While live sports media rights have been moving to streaming platforms for years, the 2025/26 season marks a pivotal shift in how NFL fans can access content. For the first time, every game will be available through one streaming platform or another following the launches of ESPN's enhanced direct-to-consumer app and Fox One. Coupled with existing streaming services like Paramount+, Netflix and Amazon Prime, US football fans will undoubtedly be watching more games on more platforms than ever before. 

Ahead of the kick off of the 2025/26 season, "MediaTalk" host Mike Reynolds is joined by a trio of S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan analysts to discuss how traditional broadcasters like NBC, CBS, and Fox are adapting to this new media environment. While network owners have previously expressed concerns about fragmentation, they now appear to be leaning in to multiplatform audiences and ad sales.

Even on the linear side, the numbers remain strong, with "Sunday Night Football" on NBC maintaining its reign as the top-rated series for 14 consecutive years. Local broadcast stations remain important partners for building in-market support for NFL teams. With this in mind, the panel discusses potential shifts in media rights post-2029, with the possibility of more games moving to streaming platforms as existing deals expire.

More S&P Global content:

• The Business of Sports 
• Moneyball: The impact of sports media rights on the US video market

 

Featured experts:

• Justin Nielson, principal analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan.
• Scott Robson, principal analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan.
• Michael Johnson, research analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan

Credits:

• Host/Author: Mike Reynolds
• Producer/Editor: Sarah James

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