $434,971 2029: $491,517 (option)
Lauren Betts Inks $1.3M Three-Year Deal with Mystics
As the #4 overall pick in the 2026 #WNBA Draft, C Lauren Betts will sign a 3-year, $1.296M fully protected contract with the Washington Mystics through 2028, plus a team option in 2029: 2026: $407,163 2027: $423,450 2028: $465,795 2029: $526,348 (option)
NAB 2026: Mediaproxy Adds AI Brand and Advertisement Tracking to LogServer
Mediaproxy unveiled an AI‑powered brand and advertisement tracking suite integrated into its LogServer compliance platform, with a live demo at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas. The solution leverages machine‑learning models to automatically spot logos and visual identifiers across broadcast, streaming...
Storm Locks #3 Pick Thiam to $1.388M Deal
As the #3 overall pick in the 2026 #WNBA Draft, C Awa Fam Thiam will sign a 3-year, $1.388M fully protected contract with the Seattle Storm through 2028, plus a team option in 2029: 2026: $436,016 2027: $453,457 2028: $498,803 2029: $563,647 (option)
Olivia Miles Inks $1.486M Three‑year Deal with Lynx
As the #2 overall pick in the 2026 #WNBA Draft, G Olivia Miles will sign a 3-year, $1.486M fully protected contract with the Minnesota Lynx through 2028, plus a team option in 2029: 2026: $466,913 2027: $485,590 2028: $534,149 2029: $603,588 (option)
DIRECTV’s MySports: 25 Channels For $65 a Month – Is It Worth It?
DIRECTV’s MySports genre package bundles 26 national sports channels, unlimited DVR and free ESPN Unlimited app access for $64.99 a month, with a promotional rate of $44.99 for the first two months. The plan lacks regional sports networks (RSNs) in...
Tempo's
The longshot dream of the @TempoBasketball getting Lauren Betts just got "slightly" more possible with Miles going No. 2.
WNBA Front Offices Sprint Through Expansion, Free Agency, Draft
It's been an all-out sprint for #WNBA front offices since the new CBA was agreed to. Expansion draft, slew of free agent signings, and now the #WNBADraft. A lot in a very short span of time.
New Podcast Episodes Discuss NBA, Masters, NHL Media
PODCASTS: Out now: Joe Buck. Tomorrow: Roundtable with @AustinKarp, @paulsen_smw and @JoshACarpenter. Topics: New NBA playoff media partners, our thoughts on Russini/Vrabel, the Masters TV coverage and which NHL teams can draw nationally. TO SUB/LISTEN: https://t.co/jq91gZ7Mmt
DIRECTV Users Stream Former
MLB TV Now Allows DIRECTV Subs to Stream Ex-FanDuel Teams For Free https://t.co/pfaMsfSOYz via @TVAnswerMan
WNBA Set to Reach 52-Game Season by 2029
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a pre-draft address mentions that the new CBA allows expanding the season to 52 games per team by 2029. The recent history: 2024: 40 games 2025: 44 2026: 44 … 2029: 52 https://t.co/bM7HzxBKAG
States Target Sweeps, Sportsbooks, and Prediction Markets
There are 3 major categories of gaming bills still being discussed in statehouses this legislative season (a non-exhaustive list): - Sweeps bans: MD, MN, OK, TN - Sportsbook restrictions: CO, CT, MA (plus long-shot bills in NJ, NY, OH) - Prediction Market bans:...