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ESPN reportedly committed to “Inside the NBA” sans Johnson, Barkley
ESPN plans to keep TNT's "NBA Tip-Off" and "Inside the NBA" after this season, even if longtime hosts Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley depart. Johnson announced his exit, and Barkley has said he’ll leave if Johnson retires, ending the iconic trio’s run that began in 2000. ESPN's five‑year licensing deal, signed in November 2024, includes an exit clause for key host departures, though the shows’ production should remain unchanged under the new Warner Bros. Discovery‑Paramount ownership.
NFL Sunday Ticket verdict reinstated by Ninth Circuit panel
A Ninth Circuit panel has reinstated the district court’s antitrust verdict that the NFL overcharged for its “Sunday Ticket” service, sending the case back for a new damages trial. The original June 2024 jury award of $4.7 billion—potentially tripling to over $14 billion—was tossed after the lower court excluded expert testimony. The appellate judges ruled the exclusion was an abuse of discretion, ordering the liability verdict to stand while recalculating damages. The NFL, calling its distribution model “the most fan‑friendly,” says it will appeal, as the case — involving DirecTV, CBS, Fox and a $14 billion YouTube TV deal — continues to draw national attention.
ESPN ‘reluctant’ to resume talks with Aikman over cost-cutting, Buck rift
ESPN is stalling contract talks with Troy Aikman amid cost‑cutting and a sour partnership with co‑host Joe Buck, Sports Media Watch reports. Aikman demanded a $30 million‑a‑year deal—about a two‑thirds raise from his current $18 million salary—to match Buck’s recent 18% pay bump, but ESPN rejected the offer, citing a deep analyst market and the strained relationship. The network also faces another round of layoffs and is reluctant to invest in the embattled Monday Night Football booth, just weeks before its first Super Bowl broadcast in two decades.
On the Air: The qualities that make Ernie Johnson irreplaceable
The following article " On the Air: The qualities that make Ernie Johnson irreplaceable " originally appeared on Sports Media Watch . On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady offers an appraisal of TNT's Ernie Johnson and why his shoes will be impossible to fill. Visit Sports Media Watch for more sports media news and information.
NFL viewership growth is picking up pace
NFL viewership is accelerating, with regular‑season windows averaging 18.4 million viewers through Week 7 – a 4% rise over last year and the highest average since 2015. Week 7’s Sunday Night Football (Chiefs‑Seahawks) drew 26.29 million on NBC, the season’s biggest primetime audience and the fifth‑largest overall. The Chiefs have topped three networks so far, while the Seahawks’ win peaked at 29.0 million in a single quarter‑hour. FOX’s late doubleheader posted 24.67 million, Thursday Night Football 19.86 million on Prime Video, and Monday Night Football 18.8 million across ABC and ESPN. Even the International Series in Paris saw a rise to 7.70 million on NFL Network. These figures mark the strongest mid‑season ratings since the mid‑2010s.
World Series viewership bounces back in final games
World Series viewership rebounds after a dip in Game 3, with Game 4 drawing 13.48 million viewers on FOX and Fox Deportes—9% below last year’s peak but the third‑largest Game 4 since 2018. The Brewers‑Rays win marks the most‑watched non‑Dodgers World Series game since 2021, eclipsing the 2023 Rangers‑Diamondbacks series. FOX projects Game 5 will hit 14.22 million, ranking third‑highest Game 5 audience since 2018 and the top non‑Dodgers Game rating since the 2019 Nationals‑Astros Game 7. Overall, the Series is slated to average 12 million viewers, the strongest fall classic numbers since 2019.
Aikman raises doubts about his future in broadcasting
After 25 years on ESPN’s lead NFL broadcast team, Troy Aikman says his future is "50‑50" as his contract expires at season’s end. At a Peter King book event, the former quarterback admitted uncertainty, citing recent friction with co‑analyst Joe Buck and a lack of renewal talks. With CBS opting for JJ Watt and other analyst spots limited, Aikman may explore radio, a Dallas Cowboys front‑office role, or Amazon’s Thursday Night Football. His comments suggest a possible exit from ESPN, making his next move a hot topic in sports media.
New roles, layoffs, as Skydance reorganizes combined CBS and TNT sports division
Skydance reshuffles its newly merged CBS and TNT Sports unit, appointing veteran TNT exec Craig Barry as EVP and chief content officer overseeing editorial, creative and live event production. CBS digital head Jeff Gerttula will lead digital and international strategy alongside Bleacher Report GM Bennett Spector, while TNT's Yang Adija joins Gerttula’s team. The reorg also triggers a wave of departures, including TNT communications chief Nate Smeltz, CFO Sophia Constantinides, SVP Raphael Poplock, HR SVP Donald Knight, TNT Ventures president Patrick Crumb, and CBS veteran Harold Bryant. Remaining leaders such as CBS EVP Dan Weinberg, marketing head Kelly Dunne, CFO Chris Carter, and EVP communications Jen Sabatelle stay on board.
ABC “Saturday Night Football” is top CFB window of week eight, season
ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” tops college football viewership through week 8, averaging 8.9 million viewers – a 9% rise over last season. The Mississippi‑Texas game drew 8.09 million (3.8 rating) and peaked at 9.2 million, while Texas A&M‑Alabama fell to 5.90 million. ABC also leads the mid‑afternoon slot with 6.8 million viewers, though down 17% year‑over‑year, and ranks second in the Noon ET window behind FOX’s “Big Noon Saturday,” which posted 7.015 million for Indiana‑Michigan. Only one other week‑8 broadcast, Tennessee‑South Carolina on ESPN, surpassed three million viewers.
World Series rout nears viewership low on competitive night
Game 3 of the Brewers‑Rays World Series set a new low for viewership, averaging 8.3 million on FOX and Fox Deportes—potentially the second‑least‑watched World Series game ever, just behind the 2023 Rangers‑Diamondbacks matchup. The blowout 10‑0 lead for Milwaukee contributed to the dip, which was amplified by competition from a high‑profile NFL Cowboys‑Eagles game and the WNBA Finals. Earlier games drew 12.26 million and 10.85 million viewers, while Game 4 rebounded to an estimated 13.5 million, suggesting the slump may be an outlier in an otherwise solid series.
NBA Opening Week viewership hits high for second-straight year
NBA Opening Week sets a new viewership record, averaging 3.24 million viewers across NBCUniversal, ESPN and Amazon Prime Video—up 15% from last season and the highest average since 2012. NBC’s opening night triple‑header draws 5.1 million, with the Sixers‑Knicks game peaking at 7.71 million, the largest Opening Night audience ever (excluding the 2011‑12 lockout season). ESPN reaches 2.3 million, its best start since 2014, while Prime Video jumps 66% to 2.14 million. The surge reflects the NBA’s rare ability to boost both rights fees and audience reach in its new media deal.
Ernie Johnson leaving “Inside the NBA” at end of season
Ernie Johnson announces he will step back from hosting TNT/ESPN’s NBA studio shows, including “Inside the NBA,” at the end of this season, confirming rumors after Charles Barkley’s hints. Johnson says he isn’t retiring but will keep handling CBS and TNT’s NCAA men’s tournament coverage, now limited to the Final Four. He cites the demanding prep work and recent heart bypass surgery as reasons for the change, though he feels great. The move comes as TNT’s NBA rights shift to ESPN/ABC, and Barkley has hinted he’ll retire after Johnson, raising questions about the show’s future.
Earlier start impacts viewership, but WNBA Finals still hits Game 4 high
Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, moved to a 1 PM ET start, still set a series record with an average 1.895 million viewers on NBC (1.66 M linear, 232 K streaming). The Valkyries‑Dream matchup peaked at 2.49 million in the 3:30 PM quarter, a 32% rise over last year’s Game 4. It marks the highest Game 4 audience ever, surpassing the previous 1.67 M record from the Liberty‑Lynx 2024 series, and ranks eighth among all Finals games. Despite earlier timing and competition from college football, the Bay Area led with a 4.0 rating, followed by Atlanta (2.8). NBC’s overall Finals viewership climbs 20% year‑over‑year.
Brewers-Rays World Series audience opens not far off Dodgers-Jays
The following article " Brewers-Rays World Series audience opens not far off Dodgers-Jays " originally appeared on Sports Media Watch . Considering the matchup, viewership for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series held up about as well as Fox Sports could have possibly hoped. Visit Sports Media Watch for more sports media news and information.
News: ESPN, Chicago White Sox, Formula One and more
ESPN veteran producers Tim Corrigan and Mark Gross accept Disney’s voluntary early‑retirement package, exiting after nearly four decades; Corrigan will stay through this year’s NBA Finals and Gross through Super Bowl LXI. Several other Disney execs also take the offer as the company continues cost‑cutting. Chicago White Sox TV announcer John Schriffen departs after three seasons, with the team launching a national search for his replacement while analyst Steve Stone and reporter Brooke Fletcher remain. Meanwhile, Formula 1 CEO Derek Chang says the sport aims to extend its five‑year U.S. media partnership with Apple beyond the 2030 expiry. Additional notes cover the WNBA Finals, TNT Sports, David Moulton and SNY.
Thursday Night Football nears Prime-era high for Patriots-Bears
Thursday Night Football hit a new Prime Video peak in Week 7 as the Patriots defeated the Bears, drawing an average 19.86 million viewers and a 21.72 million peak during the 9 PM ET slot. The game ranks as the most-watched TNF episode since the Broncos‑Chiefs Christmas clash (21.06 M) and beats the prior Week 7 record of 17.12 M set by the Seahawks‑49ers in 2015. All six TNF broadcasts on Prime this season have set multi‑year highs, lifting the series average to 17.71 M—up 12% from last year and the best average through Week 7 on record.
DAZN-exclusive NBA teams add DirecTV distribution
DAZN is expanding its NBA reach by adding the five teams that were previously exclusive to its platform—Cavaliers, Pacers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Spurs—to DirecTV’s linear distribution. The multiyear deal, announced on October 26, lets DirecTV satellite, streaming and U‑verse subscribers access all DAZN games at no extra cost, with login integration coming in the next weeks. While DAZN already offers some free games and local OTA simulcasts, this partnership brings every broadcast, including pay‑wall content, to DirecTV’s 28‑team lineup (the 76ers remain excluded). The move marks DAZN’s first venture into vMVPD distribution and signals its broader ambitions for regional‑rights hubs across NBA, NHL and MLB.
WNBA Finals sets another viewership mark in rescheduled Game 3
Game 3 of the Valkyries‑Dream WNBA Finals drew an average of 1.71 million viewers—combining USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock streams—making it the largest Game 3 audience since the 1999 Liberty‑Comets matchup and the third‑most‑watched Finals game on cable. It ranks ninth overall in Finals history, with Atlanta’s blowout win boosting viewership 31% over last year’s Game 3. The game, moved to avoid a Thursday concert, faced no football competition and outperformed prior Finals games, which had struggled to reach a million viewers before 2024. These figures highlight the league’s growing TV presence.
What will the World Series ratings tell us?
The article examines how World Series ratings hinge on team market size, history and star power. It notes the Los Angeles Dodgers consistently draw high viewership—18.9 M in 2017, 15.7 M in 2023 and 15.2 M in 2024—thanks to their storied brand and market, far beyond what LA alone explains. By contrast, low‑profile matchups like the 2023 Rangers‑Diamondbacks series set record lows. This year’s matchup of the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays offers a test: both lack championships, have modest histories, yet feature emerging stars Jacob Misiorowski and Junior Caminero and are league leaders. The piece predicts ratings will depend on whether casual fans find enough story hooks, making the series a key barometer for future TV expectations.
On the Air: CBS plays it safe with J.J. Watt
The following article " On the Air: CBS plays it safe with J.J. Watt " originally appeared on Sports Media Watch . On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady examines why CBS Sports' decided to play it safe by making JJ Watt its permanent lead NFL analyst. Visit Sports Media Watch for more sports media news and information.
MLB Postseason viewership dips with fewer games, but still nears high
MLB postseason viewership averages 4.375 million across Fox, TNT and NBCUniversal, a 2% dip from last year but still the second‑highest since 2018. The League Championship Series draws 5.23 million on average, with the Dodgers‑Brewers Game 1 hitting a record 10.72 million and the four‑game sweep becoming the most‑watched LCS since 2015 at 7.53 million. The ALCS trails at 3.7 million, the lowest since the 2020 bubble, after a schedule packed with football competition and early start times. New Nielsen “Big Data” methodology now includes out‑of‑home viewing, though some Peacock and NBCSN series data remain unavailable.
Sixers-Knicks delivers banner NBA Opening Night audience for NBC
The Sixers‑Knicks matchup set a record for NBA Opening Night viewership on NBC, drawing an average 7.71 million viewers (5.98 M Nielsen + 1.7 M streaming). The game peaked at 9.1 million during the 9:45 PM ET quarter-hour and gave the league its largest non‑Christmas regular‑season audience since the 1999 Lakers‑Jazz broadcast. LeBron James’ debut with Philadelphia echoed his 2010 Heat debut, but the new Nielsen “big‑data” methodology means prior records may have been higher under current measurement. Overall, primetime Opening Night games averaged 6.4 million, up 14% from last year, while the weekday Celtics‑Pistons matinee logged 2.52 million—the biggest afternoon debut to date.
NFL viewership inching further ahead of last season
NFL viewership climbs to a six‑week average of 18.5 million through Week 6, a 2% rise over last season and the highest since 2015 in the Nielsen era. Week 6 draws 17.0 million (up 7% YoY), setting a record for that week. CBS leads with an 11.8 rating and 26.37 million viewers for its Bills‑Raiders/Chargers‑Chiefs doubleheader, while NBC’s Sunday Night Football follows at 24.66 million. Monday Night Football pulls 17.9 million across ABC/ESPN platforms, and Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football reaches a record 16.27 million. Despite a slow start and competition from the ALCS, the NFL outpaces last year at every point after Week 5.
News: FIFA, ESPN, Fubo and more
FIFA opens bids for U.S. and Puerto Rico media rights to the 2030 World Cup, with a Nov. 19 deadline and a Thanksgiving‑time decision meeting; the governing body prefers a single English‑Spanish partner but will consider separate linear and streaming deals and will require some free‑to‑watch matches. ESPN can now sublicense half of the five new College Football Playoff games added in the 24‑team expansion, possibly via TNT Sports or another partner, as the CFP grows through 2032. Meanwhile, Fubo secures distribution agreements for regional NBA networks covering the Hawks, Hornets, Pistons, Heat, Bucks, Thunder and Magic, and adds ClipperVision to its lineup. Other mentions include interest from Netflix, Amazon, and Fox in World Cup rights, plus updates on CBS Sports, Comcast and Versant.
CBS makes Watt permanent lead NFL analyst
CBS Sports removes the interim label from JJ Watt, signing him to a multi‑year deal as the network’s permanent lead NFL game analyst. Watt, who stepped into the role after Tony Romo’s OWI arrest and subsequent leave, will now anchor broadcasts alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson. The move ends speculation ahead of CBS’s 2027 Super Bowl coverage and limits openings for veteran analysts like Troy Aikman and Greg Olsen. Despite only two seasons in the booth and no playoff calls yet, CBS praises Watt’s insight and preparation.
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