NBA Media Rights Shakeup, The NFL's $21 Billion Challenge, and Messi Launches Mas+.
Pivotal Moments for the NFL and NBA
NBA Media Rights Shakeup Reaches Finals Approach
As the Celtics and Mavericks gear up for the NBA Finals, Commissioner Adam Silver will confront a pressing issue at his annual press conference: the league's impending media-rights deals. Although no official announcement has been made, the landscape is becoming increasingly clear.
Starting in 2025, ESPN, NBC, and Amazon are expected to take over NBA game broadcasts. This shift marks the end of a 36-year partnership with TNT after the upcoming season. According to The Wall Street Journal, the NBA is finalizing deals valued at $76 billion over the contract's duration, aligning with previous reports from Bloomberg and Sports Business Journal.
These new deals signify a crucial moment for the future of television. Kenneth Suh, Chief Strategy Officer of advertising tech firm Nexxen, explained to Front Office Sports,
“Although the figure might seem huge, the soaring costs of sports rights and the guaranteed viewership they bring make such investments vital during uncertain times.”
The NBA’s media landscape is on the brink of significant changes, with major implications for the league, its partners, and its stars.
NFL Faces Major Legal Challenge Over Media Rights
The NFL is currently embroiled in one of the most significant legal challenges to its media model in years. A trial has commenced in Los Angeles that could potentially result in billions of dollars in damages and fundamentally alter how the league distributes out-of-market games.
This case, nearly a decade in the making, has progressed through various courts before landing in the U.S. District Court. Over 2.4 million residential and 48,000 commercial subscribers to NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTV are plaintiffs, seeking up to $7 billion in damages. Under federal antitrust rules, this amount could be tripled, potentially costing the NFL $21 billion.
The plaintiffs argue that the current NFL Sunday Ticket structure artificially inflates prices, with costs beginning at $349 annually for residential packages. If the plaintiffs win, NFL teams could negotiate their own out-of-market rights deals, potentially allowing consumers to purchase individual games or team-specific packages. Conversely, the NFL is expected to defend NFL Sunday Ticket as a premium product that broadens consumer access to games.
This trial could see high-profile figures such as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and former CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus called to testify. Their testimonies could provide rare insights into the NFL's business dealings and media rights negotiations.
There is still a chance for a last-minute settlement. The NFL, like other major leagues, typically prefers to avoid trials that could lead to embarrassing public relations.
Lionel Messi Launches Mas+ Beverage to Promote Healthy Hydration
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has ventured into the beverage industry with the introduction of Mas+, a drink designed to encourage better self-care. Mas+ aims to provide "Positive Hydration" through a blend of electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and natural flavours, all without artificial sweeteners, colours, or caffeine.
"Hydration is crucial for overall health. I believe everyone should have access to a drink with excellent ingredients and taste," Messi stated in a recent press release. "Mas+ is a product I'm excited to share with my loved ones. Everyone deserves to feel like a champion in their daily lives."
The worldwide release of Mas+ is set for June 14, available through Mas+ website.
Thanks for reading, David Skilling.
We have a new X/Twitter account - all support is appreciated.