Sports

“Live Sports Are Saving Broadcast TV — And 2025 Is Just the Beginning”

Published

5 months ago

August 30, 2025

As the 2025 college football season kicks off, broadcast networks are doubling down on live sports programming to reclaim primetime dominance. With Saturday and Sunday nights packed with sports content through spring 2026, the question isn’t just whether sports can save TV—it’s how each network is positioning itself to win.

Why Live Sports Matter More Than Ever

In the age of streaming and on-demand content, live sports remain the last true appointment television. Viewers may binge dramas and reality shows at their convenience, but sports demand real-time engagement. That urgency drives ratings, ad revenue, and brand loyalty—making sports the most valuable content on television.

Network-by-Network Breakdown

NBC: The Sports Powerhouse

NBC is building a weekend sports empire:

Sunday Night Football has been the #1 primetime show in America for 14 consecutive years, averaging 25.1 million viewers in the 2024–25 season.
NBC recently secured rights to NBA games, returning pro basketball to the network for the first time since 2002.
A pending deal to take over ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball will give NBC a full weekend slate.
Peacock will stream Friday Night Baseball starting in 2026, expanding NBC’s reach into streaming-exclusive sports.

NBC’s strategy is clear: dominate Friday through Sunday with live sports, making it the go-to destination for weekend viewers.

We even add to the list the 2026 Winter Olympics which will likely keep the Peacock a ratings winner for two weeks in February.

FOX: Sports + Reality = Ratings Gold

FOX blends sports and unscripted programming to lead weekly ratings:

NFL on FOX remains a top draw, with marquee games averaging 22–24 million viewers.
MLB Playoffs and World Series games consistently pull 15–18 million viewers.
College football and basketball fill the calendar through winter.
NASCAR races are increasingly airing on broadcast, with the Daytona 500 drawing 9.3 million viewers in 2025.

FOX’s formula of live sports + reality hits like The Masked Singer and Next Level Chef keeps it competitive across demographics.

CBS: Scripted Strength with Sports Staples

CBS leans on its scripted lineup but still delivers key sports content:

SEC college football and March Madness are CBS staples, with NCAA Tournament games reaching up to 16 million viewers.
CBS’s scripted shows like NCIS and FBI dominate older demographics, but sports help attract younger viewers during key seasons.

CBS is less aggressive in sports expansion but remains a reliable player during major events.

ABC/ESPN: Disney’s Dual Strategy

ABC and ESPN combine forces to maximize reach:

ABC airs college football and NBA games in primetime, especially on Saturdays.
ESPN handles weekday and cable-exclusive coverage, but simulcasts on ABC boost visibility.
Disney’s sports rights portfolio includes NFL, NBA, NHL, and college sports, making it a multi-platform powerhouse.

ABC’s sports presence is strategic, supporting its scripted lineup while leveraging ESPN’s deep bench.

The CW: A New Player in Live Sports

The CW is pivoting from teen dramas to sports:

In 2024, The CW began airing ACC college football and basketball, drawing 1–2 million viewers per game—a strong start for a network new to sports.
The CW also picked up NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, expanding its weekend offerings.
With fewer scripted obligations, The CW has room to grow its sports slate and attract younger, cord-cutting audiences.

This shift marks a bold rebrand for The CW, positioning it as a rising player in live sports.

ION Television: Syndication Meets Sports

ION TV, known for syndicated dramas like Blue Bloods and Law & Order, is exploring sports partnerships:

In 2025, ION began airing select local NBA and NHL games, capitalizing on the collapse of regional sports networks.
While ION’s reach is more limited, its broadcast footprint and low-cost model make it an attractive option for teams seeking exposure.

ION’s entry into sports is modest but strategic, offering a new home for displaced local broadcasts.

Great question—this shift is reshaping how fans access their favorite teams. As regional sports networks (RSNs) continue to collapse due to bankruptcy and cord-cutting, several NBA and NHL teams are moving their local broadcasts to free over-the-air (OTA) stations and launching direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platforms. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable moves:

NBA Teams Moving to Local Broadcast Stations

NBC’s “Coast to Coast Tuesdays”

NBC will air regional split doubleheaders every Tuesday night, giving airtime to many teams that previously had limited national exposure. These games will be broadcast on local NBC affiliates.

Sacramento Kings – 5 games on NBC
Portland Trail Blazers – 6 games on NBC
Utah Jazz – 1 game on NBC
Phoenix Suns – 5 games on NBC
Dallas Mavericks – 8 games on NBC
Houston Rockets, Timberwolves, Thunder – 6–8 games each on NBC

These teams are benefiting from NBC’s return to NBA broadcasting, which includes 58 games on broadcast TV, many of which are regionally split.

Other NBA Shifts

Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz were early adopters of the “beam and stream” model, airing games on local broadcast TV and launching their own DTC streaming apps.
Chicago Bulls are exploring simulcasts with WGN-TV, a CW affiliate, to expand reach beyond cable.

NHL Teams Moving to Local Broadcast Stations

Confirmed Moves to OTA Stations

ampa Bay Lightning are officially moving their games to broadcast television starting with the 2025–26 NHL season, marking a major shift in how fans across Florida can access Bolts hockey.

Local Broadcast Station: Games will air on WXPX-TV Channel 66, branded as “The Spot – Tampa Bay 66” With stations in Orlando and Jacksonville on board.

Streaming Option: Fans can also live-stream games through the Lightning app, powered by ViewLift

Anaheim Ducks – Now airing games on KCOP-MNT (Fox-owned station in LA) after Bally Sports San Diego shut down.
Chicago Blackhawks – Moved to the new Chicago Sports Network, with potential simulcasts on WGN-TV.
Colorado Avalanche – Shifted 20 games to KUSA-NBC and KTVD-MNT in Denver.
Dallas Stars – Left RSN for their own Victory+ free streaming service.
Florida Panthers – Now airing games on WSFL-CW in Miami and WHDT in West Palm Beach.
Vegas Golden Knights – Partnered with Scripps Sports for OTA broadcasts.
Utah Hockey Club (formerly Arizona Coyotes) – Launched their own Mammoth+ streaming platform and OTA deals.

These moves are part of a broader NHL strategy to decentralize local rights, allowing teams to find market-specific solutions as RSNs falter.

What This Means for Fans

More accessibility: Fans without cable can now watch games via antenna or streaming.
Fragmented experience: Each team has its own app or broadcast partner, making it harder to follow multiple teams.
National consolidation: The NBA is exploring a league-wide in-market streaming package, similar to NFL Sunday Ticket.

If you want a team-by-team viewing guide or help finding where to watch your local games, I can build that next.

Sports vs. Scripted: The Cost and ROI

While scripted shows cost $2–5 million per episode, live sports rights can run into the billions. Yet the return is undeniable:

Sports dominate live viewership, social media engagement, and advertising revenue.
In 2025, sports accounted for 80% of the top 50 most-watched broadcasts in the U.S.
Advertisers pay premiums for live events, especially in the 18–49 demographic, where scripted shows often fall short.

The Future of Broadcast TV Is Live

With streaming platforms fragmenting audiences, live sports offer a unifying force. From NBC’s weekend takeover to The CW’s bold pivot, every network is betting big on sports to stay relevant.

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Sports

MLB Owners And Players Continue To Court Public Opinion In CBA Talks

Published

47 minutes ago

January 20, 2026

Austin Reed

Tony Clark

The CBA ends in December.

The sparring between Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and the Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark continues as MLB gets ready for the 2026 season. The collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners ends in December and the central issue seems to be this. The owners want cost certainty which could mean a salary cap and the players want no part of that. There is also the question of how much the owners are really hurting financially when the Los Angeles Dodgers owners can give Kyle Tucker a $64 million signing bonus within a four-year deal reportedly worth $240 million and the owner of the New York Mets franchise Steve Cohen can hand out a three-year deal to Bo Bichette that reportedly is worth $126 million. Of course, New York and Los Angeles are the two biggest markets in the country with a lot of wealth. It is the small market owners who are going to tell Manfred that cannot compete with the Dodgers and the Mets.

Manfred is trying to put a positive spin on the negotiations. “Until I got elected commissioner, all I did was labor relations. That’s how I made my living. I’ve never been in a negotiation where, before the first piece of paper went across the table, I, or anyone I represented, was out there saying, ‘This, we absolutely will not talk about.’ I just think it’s a hard way to begin a negotiation.” The players put out a statement that contradicts Manfred. “The league and owners say they want to avoid missing games but at the same time they appear to be dead-set on trying to force players into a system that, the last time they proposed it, led to the most missed games ever and a cancelled World Series” in 1994. The sniping continues.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Kyle Tucker

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Sports

Saudi Darts Masters: Littler triumphs as atmosphere fails to ignite

Published

3 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Austin Reed

Luke-Littler (PA)

Luke Littler 8 – 5 Michael van Gerwen (best of 15 legs)

Reigning double world champion and world number one Luke Littler bounced back from his Bahrain setback to win the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters on the eve of his 19th birthday, rounding off a sensational day by defeating Michael van Gerwen 8–5 in a high-quality final.

Littler had to come from behind in a hard-fought quarter-final against Gian van Veen, before exacting revenge on Gerwyn Price in the semi-final, having lost to the Welshman at last week’s event in Bahrain.

‘The Nuke’ then started off like a bullet train against van Gerwen, racing into a 4–0 lead in a matter of minutes while averaging a remarkable 114. ‘Mighty Mike’, to his credit, raised his level to haul it back to 4–3, only to miss three darts at double 10 to draw level.

From there, Littler regained his edge, and despite pressure from the Dutchman, got over the line with a superb 11-darter to seal the victory.

Explosive darts action in a restrained atmosphere in Riyadh

If the sport is judged purely on the competition itself, then the crowd were treated to a spectacular showcase of darts at its very best. van Gerwen illustrated that range perfectly, averaging just 87 in a laboured quarter-final win over Stephen Bunting before lifting his level dramatically to post 100-plus averages in both his semi-final and final.

Then there was Littler, who had to produce his best to overcome three opponents in high-quality encounters, while surprise quarter-finalist Man Lok Leung impressed by pushing Nathan Aspinall all the way. From a purely sporting perspective, it was the kind of day any darts fan would happily lap up.

But Riyadh had never hosted a PDC event before, and it showed. Without the usual fancy dress, constant noise and crowd-led momentum that darts thrives on, the atmosphere was noticeably muted from start to finish.

Culturally, that is understandable and works well enough for many sports, but darts is different. The gap in understanding was evident when the crowd greeted an early sub-50 checkout with the same muted enthusiasm as a ton-plus finish later on, flattening moments that would normally lift the room.

The players would have felt it too. Darts players feed off the crowd in different ways, and there was little coming back at them to draw energy from. Most are media-trained to not criticise openly, although Nathan Aspinall did suggest that the crowd were still finding their way with the finer details of the sport, and some may even have been ringers.

As a first staging of the event, lessons will inevitably be learned and things may improve when darts returns to the Kingdom. One thing is certain – Saudi Arabia rarely loosens its grip once it has a sport in its grasp, and it is unlikely to be content in the long term with hosting a solitary, minor tournament while the game itself is still shaking off the afterglow of the World Championship.

But if the sport is to truly thrive here long term, a balance will need to be found between local traditions and the atmosphere that has long been part of what makes darts what it is.

Results round-up

Quarter-finals (best of 11 legs)

Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Man Lok Lueng
Luke Littler 6-4 Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Luke Humphies

Semi-finals (best of 13 legs)

Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Littler 7-5 Gerwyn Price

Final (best of 15 legs)

Luke Littler 8-5 Michael van Gerwen

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Sports

Tampa Bay Downs special: Let ’em Run live from Florida

Published

7 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Austin Reed

Tune în Wednesday for a special show from Tampa Bay Downs

Let ‘em Run Special Wednesday Podcast LIVE from Tampa Bay Downs

Midweek racing brings fresh opportunity, sharper opinions, and real-time insight from the track. This Wednesday, Let ‘em Run takes the show on the road with live analysis straight from Tampa Bay Downs. With strong angles, value-driven plays, and boots on the ground, this special edition delivers the kind of edge horseplayers look for during the week.

Be sure to tune in on Wednesday at 12:30 PM EST for our special “Boots on the Ground” segment. John Kostin will be live from Tampa Bay Downs and joined by guest handicapper Wadie Khalaf. Together, they will break down the card with a sharp focus on the Late P5 and key spot plays, including the always-popular Bro’s BRISnet Play of the Day. You can catch the show live on Sports Talk Media Network, along with multiple streaming apps and social channels. Let’s take a closer look at a few races that stand out.

Tampa Bay Downs | Wednesday 1/21/26

Race 2 | 12:20 PM EST

This race offers a strong opinion with limited value, but there is still a way to make it pay. The #5 Uncashed sits at 2-1 on the morning line and owns a +10 BRISnet Prime Power advantage over the rest of the field. That edge pushes the projected win percentage to around 55%. He also profiles as the lone “E” type in the race, which strengthens the pace advantage. Trainer numbers support the play as well, with a 31% win rate when sending out runners who won last time out.

Since the price will likely drop, the value shifts to a double play. The suggested approach is a $50 double using 5 with 9 and 10 in Race 3. The outside posts win often in that race, and the odds should offer a better return.

Race 8 | 3:55 PM EST

This race sets up nicely for another BRISnet-based angle and should provide a fairer price at post time. The #1 Paynter’s Prodigy sits at 3-1 and checks several important boxes. He is an “E” type, owns the highest last-race speed figure, and also tops the field in early TimeformUS Pace.

The only other true speed appears to be #12 Chico Charlie at 6-1, but that runner draws a tough, ground-losing outside post. The price on the #1 may drift up, as jockey Wesley Ho remains capable but does not draw heavy public support. That scenario could create solid betting value.

All three of us will share insights and opinions on the full Late P5 during the live podcast. Be sure to tune in. Bet smart, cheer hard, fast horses equal serious fun, and as always, Let ‘em Run.

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