Sports Media Watch

NFL reportedly wants new rights deals in place by start of next season The timeline is accelerating for the NFL's expedited media rights talks, with the league now said to want deals done by the start of the season.

NFL wants new rights deals in place by start of next season, according to John Ourand of Puck. League is expected to negotiate the new deals one-by-one (starting with Paramount), with all going into effect immediately: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/nfl-...

News: Netflix, Paramount, FIFA and more No sign of change in Netflix sports approach; Paramount's Ellison discusses NFL "ongoing negotiation" on CNBC; and more sports media news.

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: No signs of change in @netflix.com sports strategy; Paramount anticipates continuing NFL relationship; and more sports media news.

www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/netf...

TNT Sports picks up FIBA basketball TNT Sports is still open for business, for however long that might be, picking up rights to FIBA Basketball in a multi-year deal.

TNT Sports picks up FIBA Basketball in return of 5-on-5 professional hoops -- and its first rights deal since Paramount-WBD agreement was announced last week. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/tnt-...

TNT Sports picks up FIBA basketball TNT Sports is still open for business, for however long that might be, picking up rights to FIBA Basketball in a multi-year deal.

TNT Sports picks up FIBA Basketball in return of 5-on-5 professional hoops -- and its first rights deal since Paramount-WBD agreement was announced last week. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/tnt-...

Hummel promotion, Webber return, lead CBS/TNT tournament changes In a year of multiple transitions for CBS and TNT Sports, the networks' joint NCAA Tournament broadcast teams feature some notable changes.

Hummel promotion, Webber return, lead CBS/TNT NCAA Tournament changes: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/robb...

Lakers-Warriors rivalry fading as a TV draw amid injuries Not too long ago the marquee attraction in the NBA, Lakers-Warriors was the least-watched of the four NBA games on broadcast TV last weekend.

Lakers-Warriors fading as TV draw amidst injuries; Saturday's game was the least-watched of the four NBA games on broadcast television last weekend: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/lake...

Lakers-Warriors rivalry fading as a TV draw amid injuries Not too long ago the marquee attraction in the NBA, Lakers-Warriors was the least-watched of the four NBA games on broadcast TV last weekend.

Lakers-Warriors fading as TV draw amidst injuries; Saturday's game was the least-watched of the four NBA games on broadcast television last weekend: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/lake...

Yes -- Webber back on games and in a two-person booth.

Hummel promotion, Webber return, lead CBS/TNT tournament changes In a year of multiple transitions for CBS and TNT Sports, the networks' joint NCAA Tournament broadcast teams feature some notable changes.

Hummel promotion, Webber return, lead CBS/TNT NCAA Tournament changes: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/robb...

Benetti officially named lead MLB voice for NBC As expected, NBC Sports has named Jason Benetti as its lead Major League Baseball voice, debuting on Opening Day March 26.

NBC officially names Jason Benetti the voice of its new MLB package: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/jaso...

That's the official name, so I can't really blame them. I change it because it just seems like the right approach to me.

Iowa State discontinues women's gymnastics program Iowa State is ending its women's gymnastics program. The school's AD called the move "the right decision for our athletics program and our student athletes," citing a pattern of issues within the prog...

In the old days, I suspect you'd get an Outside the Lines on this. Power Four team shuts down after 50 years amid what appears to be internal conflict. Today ... *maybe* a deep dive in The Athletic? But certainly nothing on TV. www.espn.com/college-spor...

I have no way to verify this, but I'm thinking the last time Bob Costas called an NBA game where one team led by 40 was Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals.

In the old days, NBC's scorebug would flash on and off screen intermittently -- meaning that if you tuned in right now, you might not immediately realize what a blowout this is.

Bob Costas calling an NBA game tonight for the first time in 24 years -- since Dallas-Minnesota Game 3 in 2002. Costas did a handful of playoff games in '02 after Marv Albert was hurt in a car accident.

Costas' partner that day is also working tonight's game -- P.J. Carlesimo.

Pretty much everyone on NBC's NBA throwback broadcast is currently working on NBA coverage, save for Doug Collins. But Collins sounds like not a moment has passed since he last called games for ESPN years ago.

Will media consolidation finally end TNT Sports? Will Paramount's looming acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery finally mark the end of one of sports TV's great brands, TNT Sports?

The future of TNT Sports has been on uncertain ground through years of instability for its various parent companies. Will Paramount's acquisition finally mark the end of one of sports TV's great brands? www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/para...

Why all major photo services are boycotting college basketball games managed by The Gazelle Group The largest photo services have been boycotting all college basketball games run by The Gazelle Group all season because of its credentialing policy.

Last week, @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social made a very astute observation:

None of the photo wire services were at #1 UM vs. #3 Duke. How could that be?

What I uncovered was that they have been boycotting many high-profile neutral-site games all season.

awfulannouncing.com/college-bask...

World Series and Dodgers voice Joe Davis joins the pod; Plus: Mike Tirico's moment and an Olympics wrap Podcast Episode · Sports Media Watch Podcast · March 2 · 58m

Full podcast here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

News: Paramount, Fox, Detroit SportsNet and more Paramount plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+; Fox thinks its NFL "current pricing is at market"; and more sports media news.

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Paramount to combine HBO Max, Paramount + after Warner Bros. Discovery transaction; Ilitch Sports + Entertainment to launch Detroit SportsNet; and more sports media news.

www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/03/para...

World Series and Dodgers voice Joe Davis joins the pod; Plus: Mike Tirico's moment and an Olympics wrap Podcast Episode · Sports Media Watch Podcast · March 2 · 58m

New SMW Podcast:
-- World Series and L.A. Dodgers voice Joe Davis joins the pod for an in-depth interview about last year's epic Fall Classic, replacing legendary broadcasters, and much more
-- Plus: The Mike Tirico moment and final Olympic thoughts
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

Ratings still show no sign of a 'Jordan effect' in NASCAR Michael Jordan returned to victory lane for a second-straight week, but there is no sign yet that his run of success is impacting the ratings.

ICYMI: Still show no sign of 'Michael Jordan effect' on NASCAR ratings.

With Tyler Reddick now having won the first three races of the year, can that possibly change? (I doubt it ... Reddick himself will have to be the draw. But we'll see.) www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/02/nasc...

Sports Ratings Tracker A one-stop page for sports TV ratings news as it arrives, covering all sports and networks for which information is available.

Viewership up for PGA Tour's West Coast swing on CBS: www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...

Paramount officially announces deal to acquire WBD Paramount has signed a definitive merger agreement under which it will acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in its entirety.

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Paramount officially announces deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/02/para...

OK -- check again and that should be fixed.

Where are you located if you don't mind me asking?

Netflix to simulcast F1 race in deal to share "Drive to Survive" with Apple The beat goes on at Netflix, which continues to expand its live sports portfolio thanks to a new agreement with F1 broadcaster Apple.

Netflix to simulcast Formula 1 race in deal to share "Drive to Survive" with Apple: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/02/netf...

News: Discovery Global, Paramount, Atlanta Braves and more Discovery Global spinoff would not happen if Paramount-WBD deal gets done; Paramount discusses its NFL future; and more sports media news.

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Discovery Global spinoff will not go forward with a deal between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery; Paramount discusses its future with the NFL; and more sports media news.

www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/02/disc...

This will also mark "Sunday Night Football" director Drew Esocoff's first NBA assignment since 2006. That is not part of the throwback effort (he worked NBA games for ABC, not NBC), but instead the start of a regular role on NBC's NBA coverage.

Bob Costas, Hannah Storm, to headline "throwback" NBA game on NBC NBC Sports is bringing back many of the broadcasters associated with its 1990s-era NBA package for a special "throwback" game Tuesday night.

Tuesday's NBC crew for Spurs-Sixers: Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello and Jim Gray, with Hannah Storm anchoring "NBA Showtime."

It's a throwback game on NBC, complete with 1990s graphics: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/02/bob-...