🏟️ A New Lineup for MLB Media

Welcome to this week’s edition of Sports Industry Weekly.
We’re breaking down the biggest headlines, boldest moves, and emerging trends shaping the business of sports. From major deals to industry shifts, here’s what you need to know. Let’s dive in.

MLB just reshaped its entire media future, announcing three new national deals that will redefine how fans watch baseball starting in 2026. The league has struck three-year agreements with NBCUniversal, Netflix, and ESPN. A lineup that blends legacy reach with new-school streaming power.

NBC returns to MLB for the first time in 26 years, Netflix will carry live baseball for the first time in its history, and ESPN extends its run to an unprecedented 39 consecutive seasons. Together, the deals mark one of the biggest shifts in MLB’s modern broadcast strategy.

The move also sets up a new competitive battleground: on-air talent. With Netflix and NBC entering the fold, the race for top MLB broadcasters and analysts is expected to heat up quickly, putting long-time voices and emerging personalities in high demand across networks.

For fans and the industry, this moment signals more than a new media package, it’s the start of a reshaped baseball ecosystem, where streaming, talent, and distribution all evolve to meet the future of the sport. (read more)

💰 The WNBA’s new CBA proposal adds revenue sharing and a major salary bump, with key details still developing.

🏀 The Lakers’ front-office reset includes parting ways with Joey and Jesse Buss.

🏟️ Real Madrid’s $1.9B stadium used its underground pitch system to host the NFL’s first game in Spain.

📺 NWSL viewership rose 22% this season, with playoff numbers already trending up.

🎰 Arizona landed a 20-year stadium naming-rights deal believed to be the largest in Big 12 history.

🦃 Virginia Tech approved a $229M athletics investment alongside hiring James Franklin.

🚨 Michigan pushed back on the Big Ten’s private equity plan and hinted at a possible future outside the conference.

📦 TKO is finalizing a DoorDash deal that expands the brand across UFC and WWE.

📊 FanDuel and DraftKings left the AGA as prediction market tensions grow across the industry.

🏗️ Birmingham City unveiled a $1.5B, 62,000-seat stadium plan, signaling a bold push from its Brady-backed ownership.

🏒 After 30+ years under Bettman, the NHL now faces pivotal decisions on its future.

🔍 Learfield is exploring major options, including a sale, as the college sports landscape rapidly shifts.

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