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Global Sports Media Rights Hit Record 65.8 Billion Dollars in 2026
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CNBC TV18•14-10-2026, 21:56
Global Sports Media Rights Hit Record 65.8 Billion Dollars in 2026
  • •The global value of sports media rights surged to a record 65.82 billion dollars in 2026, marking a 15 percent increase from 2025 according to the SportBusiness Global Media Report 2026.
  • •Major sporting events including the soccer World Cup in North America and the Winter Olympics drove the significant market growth in 2026.
  • •The report forecasts that the global value of sports media rights will decrease to 62.2 billion dollars in 2027.
  • •The United States dominates the global media rights market, accounting for 53.9 percent of the total value compared to 46 percent in 2022.
  • •Major properties like the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and English Premier League drive a substantial share of the global media rights value.

Key Questions Answered

The global value of sports media rights reached a record $65.82 billion in 2026, marking a 15% increase compared to 2025.

Two major sporting events took place in 2026 to drive this growth: the soccer World Cup held in North America and the Winter Olympics.

According to the SportBusiness Global Media Report 2026, the global value of sports media rights is forecast to drop to $62.2 billion in 2027.