Spending on sports rights rises 122% in past decade
Spending on sports rights rises 122% in past decade
New data from Ampere Analysis shows that spending on sports is fast outpacing revenue growth.
Sports rights have long been one of the most expensive programming genres for media companies to spend on. Top leagues like the NFL know they’re the hottest game in town, and they’re not at all shy about reminding programmers of that fact. But when examining new data from Ampere Analysis, it becomes starkly apparent how expensive live sports deals have become in the past decade.
Key Details:
- Spending boom: Sports rights spending in the United States grew 122% between 2015 and 2025.
- Outpacing income: In the same time period, revenue from broadcast, cable, and streaming combined rose just 24%.
- What does it mean for viewers?: The increasing costs of live sports will continue to be passed along to customers.
Ampere’s data shows that sports rights spending in the United States grew by 122% in the past decade. In 2015, companies spent a combined $13.8 billion on live sports rights; that number has jumped to $30.5 billion in 2025, driven in large part by new TV deals for the NFL in 2021 and the NBA in 2024.
The share of U.S. TV revenue that is now spent on live sports rights is up to 14%, a jump from 8% in 2015. The outlay on live sports is fast outpacing the revenue brought in by TV companies; combined revenues from broadcast, cable, and streaming have risen at a comparatively slower rate of 24% since 2015, from $172 billion to $213 billion.
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In Europe, the numbers look a bit different. Sports rights spending has grown at twice the rate of TV revenues in the United Kingdom since 2015, but in France and Germany, the growth of spending on this programming has largely stalled. TV revenue growth outpaced sports rights spending across all of Europe’s five biggest TV markets between 2019 and 2025, reflecting a more cautious stance by broadcasters.
“As TV markets slow, sports rights inflation continues,” Ampere research manager Daniel Harraghy said. “The huge hikes in NFL and NBA deals demonstrate how live sports continue to deliver unique value as a driver of audience reach and retention. By contrast, the more restrained approach in Europe reflects the tough economics of rights investment. Market differences are being driven by several factors, including longer-term rights contracts in the U.S., business models that place greater emphasis on affiliate fees and advertising rather than subscriptions, and a more competitive rights market.”
What does the jump in sports spending mean for U.S. fans? Unfortunately, it means the higher prices demanded by leagues for their rights will probably mean costs are passed along to the consumer. The cost will trickle down from programmers to distributors, who will make the case that ensuring access to top sporting events will mean charging more. Direct-to-consumer services aren’t going to be much help in lowering costs either, as the $30 monthly price tag of the new ESPN streaming service indicates.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.