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CBS Sports
It was a year of significant change for CBS Sports, as Paramount Skydance under new leader David Ellison came out swinging with a seven-year deal for UFC. The reinvigorated company also saw David Berson’s group lock down deals for the Pac-12, Mountain West, Zuffa Boxing, UEFA Women’s Champions League, SailGP and Pro Bull Riding. Audience superlatives for CBS included its best NFL regular season and the best NFL regular-season game on record; the best Masters final round since 2018, on the back of Rory McIlroy’s historic win; the best college hoops regular-season game in more than 30 years; and an NWSL record.
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ESPN
ESPN’s year was highlighted by the launch of its long-awaited DTC service, which came with an enhanced ESPN app. The company also struck a deal with the NFL for 10% of ESPN, with ESPN receiving NFL Network, linear distribution of NFL RedZone and the NFL’s fantasy football business. Rights acquisitions included WWE premium live events, an extension of the NFL Draft, an extension with — and equity stake in — the PLL and a pact that delivers the MLB.tv out-of-market service for ESPN DTC subs. Audiences stayed with ESPN, as it had its best year in over a decade for viewership, including the best WNBA season yet.
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Fox Sports
Fox Sports got into open-wheel racing in a big way, not only producing the most-watched IndyCar season in 17 years, but also taking a 33% equity stake in Penske Entertainment, which owns IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fox also made a big pivot toward OTT, bringing fans the Fox One service. Experimentation was key, as Fox struck deals with Barstool Sports, Cosm, Tom Brady’s Shadow Lion production company, Fanatics’ flag football effort and more. Viewership success included Fox’s best NFL season since 2015, the best Women’s Euros for English-language TV and the best MLB audience since 2017 with a Game 7 World Series thriller.
NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports delivered “Legendary February” and some of the biggest sports moments of the last year around Super Bowl LX, 17 days from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and NBA All-Star Weekend. The company returned as an NBA partner after 23 years, giving fans a retro feel with elements including “Roundball Rock,” while also moving forward around a fresh studio and production elements on Peacock, such as “On the Bench.” NBC showed its commitment to golf with extensions for the USGA and PGA of America, as well as for USA Swimming and USA Gymnastics. NBC also had its most-watched “Sunday Night Football” season yet and the best Kentucky Derby since 1989.
Prime Video
Prime Video
Prime Video continued to be a sports leader among digitally native platforms, beginning its first seasons with the NBA and NASCAR. That included the launch of a new production space in Culver City, Calif., as the company began its own basketball productions. Prime Video continued to bring in younger audiences for its property partners, including the NFL. “Thursday Night Football” had its best audience yet for Amazon, capped by a wild-card game delivering Prime’s best live audience yet. The company was also lauded for the documentaries “Earnhardt” and “Saquon.”
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Rogers Sports & Media
Rogers Sports & Media secured the largest media rights deal in Canada’s history, as the company renewed with the NHL for another dozen years. The return of the Blue Jays to the World Series also was a boon, as Rogers during Game 7 saw the most-watched English-language broadcast on record in Canada outside of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Streaming also grew for Rogers, with Sportsnet+ seeing a 39% year-over-year uptick for subscribers. Across Sportsnet, it was a record year for audience numbers, which were also up 18% YoY.
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