The sports media landscape in 2025 is marked by unprecedented shifts, with tech giants, streaming platforms, and traditional broadcasters vying for dominance. As the value of U.S. sports media rights surpasses $30 billion, understanding who owns what is crucial for fans and industry stakeholders alike.

NFL: The Pinnacle of Sports Broadcasting

The National Football League (NFL) continues to lead in media rights revenue. Its current 11-year deal, valued at over $100 billion, involves major players:

  • ESPN/ABC: Holds the rights to Monday Night Football and select playoff games.

  • NBC: Broadcasts Sunday Night Football and the Super Bowl.

  • CBS: Covers AFC games and the Super Bowl.

  • Fox: Telecasts NFC games and the Super Bowl.

  • Amazon Prime Video: Streams Thursday Night Football.

Additionally, the NFL has secured a 10% equity stake in ESPN, strengthening its partnership with Disney .

NBA & WNBA: A Streaming Revolution

The NBA has embraced a multi-platform approach for its media rights:

  • ESPN: Retains rights to the NBA Finals, select playoff games, and regular-season matchups.

  • NBC/Peacock: Broadcasts up to 100 regular-season games and select playoff matchups.

  • Amazon Prime Video: Streams 66 regular-season games and select playoff matchups.

The WNBA has a similar distribution model, with finals rotating among ESPN, NBC, and Amazon .

⚾ MLB: Navigating the Streaming Shift

Major League Baseball (MLB) is undergoing significant changes:

  • Netflix: Secured exclusive streaming rights for the 2025 season opener between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.

  • NBC/Peacock: Holds rights to select regular-season games.

  • ESPN: Opted out of its national television agreement after the 2025 season,

NASCAR: A Multi-Platform Deal

NASCAR's seven-year deal, valued at $7.7 billion, includes:

  • Fox: Broadcasts select races.

  • NBCUniversal: Covers additional races.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery: Provides coverage through TNT Sports.

  • Amazon: Streams select races .

UFC: A Lucrative Streaming Agreement

The UFC has entered a $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, transitioning its media rights from ESPN to Paramount starting in 2026. This move positions the Professional Fighters League (PFL) as the sole MMA promotion on ESPN 

Regional Sports Networks: A Declining Influence

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) are facing challenges:

  • Monumental Sports Network: May be dropped from YouTube TV and Hulu due to expiring distribution agreements .

This trend reflects a broader shift away from traditional cable subscriptions towards streaming platforms.

The Future Outlook

As streaming platforms continue to invest heavily in sports media rights, traditional broadcasters are adapting to maintain their audience share. The NFL's potential renegotiation of its media rights deals as early as 2026 could further reshape the landscape 

Conclusion

The sports media rights landscape in 2025 is characterized by significant shifts towards streaming platforms, with traditional broadcasters adapting to new consumption patterns. Understanding who owns what is essential for fans to navigate the evolving sports broadcasting ecosystem.


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