U.S. Sports Rights Spend to Top $30 Billion

Spending on sports rights in the U.S. has more than doubled in the last decade, rising from $13.8 billion in 2015 to $30.5 billion this year, per data from Ampere Analysis.

Sports investments have grown five times faster than the overall TV market (broadcast, cable and streaming), where revenues were up 24 percent. Overall, sports rights account for 14 percent of overall TV revenues, up from 8 percent a decade ago. Growth has been led by long-term contracts such as with the NFL and the NBA, reflecting the value of live sports to broadcasters and platforms.

Ampere also explored the European sports rights sector in its latest report. Sports rights spend in the U.K. has grown at twice the rate of TV revenues since 2015, and 1.6 times as fast in Spain, while growth in France and Germany has largely stalled. TV revenue growth outpaced sports rights spend across all of Europe’s “big five” markets from 2019 to 2025.

Daniel Harraghy, research manager at Ampere Analysis, said, “As TV markets slow, sports rights inflation continues. The huge hikes in NFL and NBA deals demonstrate how live sports continue to deliver unique value as a driver of audience reach and retention. By contrast, the more restrained approach in Europe reflects the tough economics of rights investment. Market differences are being driven by several factors, including longer-term rights contracts in the U.S., business models that place greater emphasis on affiliate fees and advertising rather than subscriptions, and a more competitive rights market.”