Know What Is Next Best Of: Streaming Wars, Rights Battles, & Sports Media
Dec 23, 2025
28:31
The rules of media rights are shifting fast. In this Best Of episode, you’ll learn how leagues are navigating fragmented distribution, how Amazon and other digital players have altered valuation models, how private equity evaluates upside beyond rights fees, and why Nielsen’s new measurement approach is critical for the next decade.
You’ll hear from the following guests:
- (0:44) Doug Perlman, Sports Media Advisors
- (5:50) Greg Bedrosian, Drake Star
- (10:28) Brian Herbst, NASCAR
- (16:36) Jessica Forrest, Nielsen Sports
- (22:03) Mike Conley, Rock Entertainment Group and the Cleveland Cavaliers
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- The explosion of bidders, from Amazon to Apple to Netflix — and how it has made media-rights valuation more complex for leagues
- How institutional capital is fueling sports investment and why PE firms see untapped value beyond media rights
- A look at NASCAR’s $7.7B rights deal while adding Amazon, TNT, Max, and the CW
- How Nielsen captures streaming viewership, and what early data reveals about audience shifts across platforms
- How the Cleveland Cavaliers built their own network to prepare for the collapsing local media rights model (and why teams must now operate like media companies)
Resources and Links:
Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.