The Threat

Broadcast rights have increased steadily in value through recent decades. But the formerly cozy and exclusive content rights agreements between leagues and broadcasters are now under siege by a number of forces: the explosion of over-the-top digital video providers, social networks, user-generated content, and mobile content apps. The NBA’s recent nine-year, $24 billion deal with Turner and ESPN will most likely be the last of the all-inclusive agreements. Other leagues, most notably Major League Baseball, have had success managing their own digital platforms. The NFL, which has maintained the most conservative content plan among pro sports leagues, recently gave Yahoo! the green light to livestream a Buffalo Bills-Jacksonville Jaguars game.