As I like to say, content is king. And while a lot of times that refers to things that we all post on channels like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, when it comes to sports, it often refers to TV contracts. With various networks spending big-time money in order to broadcast games, I figured I would examine which ones have been the richest TV deals in sports history.
Photo via YouTube
15. L.A. Lakers (Time Warner Cable Sportsnet) – $122 million
Unsurprisingly, the L.A. Lakers are the team with the richest, single-team deal with a TV network in the NBA, coming in with a 20-year contract with Time Warner Cable that will pay them $122 million per season over that time. It’s more than 3.5 times more than what the team received from its share of revenue from the NBA’s national TV partners like ESPN/ABC and TNT, so it’s monumental for the league to see.
Photo via YouTube
14. Texas Rangers (Fox Sports Southwest) – $155 million
Beginning this season, Fox Sports Southwest and the Texas Rangers have one of the largest deals in team sports for the next 20 years, with the Rangers bringing in $155 million annually from the agreement. The contract also hands 10 percent equity in the team to Fox Sports Southwest, so it seems to be a win-win for both sides.
Photo via YouTube
13. Philadelphia Phillies (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia) – $200 million
Swinging a deal with Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Phillies have a contract that begins in 2016 that will generate $200 million for them each season. While the team has been struggling in recent years, the market and passion for fans is undeniable in Philly, which is why the network and team bridged together and agreed on an exclusive package.
Photo via Flickr/visitphilly
12. NHL (Comcast) – $200 million per year
Taking over the rights to broadcast NHL games fooling the NHL lockout in 2004-05, NBC paid a, relatively cheap, $70 million for two years. Since the contract has been renewed—and NBC was acquired by Comcast—the NBC Sports Network upped it’s deal and coverage in 2012 with the pro hockey league for $200 million, which was around what they were pre-lockout.
Photo via YouTube
11. L.A. Dodgers (SportsNet LA) – $334 million per year
One of the richest deals for a pro sports team in history, SportsNet Los Angeles will be paying the L.A. Dodgers $334 million per year to broadcast games for the next 25 seasons. One of the premier teams in MLB and playing in the second largest media market, the Dodgers now have deep pockets to chase free agents and keep their own players, with a small margin of their profits being shared to other MLB teams for competitive balance as part of a revenue share.
Photo via Flickr/kioko
10. New York Yankees (YES Network) – $385 million per year
Signed in 2013, the New Yankees and the YES Network agreed on a deal that is the biggest for a single team in sports history, signing a 20-year contract that pays the team $385 million per season for exclusive rights and content of all things Yankees. While the team plays primetime games on other networks, YES is granted first crack at how they want to partner with the team, providing content through various channels.
Photo via Flickr/alanenglish
9. NBA (Turner) – $445 million per year
Owning TNT, Turner struck a massive deal with the NBA to air games and events throughout the season, with the network doing so ever since 1988 and paying $445 million to do so. With exclusive rights to the All-Star Game festivities and the Western Conference Finals, TNT has a strong grasp over the league and continues to expand their coverage on multiple platforms.
Photo via YouTube
8. NBA (Disney) – $485 million per year
With Disney owning ABS and the family of ESPN networks, they decided to dabble into the NBA back in 2002, originally paying $400 million for the rights to games. Since then, however, they deal has been increased to $485 million and runs until the end of 2016. The deal allows ESPN and ABC to air the NBA Finals and primetime games throughout the week and weekend during the season.
Photo via YouTube
7. MLB (Fox) – $500 million per year
Currently paying $500 million for the rights to air MLB games, Fox reached a deal with the league that carries through the 2021 season and allows Fox the rights to an extreme amount of MLB content and events from Saturday afternoon, primetime games, the World Series, the NLCS and the All-Star Game, which are all split on Fox’s family of networks.
Photo via YouTube
6. NCAA Men’s Basketball (CBS/Turner) – $740 million per year
Arguably the most exciting event of the entire sports year, the NCAA Tournament is the crown jewel for CBS/Turner to air and stream games live for fans to watch. With opening-round games starting on Thursday and Friday each year, there are plenty of people who blow-off work in order to watch games on various channels owned by Tuner. To get such rights, the company paid $740 million, with games broadcast on TNT, TBS and truTV, in addition to CBS.
Photo via YouTube
5. NFL (Comcast) – $950 million per year
You’ve been waiting all day for Sunday night—which is why NBC paid $950 million to make sure football fans tune-in to their game of the week. As one of the most-watched TV programs in the U.S. during the fall season and loads of ad money coming in during each broadcast, it seems that NBC/Comcast made the right call here. In addition to the Sunday night game, NBC airs a Thanksgiving game and the playoffs, rotating with other networks for the Super Bowl.
Photo via YouTube
4. NFL (CBS) – $1 billion per year
The original network to broadcast NFL games, CBS had a short hiatus in the mid-’90s, returning to their post in 1998 as one of the companies that gives football fans all the action each weekend, airing all the AFC home games. With a $1 billion prove tag, it’s a $100,000 less than what Fox pays for the NFC home games because of the lack of major markets.
Photo via YouTube
3. NFL (Fox) – $1.1 billion per year
Having a deal with the NFL that runs until the end of the 2021 season, Fox has the rights to broadcast all of the NFC team home games until then, paying $1.1 billion per season to do so. Airing games since 1994, Fox paid just $395 million 20-plus years ago, yet paid more to try and stay competitive with other networks as the company realized the power that the NFL brand has to its own.
Photo via YouTube
2. Premier League (SkySports) – $1.22 billion per year
There’s a reason soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and Sky Sports is a major reason in influencing the game for viewers to watch. With the Premier League being the most prominent and historic league in world soccer, Sky Sports made sure to lock-up airing matches, getting the rights to broadcast 116 matches between 2013-16. Other games can be found on NBC, which pays $83 million per year to broadcast them within in the United States.
Photo via YouTube
1. NFL (ESPN) – $1.9 billion per year
Arguably the biggest game of each NFL week, Monday Night Football has been a staple for years, shifting from ABC to ESPN back in 2006 and bringing in tons of revenue for the company since. The contract with the NFL and ESPN runs until after the 2021 season, so for those who are hoping that the popular games get put back in standard cable will have to wait until at least then unless there’s a major shift from ESPN.
Photo via YouTube
