Media rights for live sports are more valuable than ever.
Their global value has reached $55 billion in 2022 and is expected to surpass the $60 billion mark in the next two years.
Live sports have become a valuable commodity thanks to expensive contracts with major networks and streaming services, including domestic rights deals for the NFL and Indian Premier League.
- In 2021, the combined global value of all sports media rights was $54.45 billion.
- The NFL is No. 1 in the world, holding 15% of the sports media rights market in 2022.
- Roughly 97% of income from the NFL’s media rights deals is domestic.
In 2021, the NFL finalized media rights deals with CBS, NBC, Disney, FOX, and Amazon worth a collective $113 billion over 11 seasons.
As part of the deals, Amazon received exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football” — the first time a tech company has held exclusive NFL rights.
CBS retained its AFC package for Sundays, while Fox kept the NFC Sunday package it has held since 1994. Disney kept “Monday Night Football” on ESPN, and NBC retained rights to “Sunday Night Football.”
Another Coveted League
In June, Viacom18 — a joint venture between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, Paramount Global, and investment company Bodhi Tree Systems — secured streaming rights to the IPL in a five-year, $2.6 billion deal.
The Indian subcontinent has a combined sports media rights value of $1.2 billion, ranking 10th in the world.
![The University of Alabama showed off renovations to Bryant Denny Stadium Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Sports Illustrated covers decorate the walls inside the new press box. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/USATSI_15005835_168422351_lowres-scaled-e1779297429645.jpg?quality=80&w=300)
