Major League Baseball announced new three-year media rights agreements with Netflix, NBCUniversal and ESPN on November 19, marking a significant restructuring of the league's broadcast landscape. Sunday Night Baseball will shift from ESPN, where it aired since 1990, to NBCUniversal, which also secured the rights to Sunday Leadoff and the Wild Card Series.

Deal Structure:

The deal values MLB rights at roughly $800 million per year, with ESPN paying about $550 million annually, NBC paying about $200 million, and Netflix paying about $50 million. ESPN will receive a national midweek game package throughout the season while also acquiring the rights to sell MLB.TV, the league's out-of-market streaming service that set a record with 19.4 billion minutes watched in 2025.

Why It Matters:

The agreements follow a 2025 season that saw the most watched postseason in eight years and a World Series Game 7 that was the most watched Major League Baseball game in 34 years. The new deal foreshadows MLB's quest to raise TV revenue at the end of the 2028 season, when it will get these rights back plus existing broadcast rights from Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Strategic Implications:

Netflix's entry into live baseball represents the streaming platform's continued expansion into live sports, with the company carrying the Home Run Derby, an Opening Night exclusive between the Yankees and Giants on March 25, and the Field of Dreams game. NBC will also have a presence during All-Star Week, with the MLB Draft moving to the Saturday of All-Star Week where NBC and Peacock will present the first hour of the event.

Read more at MLB.com | CNBC Coverage

The Chicago Architecture Center released a comprehensive report this week examining how cities can maximize value from stadium developments through integrated district planning. The study, titled "Win/Win: The New Game Plan for Urban Stadiums," analyzed stadium projects across five Chicago teams and major developments nationwide to establish design principles for successful venue-anchored neighborhoods.

The Chicago Model Framework:

The model consists of six core design principles: walkability, density prioritization, transit access planning, neighborhood connectivity, open public spaces, and patience for organic district growth. Rather than prescribing a single template, the framework functions as strategic guidance for coordinating stadium developments with broader city-building objectives.

Real-World Application:

The timing is strategic. Chicago currently has multiple stadium projects in various stages: the $650 million Chicago Fire stadium at The 78 received City Council approval in September and is scheduled to begin construction in early 2026 with completion targeted for 2028. The project is entirely privately financed by Fire owner Joe Mansueto. Additionally, the 1901 Project around the United Center was approved this year, creating an entertainment district around the Bulls and Blackhawks venue.

Strategic Implications:

The report specifically challenges the traditional stadium financing model, proposing that facilities be viewed as neighborhood anchors rather than standalone venues requiring public subsidies. The study references Wrigley Field and Lakeview as the ideal existing model, where the stadium functions as part of a thriving, year-round neighborhood ecosystem rather than an isolated event box.

Why It Matters:

With the Chicago Bears re-evaluating suburban Arlington Heights, the White Sox exploring new stadium options, and multiple teams pursuing district-scale developments, the CAC report arrives at a pivotal moment for Chicago's sports infrastructure strategy. The principles outlined could influence how municipalities nationwide structure future stadium negotiations and public investment decisions.

Read more at Chicago Sun-Times | NAIOP Analysis

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff sold a portion of his holdings to CrowdStrike founder and CEO George Kurtz last week, marking one of the highest valuations in Formula 1 history. Kurtz has personally acquired 15% of the holding company controlled by Mercedes F1 CEO Wolff, which holds one third of the shares in the Mercedes F1 team.

Deal Framework:

Mercedes said the deal makes Kurtz a co-owner of the team that is valued at $6 billion. Kurtz will serve as a technology advisor, guiding Mercedes on data, analytics and cybersecurity as F1 increasingly relies on AI-driven development.

Why It Matters:

The transaction represents the deepening relationship between Silicon Valley and Formula 1. The move deepens Silicon Valley's push into F1, as U.S. interest climbs with Netflix shows, Apple's blockbuster F1 movie, a growing American fan base and a Cadillac-sponsored team joining the grid.

Strategic Context:

Kurtz will also join the team's strategic steering committee alongside Mercedes chairman Ola Kallenius, Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Wolff, while advising the team on its technology strategy. Wolff will continue as team principal and CEO.

Read more at CNBC | Motorsport.com Coverage

The WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players' Association face a critical deadline this Sunday, with the 2026 season hanging in the balance as negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement continue.

Latest Proposal:

The league's latest proposal includes revenue sharing with a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million starting in 2026, with a league minimum of more than $220,000 and average of more than $460,000. However, these numbers are somewhat misleading, because no player would sign a contract for a base salary of above $1 million—rather, in 2026, the base supermax would still be around $850,000, but revenue sharing would potentially lift max salaries above the $1 million range.

Core Issues:

The players are seeking a salary system that grows with the business (such as in the NBA, which uses basketball-related income to determine its salary cap) over a fixed-rate model in the current CBA, where the salary cap raises annually by 3%. It is estimated that WNBA players only receive less than 10% of league revenue, while many sports leagues, like the NBA, split revenue 50-50 with players.

What's at Stake:

If there is no deal reached by the new Nov. 30 deadline, the players and league could agree on another extension. If neither happens, that does not automatically mean that a lockout goes into effect, but if there is no official extension in place, the players or league could trigger a lockout at any given time.

Alternative Leagues Creating Pressure:

Over the past few weeks, a new league called Project B has announced its intention to debut in November 2026 and run through April 2027, with WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Jonquel Jones and Jewell Loyd among its first public signees.

Read more at ESPN | CBS Sports Coverage

College Football Playoff chaos: The College Football Playoff selection committee released its third rankings on November 18, with Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M and Georgia as the top four teams. The fourth rankings will be released today, November 25. (NCAA.com)

CFP Leadership Change: Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades stepped down as chairman of the CFP selection committee on November 13 while simultaneously taking a leave of absence from his post at Baylor, with Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek taking over as chairman. (Eleven Warriors)

Paramount secures Champions League rights: Paramount is set to land an expansive package of UEFA Champions League broadcast rights from 2027-28 in the UK and Germany in a major push into the European market. (SportBusiness)

PWHL expands US media presence: The Professional Women's Hockey League will benefit from increased exposure in the US during its third season after signing agreements with Fox, Paramount, Scripps Sports, Gray Media and Tegna. (SportBusiness)

Shohei Ohtani to play for Japan in World Baseball Classic:  Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he announced on social media Monday. Japan, the defending champs from 2023, will aim to repeat. (ESPN) Read more

2026 FIFA World Cup final draw set for December 5: The final draw for the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where 42 qualified nations will be placed into 12 groups (A–L). The remaining six berths will be decided through playoff matches in March 2026. Host nations are already assigned: Mexico in Group A1, Canada in Group B1, and the United States men's national soccer team (USA) in Group D1. The draw will set the schedule across the 16 host cities, with Fox Sports providing live national coverage for the first time. (USA TODAY) Read more

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