Saturday, July 4, 2026

Notre Dame’s Streaming Service Shows Potential

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Notre Dame’s brand is one of the strongest in sports, and its new venture — Fighting Irish TV — builds upon that by offering fans more content to binge.

The school’s streaming service is available on Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon and includes everything from live games and interviews to archived games and highlights.

  • Notre Dame’s pro day generated more than 58,000 minutes of viewed content in one day on the platform.
  • The school is now considering a subscription model, though it’s not clear how much they would charge.

Because the Fighting Irish have no conference affiliation, they were able to sell broadcasting rights to NBC in 1991.

NBC’s most recent extension with Notre Dame was signed in 2013, began in 2016, and runs through the 2025 season. It’s worth a reported $15 million annually.

However, the school still makes sacrifices to stay independent. “There is no financial advantage to Notre Dame being independent in terms of operations,” Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick told The Athletic in 2019. “It costs us money. We would be much better off all-in with the ACC or any Power 5 conference.”

Andrew Focil, founder of WMT — the web developer Fighting Irish TV launched with — thinks other teams can get in on the OTT action, adding that conversations are already in the works.

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

Jun 28, 2026; Cromwell, Connecticut, USA; Viktor Hovland follows his drive on the 1st hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Dufour-Imagn Images

NBC Misses First Hour of Red Sox–Yankees Amid PGA Tour Delay

The Travelers Championship experienced a weather delay on Sunday.

U.S. Open Draws 5.5M Viewers, Still Trails PGA Championship

Sunday’s audience peaked at 9.3 million viewers.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) during the fourth quarter of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden

Leagues and Networks Are Going All In on America250

Celebrations include jersey patches, special uniforms, and dedicated programming.
Mar 15, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; FS1 announcer Jason Benetti during the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington State Cougars at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

How NBC’s Jason Benetti Learned to Trust His Dry Wit

Benetti is in his first season as NBC’s lead baseball announcer.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

7/3/26 – USMNT Round of 16 Ticket Frenzy, NBA Tests New Free Throw Rule, Ovechkin Returns, Country Roads Takes Over

0:00

Featured Today

ATLANTA, GA - September 05: Georgia Lottery fireworks after the game against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on Friday, September 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Inside the Spectacle and Science of MLB Fireworks

Postgame fireworks are lighting up baseball for America250.
Kansas City Chiefs
July 1, 2026

NFL Teams Push to Turn Futbol Fans Into Football Devotees

NFL teams are courting international soccer fans during their World Cup visits.
June 26, 2026

What We Saw Traveling the U.S. for the World Cup Group Stage

The knockout stage begins Sunday.
June 26, 2026

In an Era of $1,000 Tickets, $10 Watch Parties Bring Fans Together

Stadium watch parties now rival home-game experiences.
June 25, 2026

Italian Americans Have Severe World Cup FOMO

Bars and restaurants in Boston, Philly, and beyond are missing the Azzurri.
Matt Miller ESPN

ESPN’s Matt Miller’s Crash, Backlash, and Investigation: Timeline

The Missouri AG’s office confirmed it is investigating Miller.
July 1, 2026; Santa Clara, California, U.S.; Malik Tillman of the U.S. celebrates scoring their second goal. Mandatory Credit: Carlos Barria-Reuters via Imagn Images
July 3, 2026

USMNT’s World Cup Ratings Continue to Surge

Fox and Telemundo are setting soccer viewership records.
Jun 30, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot during her match against Maya Joint of Australia on day two at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
July 3, 2026

Serena Singles Return Draws Record Wimbledon Ratings for ESPN

Williams’s status for doubles remains in question.
Sponsored

Josh Childress: Why Now Is the Time for NBA Expansion

Josh Childress on why he invested in the Portland Thorns, the case for NBA expansion, and donating to Stanford NIL.
Exclusive
July 2, 2026

ESPN Nears Mike Garafolo Deal As It Goes All In on NFL Reporters

ESPN has a deep bench of NFL reporters and personalities.
July 2, 2026

NBC’s MLB Takeover Could Offer a Glimpse of Baseball’s Future

The network’s “Star-Spangled Sunday” further heralds its return to MLB.
July 2, 2026

World Cup Ratings Getting Massive Lift From Bars and Watch Parties

Fox and Telemundo have been greatly aided by World Cup watch parties.
July 2, 2026

PGA Tour’s Biggest Events Deliver Ratings Gains Ahead of TV Talks

The $20 million events are a model for the new Championship Series.