Global spending on sports media rights is projected to exceed $78 billion by 2030, marking a robust 20% increase from 2025 levels, according to a fresh forecast from London-based research firm Ampere Analysis released this week.
This escalation is fueled by escalating competition among broadcasters and streamers for premium live content, with the U.S. market acting as the primary growth engine. In the U.S. alone, rights investments are expected to climb to over $36 billion in 2030—more than double the 2025 figure of $30.5 billion—driven by blockbuster renewals in major leagues like the NBA and MLB.
Key Drivers: NBA and MLB Deals Claim Nearly Half the PieThe recent NBA and MLB television agreements are the heavy hitters here, accounting for nearly half ($36 billion) of the global total by 2030. These deals highlight how live sports remain a "reliable driver of value" in media, offering unmatched audience retention and reach amid slowing traditional TV markets.
🏀NBA Rights Deal:
In July 2024, the NBA inked an 11-year, $77 billion extension with Disney's ESPN/ABC, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video, effective from the 2025–26 season through 2035–36. This is a 2.5-fold increase over the prior nine-year pact valued at $24 billion. Under the new terms:
- ESPN/ABC gets 80 regular-season games (including primetime showcases on Saturdays and Sundays), the NBA Finals, conference finals, and All-Star Game.
- NBC/Peacock secures 100 regular-season games, plus playoffs and the In-Season Tournament.
- Amazon Prime Video takes 66 regular-season games and one conference finals series annually. This influx alone will boost U.S. spending significantly, with the league's annual revenue from media rights jumping from about $2.66 billion to roughly $7 billion.
⚾MLB Rights Evolution:
MLB's current national deals with ESPN, Fox, and Turner (TBS) are set to expire after 2025, paving the way for a fragmented, high-value renewal starting in 2029. ESPN recently stepped back from a $550 million-per-year extension through 2028, opening doors for broader distribution. New partners include:
- NBCUniversal (Peacock) for Sunday night games, Wild Card playoffs, and the return of iconic branding like "Roundball Rock."
- Netflix for the Home Run Derby, Opening Day, and the "Field of Dreams" game in 2026. These shifts aim to spread games across more platforms, potentially pushing MLB's annual rights value toward $3–4 billion by 2030, up from $1.5–2 billion today.
Together, these pacts exemplify a broader U.S. trend where sports rights spending has doubled over the past decade (from $13.8 billion in 2015 to $30.5 billion in 2025), outpacing overall TV revenue growth by fivefold.