SportsPro: UEFA to play in Miami, NBA on NBC gets new sponsors

🚨 Everything you need to know in #SportsBiz today 👇 1. M+C Saatchi Group acquires Women’s Sports Group, a specialist consultancy focused on women’s sport, media rights, and advisory services 2. International Olympic Committee – IOC and SEGA sign a multi-year licensing agreement featuring Sonic the Hedgehog across official Olympic digital experiences 3. UEFA approves domestic league games abroad, president Aleksander Čeferin calls the “regrettable” decision exceptional and insists it will not set a precedent 4. NCAA and AT&T extend multi-year top-tier partnership, including broadcast integrations, national campaigns, and fan activations like the Super Saturday Concert and March Madness Music Festival Block Party 5. Boyu Capital-led consortium reportedly exploring takeover of Infront Sports and Media from Dalian Wanda Group 6. NBC’s National Basketball Association (NBA) coverage secures sponsorships from American Express and McDonald’s 7. David Kogan appointed as the first Chair of English football’s new Independent Regulator 8. Heineken extends UEFA Women’s Champions League partnership until 2030, remaining official partner of the competition 9. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expresses confidence a new WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) collective bargaining agreement will be reached, while stressing need to repair league-player relations Keep your finger on the pulse with all the major stories and news announcements by checking out The Wire – our one-stop shop and super-feed of sports business news 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJKSjMv5

Yesterday we announced that we have acquired WSG, a leading specialist advisory and media rights consultancy in women’s sport. WSG, part of M+C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment delivers services across media rights, broadcast strategy, brand partnerships, production, data and insights, and communications. Its client roster includes leading federations, clubs, broadcasters, brands, and government bodies, including Barclays Women’s Super League, Premiership Women’s Rugby, the Billie Jean King Cup, Arsenal FC and DAZN. WSG has advised on landmark deals such as the FA Women’s Super League media rights and SailGP’s Women’s Pathway programme. This marks a pivotal moment in our strategy and commitment to drive growth and impact in the women's sport space as a formidable, specialist proposition with the expertise to deliver end-to-end services across sports rights, marketing, representation, and partnerships. https://lnkd.in/ebcKhX5H

Brands are eager to get involved with women’s sports, but traditional advertising inventory in women’s sports is often perceived as scarce. Transmit is proud to announce our partnership with Trailblazing Sports Group and the launch of “Trailblazing Moments,” a new offering built specifically for women’s sports. This partnership allows brands to reach women’s sports fans across WNBA, NWSL, UEFA Women’s Champions League, and more with moment-specific creative. See the full Sports Business Journal article in the comments.

🇬🇧⚽ Why is The Premier League the best league in the world? Let examine this with some figures. When we talk about the best league in the world, there are certain key factors that make the difference. In my opinion, the most important are: 🔥 High Competitiveness Teams must be on a similar level. At the start of the season, no one can predict with certainty who will be the champion, who will be relegated, or who will qualify for Europe. 🏆 Sporting Level While the Second Division might be more balanced, most people prefer to watch LaLiga. Why? Because the level of the teams makes the difference. Quality attracts, and that’s what really hooks the viewer. 🌟 Presence of Superstars Big-name players not only raise the level of play but also act as global ambassadors for the league. The Premier League meets all three of these factors at the highest standards. But beyond that, there are other aspects that reinforce its global leadership. Let’s look at some key data: 💰 TV Rights Revenue The Premier League 💂♂️ generates €4.451 billion per year in TV rights: 📺 €1.951B from domestic rights (Sky Sports and TNT, 2025–2029) 🌍 €2.5B from international rights (2025–2028) In contrast, LaLiga 🇪🇸 brings in €1.89 billion annually: 📺 €990M from domestic rights (Movistar and DAZN, 2022–2027) 🌍 €900M from international rights ⚖️ Revenue Distribution Model 🇬🇧 Premier League 65% is distributed equally among the 20 clubs 25% based on league position 10% based on number of televised matches Difference between the club that earns the most and the least: around 1.4–1.8x 🇪🇸 LaLiga 50% is distributed equally 25% based on sporting results over the last 5 seasons 25% based on social impact (audiences, season tickets, social media, etc.) Difference between the top-earning club (Real Madrid) and the lowest: 3.5–4x 💎 Total Squad Value 🇬🇧 Premier League: €12.78 billion → Average per club: €639 million 🇪🇸 LaLiga: €5.57 billion → Average per club: €278 million (Real Madrid: €1.4B / FC Barcelona: €1.1B) 💼 Annual Wage Spending 🇬🇧 Premier League: €2.286 billion 🇪🇸 LaLiga: €1.347 billion But here’s a key detail 👇 In LaLiga, 46.9% of total spending is concentrated in just 3 clubs: Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético. In the Premier League, the Top 3 (Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool) represent only 27.7% of the total. Looking at the Top 🔟: In LaLiga, the 10 highest-spending clubs account for 79.1% of the total. In the Premier League, the Top 10 account for 68.6%. These figures show that the Premier League not only leads in revenue and sporting level, but also has a more balanced economic structure, which translates into greater competitiveness and global appeal. Sources: Mundo Deportivo, 2Playbook, LaLiga, SalaryLeak, Transfermarkt, MarketingRegistrado.

⚽The way fans are engaging with sports is leading to a new business model that allows buyers and federations to maximise the value of produced content, which is now layered instead of universal. 💰Sports rights fragmentation is transforming from a challenge to an opportunity for a healthier, more dynamic, and inclusive sports media ecosystem. Our latest research shows an interesting pattern in sports rights deals in 2024. Approximately 2% of all deals have transitioned from traditional broadcasters to newer platforms like streaming services and D2C offerings, a movement that is rapidly accelerating. 📈This has led to platforms like YouTube securing more sports rights than any other single outlet in many territories, particularly within Tier 2 and Tier 3 sports. Read more in the article at SVG Europe to understand how this evolution is creating new commercial potential and leveling the playing field for smaller federations. 👇

Women's sports revenues are projected to surpass $2.35bn in 2025. Commercial revenue remains dominant, despite strong growth in broadcast and ticketing income, underscoring the sector's increasing brand recognition, long-term value creation and expanding commercial ecosystem.

Broadcaster, multi-platform presenter and digital creator, Jolie Sharpe has signed with CAA Sports Creative Artists Agency for representation in all areas. The 24-year-old will be represented by a team of agents led by Alex McGuire, who oversees CAA’s Sports Media representation throughout the UK and Europe.  The London born presenter captured the attention of football fans worldwide when her interview for the Daily Mail Sport Instagram channel, ahead of the European Championship Final, went viral - amassing over 80 million views.  More https://lnkd.in/d45sMbY #sponsorship #celebrity #influencer #celebrity #representation

🎙 AMOSinMind | 🏀 WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Lands Long-Term Visibility: 11-Year Deal Congratulations to the work of the WNBA Players, the League and Cathy Engelbert This is huge for women’s basketball. The WNBA has just inked an 11-year media rights agreement with Versant Media to broadcast games on USA Networks, beginning with the 2026 season and running through 2036. Under the deal, USA Network will air at least 50 games per year—including regular season matchups, Wednesday night doubleheaders, and selective playoff/Finals coverage—with supporting pregame and postgame studio programming. This builds on the league’s landmark 2024 deals with The Walt Disney Company, Amazon, and NBCUniversal, which were already valued at around $200 million annually. From a global and CBA perspective, this deal strengthens the WNBA’s leverage in collective bargaining and future revenue sharing. Visibility is critical when negotiating long-term contracts with players; greater broadcast reach means stronger justification for elevating salaries, benefits, and investment in player development. It also helps the league without relying solely on streaming or niche platforms, giving fans consistent access to games across households. Looking ahead, this agreement places the WNBA in a premier spotlight—USA Network will become a trusted destination for basketball fans, particularly in the U.S., but with potential spillover to international audiences. As the league grows its brand, this stability in broadcast platforms could be the backbone that allows WNBA to expand globally, attract sponsorships, deepen its fan base, and compete with major leagues for cultural relevance—not just basketball relevance. #WNBA #MediaRights #Versant #SportsBroadcasting #WomenInSports #SportsBranding #AMOSinMind #CBA #MarketingIsMyWorld

Bahrain Sports Channel Prepares for Historic Asian Games Coverage Media Committee – Asian Youth Games 2025: As the Kingdom of Bahrain gears up to host the Asian Youth Games from October 22 to 31, 2025, Mr. Ali Hussain, Director of Sports Media, has confirmed that Bahrain Sports Channel will take on the monumental task of broadcasting the largest sporting event in the history of Bahrain. He emphasized that the coverage will be comprehensive and unprecedented in both scale and content. Hussain stated that television broadcasting will be the backbone of the media coverage, explaining, “Both Bahrain Sports Channel One and Two will broadcast the events live every day. We have allocated seven live broadcasts daily to cover 26 sports throughout the competition, featuring both men’s and women’s categories.” He added that the plan includes live coverage of more than 145 competitions across various media platforms, reflecting the significant efforts made to showcase this continental event in a manner befitting Bahrain’s stature. The Director of Sports Media also noted that the coverage will not be limited to live broadcasts; it will include both live and recorded programs to enhance audience engagement. “Daily morning and evening studios will be aired to keep pace with the tournament’s developments, highlighting key results and analyses with contributions from a select group of experts, stars, and sporting champions. Additionally, recorded programs will showcase behind-the-scenes footage, fan voices, and highlight the most memorable moments from the competitions.” He confirmed that all finals, along with the opening and closing ceremonies, will be broadcast live across Bahrain Sports Channels. He added, “The broadcasting plan has been developed according to the highest standards of professional excellence, utilizing all available human and technical resources. Daily reports and highlights will be aired throughout the day to ensure comprehensive coverage of the tournament in every Bahraini home" #Bahrain #BAYG #AsianGames #OCA #BahrainOlympic #BOC #Bahrain2025 

The sports industry has always thrived on ticket sales, merchandise, media rights, and sponsorships for traditional, transactional revenue models. But the game is changing. Fans today don’t just want to watch their teams. They want to connect, engage, and belong. The future of revenue in sports lies in: Personalized digital experiences Direct-to-fan platforms Exclusive content Real-time engagement across social and streaming The winners in this new era won’t be those who can sell the most seats but those who can build the strongest fan relationships. Because when you build a community revenue will follow. What’s your take? Are sports brands doing enough to move from transactional to relational thinking? #SportsBusiness #FanEngagement #FutureOfSports #SportsTech #DigitalTransformation #CommunityEconomy