Thursday, August 6, 2026

Comcast CEO: Sports Rights Require ‘Really Hard Calls’

NBCUniversal/Design: Alex Brooks

Comcast spends $20 billion on content between its NBCUniversal and Sky divisions, but the large sum doesn’t make allocating funds easy for the media giant. 

The company wants to “remain one of the premier” sports broadcasters, but making decisions on obtaining sports rights involves “really hard calls,” says Comcast CEO and chairman Brian Roberts.

The CEO said the company picks and chooses its sporting events with care, focusing on the “sustainability of sports.”

  • In 2014, NBCUniversal paid $7.75 billion for rights to the Olympics until 2032.
  • NBC’s streaming service Peacock struck a five-year deal with WWE worth more than $1 billion in January.
  • The broadcaster will pay $1.71 billion per year to keep “Sunday Night Football” — an 80% increase from its current contract.
  • Peacock secured exclusive rights to stream the 2021 Premier Lacrosse League season.
  • The streaming service was nearing a $25 million deal for a Magic Johnson docuseries, per a report last month.
  • Earlier this month, NBCU agreed to a deal with Steph Curry’s Unanimous Media valued in the “high-eight-figure range.”

Roberts said Comcast reaches around 700 million people worldwide. Its revenue jumped 20.4% in Q2.

Comcast reached a deal with ViacomCBS last month to launch SkyShowtime, a European subscription service launching in 2022. Comcast bought Sky for $39 billion in 2018.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

FILE PHOTO: Disney+ logo is seen in this illustration taken August 5, 2025.

Disney Sells Out of Super Bowl LXI Ad Inventory

ESPN parent company Disney exhausted its inventory on an earlier schedule.
CJ Kirst (#15) of the Philadelphia Waterdogs during the 2026 PLL Regular Season, The Week 10 match up of The Philadelphia Waterdogs and The New York Atlas at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, Denver, Colorado. On Friday, July 24th, 2026

PLL Takes Page From NHL With 4-Team International Tournament

The league hopes to replicate the success of recent blockbuster international events.

YouTube TV Bolsters Its Sports Lineup With ESPN, NBC Deals

The streaming service significantly expands its sports programming.
Los Angeles Sparks's Kelsey Plum (10) guards Las Vegas Aces' A’ja Wilson (22) on Saturday, July 19, 2025, during the WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

WNBA All-Star Game Ticket Prices Exceed $200, Sellout Expected

SeatGeek is seeing order volume three times higher compared to last year.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

8/6/26 – LIV’s Funding Promise, Disney Sells Out Super Bowl, Inside Tom Brady’s CardVault

0:00

Featured Today

Joey Spallina of the Maryland Whipsnakes

How Eye Black Became ‘War Paint’ on the Field

“You’re going into battle, doing something you only do on game days.”
August 6, 2026

Tom Brady Explains His Aggressive Push Into Trading Cards

Brady talked to FOS about his eponymous card company.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action
August 5, 2026

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
WPBL
July 30, 2026

Who’s Playing Women’s Professional Baseball?

Sixty players from 11 countries are descending on Illinois for six weeks.
Tom's Watch Bar
July 17, 2026

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.

Netflix Wants to Not ‘Do Too Much’ With Field of Dreams Game

The upgraded Iowa complex now has a permanent stadium. 
August 6, 2026

Fox Pushes Back NFL Media-Rights Negotiations Until 2028

The company also touted strong results from the FIFA men’s World Cup.
The Warner Bros. Water Tower is pictured at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank on the day it was announced that California and 11 states are suing to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in California, U.S. July 13, 2026.
August 6, 2026

WBD Ad Sales Sink Without NBA Live Rights

WBD’s fiscal second-quarter revenue fell 11%.
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses his Champions Fund launch and finding success after football.
Troy Aikman and Joe Buck arrive at the Disney Upfront 2022 event in New York City, New York, U.S., May 17, 2022. REUTERS/David Dee Delgado
August 6, 2026

Aikman, Buck Head Into High-Stakes ESPN Negotiations

ESPN hopes to retain the duo past the network’s first Super Bowl.
National Women’s Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman announces Columbus as the league's 18th club at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on April 21, 2026. The club, set to begin play in 2028, will be owned by Haslam Sports Group (HSG), Nationwide and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards.
August 5, 2026

NWSL Makes Super Bowl Week Part of Its 2027 Kickoff

The NWSL wants to be “woven into” ESPN’s first Super Bowl.
New MLS commissioner Larry Berg speaks with Front Office Sports.
August 5, 2026

Incoming MLS Commissioner Sees ‘Uncapped Upside’ in Media Rights

NYCFC’s CEO called broadcast revenue the league’s biggest weakness.
May 16, 2026; Laurel, MD, USA; Napoleon Solo (10) ridden by Paco Lopez leads Iron Honor (9) ridden by Flavien Prat, Chip Honcho (6) ridden by Jose Ortiz Jr., and Taj Mahal (1) ridden by Sheldon Russell down the stretch during the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Exclusive
August 4, 2026

NBC to Retain Media Rights to Preakness Stakes

NBC has held the race’s rights since 2001.