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FIFA insists 'nobody is selling football' after UEFA threatens to boycott tournaments if plans to sell off stake in World Cup go ahead
FIFA: Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain; UEFA reacted furiously to FIFA plan to seek private investment in competitions including World Cup; FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan
Viking Row Meets Minnesota: Gophers Adopt Norway's World Cup Celebration
The Minnesota Gophers are adopting a well known World Cup tradition at their home games this season.
UEFA will boycott FIFA tournaments if Gianni Infantino continues with plans to sell off stake in World Cup
UEFA reacted furiously to FIFA plan to seek private investment in competitions including World Cup; FIFA insists it would retain sole control over governance and sporting decisions; PM Andy Burnham says: Football belongs to the fans
Uefa to boycott World Cups if Fifa plans approved
Uefa's 55 member associations vote to boycott the World Cup if Fifa proceeds with its plan to sell stakes in its competitions.
🚨 BREAKING: European nations agree to boycott World Cup
UEFA nations have reached an agreement to boycott FIFA competitions, notably including the World Cup, as a result of plans to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors.A virtual meeting betwe...
'Time to change' or 'devastating'?
Gareth: Thanks for the cup Eddie, but you said it yourself that you didn't have a plan B and that was your downfall - losing loads of points from a winning position because you only had one tactic that other teams worked out. Thanks Eddie, but time to change. Lewis: I feel that this is the right time for Eddie Howe to go, he isn't the right manager to take us to where we want to be, however I don't think the owners have backed him enough to improve the players or improve the depth of the squad.
What video review controversies in sports reveal about AI and human decision-making
The World Cup’s VAR controversies reveal a broader challenge for AI-assisted decision-making: deciding what AI should handle, what it should support and what should be left to human judgment.
Breaking down FIFA’s stake sale, how it compares to other sports and whether it’s necessary
The intention is to raise $4.2billion from outside investors, which led to the narrative that FIFA wants to sell (part of) the World Cup
Will Killie find goalscoring touch in time for season opener?
Four games, no defeats or goals conceded in 90 minutes, it's been a stellar start to the season defensively for Kilmarnock. Across 360 minutes of Premier Sports Cup action, Neil McCann's side could only muster two goals: a last-minute winner against Elgin City and a second-half strike against Hamilton Academical. A strong finish to last season avoided any relegation trouble, with Joe Hugill scoring eight goals in 15 appearances, while Tyreece John-Jules scored five in his final four games before an injury ruled him out of the last stretch of matches.
In a sport obsessed by money, is Gianni Infantino’s indecent proposal really such a surprise?
Against the backdrop of the most lucrative World Cup ever, Infantino and FIFA think they may as well crack on - strike while the iron's hot
Ancelotti shares thoughts on Brazil’s World Cup disappointment
He is fully committed to Brazil for the next cycle
European soccer officials eye Qatari sports executive to challenge Infantino
Anger over FIFA’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup has pushed European soccer leaders to rally behind a potential challenger: Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser al-Khelaifi.
BTS say they will not submit music for 2027 Grammys
Wednesday’s announcement came just over a month after the Recording Academy announced five new Grammy categories, which include best Asian pop music performance. Some fans viewed the new category as a racialized barrier for Asian performers.
Argentina trio charged with assault for post-World Cup final brawl
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against several players for a post-match brawl following Spain's 1-0 win over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final.
FIFA opens proceedings against Argentina FA, players over Falkands banner and World Cup final scrap
Leandro Paredes is being investigated for three counts of assault, while the AFA faces charges of racism and non-sporting demonstrations.
Politics and football crossed path at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Two Tampa Bay Iranians share how football brought people together despite global tensions on and off the field.
FIFA puts the World Cup up for sale
FIFA wants to sell a minority stake in a new commercial entity that values the organization at $20 billion.
American, Asian confederations blindsided by FIFA’s World Cup plan
Americas governing body 'deeply concerned' by lack of due process in FIFA private investment plan, AFC 'disappointed'.
Banijay Entertainment H1 Revenue Drops in Update After All3Media Deal
The company's live events business posted a 49.8 percent revenue gain, driven by the FIFA World Cup and the Winter Olympics.
After the men’s World Cup: How African countries can leverage sports for development and diplomacy
Host Landry Signé meets with H.E. Youssef Amrani, the Kingdom of Morocco’s ambassador to the U.S., on the heels of the men’s 2026 World Cup to discuss his country’s investment in sports for development. Their conversation highlights how sports and culture can create opportunities for youth and strengthen international relationships.
CBS Sports Secures Exclusive U.S. English-Language Rights for Champions Cup Beginning in February
CBS Sports, new home of Champion Cup
Kelly Ripa taking extended leave, will miss at least 3 weeks of ‘Live’ after surgery
Kelly Ripa will miss at least three weeks of ‘Live With Kelly & Mark’ amid her recovery from surgery, EW has learned. Multiple cohosts will fill in as the TV icon recuperates after a painful procedure.
How Trump’s political director came to Congress
Brian Jack wanted to snag Newt Gingrich’s old House office during the 119th Congress’ freshman room lottery. But as the 28th pick, he lost his first choice and pivoted to another historic room: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s office in Longworth, which the Democrat occupied from 1939 to 1942. A Republican from Georgia, Jack served as […]
Chase Burns leads Reds into doubleheader vs. Guardians
It’s a Tuesday full of Ohio Cup baseball!
Season predictions: Pragmatism needed & Altena to shine
From a Hearts perspective, a third-place finish, a trip to Hampden in at least one cup competition - or even lifting a trophy - would represent a successful season. Given the reported competition Hearts faced to sign him - including interest from Union Saint-Gilloise - I'm convinced there must be something special about him.
Should the NWSL hold an All-Star Game? Plus: Hope Solo auctions World Cup gear
Welcome to Full Time, The Athletic's women's soccer newsletter.
Rodri transfer news: Man City hopeful World Cup winner will sign new deal but braced for Real Madrid bid
How many cups of coffee should you be drinking each day?
How much coffee is too much? Northeastern experts explain why 3 to 5 cups a day may lower heart disease risk, but energy drinks don't count.
5-MATCH START
The format of the season and the league campaign will change this year. It is not a landmark change like the unprecedented interruption for the winter World Cup in Qatar in November 2022, but it is ne...
'Losing Rodri would be a massive blow'
Joseph: Losing Rodri would be a massive blow to the team, he's been a fantastic servant over the past few years and has been a strong warrior regardless of injuries. To lose Rodri would put a hole in the team that would take time to fill. Rodri is just getting better, he proved that in his World Cup performances after a season of injuries.
Did League Cup come too early for Saints?
Does the League Cup group stage come too early in the season for teams like St Johnstone? Simo Valakari's side were one of two Premiership sides, Falkirk were the other, that failed to progress to the last 16 of the League Cup. St Johnstone finished third in Group F with seven points after their 1-1 draw with East Fife, which Dick Campbell's side snagged a bonus point in after winning the shootout.
'My aim will always be to battle hard'
New forward Daizen Maeda promises he "will always run and give everything that I have" for Ipswich after arriving on a three-year contract from Celtic. The 28-year-old Japan international said his aim "will always be to battle hard, score goals, and provide assists for my team" and shared his excitement to "learn more about the club and meet the supporters". Maeda scored 79 goals in 212 appearances for Celtic, where he won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.
World Cup final referee Slavko Vincic retires days after controversial Spain vs Argentina clash
Vincic took charge of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina last weekend
Yankees Social Media Spotlight: Starting the second half
The World Cup wrapped up this week, as the second half began.
Goals will come for Kilmarnock, says Kiltie
Greg Kiltie has "full faith" Kilmarnock will find their scoring form once the Premiership season gets under way. Despite creating a slew of chances, the Ayrshire side drew a blank in a goalless draw at Peterhead in their final Premier Sports Cup group game on Saturday. Despite losing the penalty shootout, a point was enough to ensure they finished top of Group H and progressed to the last 16.
Let’s Talk to Our Neighbors To Improve Our Political Situation
Our political situation looks dire. In December 2025, Pew Research reported that “Just 17% of Americans now say they trust the government in Washington to do what is right. The current measure is one of the lowest” in nearly seven decades. In April 2026, Gallup reported that disapproval of Congress ...
Panthers Star Named Public Enemy No. 1 For Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers not only play in the heavily competitive Atlantic Division, but they’ve also had two run-ins during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in recent years, both of which went the way of the Panthers.And during each of those series, multiple Panthers players became the bane of Toronto’s existence, including Matthew […] The post Panthers Star Named Public Enemy No. 1 For Maple Leafs appeared first on HEAVY.
'No panic' despite shock cup exit, says Valakari
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari insists there is "no panic" from him despite his team suffering a shock exit from the Scottish League Cup. A draw with third-tier East Fife ensured Saints could not progress from the group stage.
‘Mind Your Business’—Neymar Hits Back at Critics of Post-World Cup Controversy
Neymar hasn’t played since the end of Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
'No panic' at St Johnstone after cup exit
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari says there is "no panic" after his team were knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup after losing on penalty kicks to League One side East Fife. It was East Fife substitute Jaiden Fairley who scored the winning penalty in the bonus shootout, but they miss out on a runners-up place via goal difference.
Bay Area sports leaders eye World Cup, other major events to expand regional economy
At a sports business conference in San Francisco this week, Bay Area sports leaders outlined many visions for a bigger regional sports landscape and
World Cup goalkeeper Goodman joins Dundee from Palace on loan
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Owen Goodman has joined Dundee on a season-long loan on his return from the World Cup with Canada. Jon McCracken, last season's first choice, left Dundee for Bradford City this summer and Goodman has been brought in to challenge Kieran O'Hara for the number one jersey.
Coffee may help shield the liver from fat, scarring, and cancer
A major long-term study linked coffee consumption with lower risks of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death from liver disease. Coffee drinkers also showed healthier liver scans and blood protein patterns, with less fat, inflammation, and scarring. Benefits appeared even at one or two cups daily and were strongest around three to four cups.
Man City's Khusanov signs new five-year contract
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov signed a five-year contract extension with the Premier League club on Saturday.Khusanov helped City win the FA Cup and League Cup last season, as well as finishing second in the Premier League.
Robinson delays captaincy decision until cup group games complete
Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson intends to name his captain for the season ahead of their Premiership opener with Hearts, saying he has "four or five" options. Robinson has rotated the responsibility so far, with Kevin Nisbet, Brad Lyons and Dan Happe all being handed the skipper's armband during their three Premier Sports Cup victories. "We will change it again," said Robinson.
ESPN lines up six European preseason matches following World Cup
The World Cup may be over, but ESPN is betting that viewers are still interested in soccer by televising six preseason matches featuring European clubs touring the United States. The matches will see Liverpool FC, Wrexham AFC, Leeds United and Sunderland AFC playing in Nashville, New York City, Chicago, Tampa, and Philadelphia. Of the six…
Museum of Life and Science names red wolf pups in honor of Carolina Hurricanes
The Museum of Life and Science has named five new red wolf pups in honor of the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 Stanley Cup Championship.
Museum of Life and Science names red wolf pups in honor of Carolina Hurricanes
The Museum of Life and Science has named five new red wolf pups in honor of the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 Stanley Cup Championship.
Who needs what in Premier Sports Cup?
With one round of fixtures left in the Premier Sports Cup group stage, who needs what to progress this weekend?
Broken Politics and AI Jailbreaks: The Week in Review
Americans’ hosting duties are over with the 2026 World Cup now in the rearview mirror, but a recent poll shows they’re dissatisfied with the nation’s leadership. Meanwhile, a surveillance state might be upon us as AI and consumer tech creep into Americans’ personal lives. Holliday Woodard here with ...
Did L.A. businesses get the promised World Cup bump?
World Cup economic impact on L.A., beer sales soar
US business activity, confidence surge to 8-month high: S&P Global
While U.S. exports fell this month, July 4 celebrations and the World Cup competition spurred domestic demand, S&P Global said.
US business activity perks up in July, helped by World Cup, but trend may not last, S&P Global says
Activity in the vast U.S. services sector accelerated in July, aided in part by spending around the FIFA World Cup and the Independence Day holiday, while the pace of growth in the manufacturing sector eased to the slowest since March amid a slowdown in precautionary stock building prompted by the U.S.-Israeli-led war with Iran.
Ohio State women's hockey adds Jack Johnson to coaching staff
The 2022 Stanley Cup winner is joining the women’s ice hockey coaching staff as associate head coach.
US Business Activity Picks Up on World Cup, July 4 Spending
US business activity expanded at the fastest pace in eight months as strong domestic demand for services offset cooling factory production, growing supply chain delays and rising costs.
Mayo relishing 'step up in pressure' at Aberdeen
Defender Lewis Mayo has described his move to Aberdeen as "a step up in expectation and pressure". Mayo arrived at Pittodrie from Kilmarnock on a three-year deal earlier this summer and has settled in well, being deployed at centre half – and right back – helping the Dons to victory in all three of their League Cup group stage games so far. "It is a fresh start for me," the 26-year-old said ahead of Aberdeen's next League Cup game against Kelty Hearts.
Per Mertesacker to become German Football Federation’s new sporting director
Mertesacker won the World Cup with the national team in 2014 and spent eight years as Arsenal's academy manager after retiring in 2018.
Anderson's rise to become Man City's record signing
Elliot Anderson was the schoolboy footballer so good his teachers discussed placing a bet on him playing for England. The bet was never made - but Thomas Tuchel put huge trust in Anderson at the World Cup, and Manchester City are doing the same by signing him for a club record £116m from Nottingham Forest.
Antoine Griezmann Scores In MLS Debut For Orlando City
Antoine Griezmann scored in his MLS debut, and Orlando City beat the San Jose Earthquakes 4-0 on Wednesday night in the first game for both teams since before the World Cup break.
"Behind the Lens" at the 2026 World Cup
Getty Images captured over 2.6 million images at the 2026 World Cup. We got the backstory on some of our favorites.
Letters – World Cup, mental health, politics, GOP's elephant
Readers appreciate those who hosted the World Cup, say laws need to be changed regarding mental health, disagree with a letter writer and criticize showcasing an elephant.
NASCAR Makes Major Cup Series Practice Change Beginning Next Weekend
NASCAR has announced a major change to Cup Series practice beginning next weekend, replacing the divided-group format with a single 50-minute session.
CDC reveals massive behind-the-scenes public health operation that kept FIFA World Cup fans safe
The CDC operated behind the scenes during the FIFA World Cup, deploying disease surveillance, wastewater monitoring, and real-time data dashboards.
USA Sports reveals broadcast crew, plan to cover final 14 races and The Chase
USA Sports detailed its branding and broadcast plan as it gears up to present the final 14 races of the 2026 Cup Series season.
William Saliba injury: Arsenal confirm France international will miss 'extended period' after returning from World Cup with back problem
Arsenal central defender William Saliba is set for a spell on the sidelines after returning from the World Cup with a back injury; Saliba is not expected to undergo surgery and instead will require a period of rehabilitation according to the Gunners
'Street justice’: Maryland’s Squatter King removal business fills area divide
When property owners call Sanchez Deandre Lewis, they are often already locked out.The Maryland contractor, known as “Mikey,” says unauthorized occupants have h
World Cup betting in U.S. equivalent of '10 Super Bowls'
Sportsbooks and technology providers across the United States sports betting industry report that this year's World Cup produced record handle for a soccer tournament across the board and even rivaled other major prolonged sporting events.
Cleveland Science Center marks 30 years with celebration (photos)
The Great Lakes Science Center handed out 500 cupcakes Wednesday and showcased exhibits that have made it a regional leader in hands-on science education.
⚽️ Y! Sports AM: Lasting legacy
The 2026 World Cup is gone, but those five magical weeks across the U.S., Canada and Mexico won’t soon be forgotten.
Spain and Morocco are competing to host the 2030 World Cup final. Who will win?
The countries are two of the co-hosts for the tournament and both are pressing their case to stage the biggest game in world sport
Peacock is getting a lift from World Cup, Spanish-language content
Peacock attracted new subscribers with the Spanish-language telecast of the World Cup, and executives say advertisers are taking notice.
How This Business Stands To Gain From Spain's World Cup Win
How global sports and entertainment events can impact local business in the long run
Smart Tips to Maximize Your NASCAR Weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway, fans get more than just racing — they get great value. New England's only NASCAR Cup Series weekend features affordable tickets, free parking, flexible camping options and inclusive entertainment like live music and fan experiences.
World Cup lessons for Kansas City small business: Show passion, embrace local, be an 'experience'
Not every business saw a boost from visiting fans, but some leveraged a prime location, ingenuity in planning, or a personal connection to get a boost from the FIFA World Cup's stint in Kansas City.
World Cup Final Averaged More Than 61 Million Viewers
The final posted the largest U.S. television audience since the Super Bowl.
Spain’s World Cup win gives Las Vegas tapas restaurant a business boost
Spain’s World Cup win gives Las Vegas tapas restaurant a business boost
Nottingham Forest in advanced talks with Sporting CP for Ousmane Diomande
The 22-year-old centre-back was included in Ivory Coast's 26-man World Cup squad.
Sports Illustrated brings together sports, fashion and entertainment at Beyond the Pitch New York
The night before the FIFA World Cup final, Sports Illustrated brought together some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment, music and fashion for its
NHL to produce games for Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Wild, Blues
The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, along with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, have their games produced and distributed by the NHL for the upcoming season, as the league branches out into centralized production.
The 10 best goals of the 2026 World Cup
The World Cup has ended, but some of the tournament's best goals will live on forever.
Amazon's Leo satellite venture names first finance VP
Amazon's Leo satellite business names Mike Recupero as its first VP of finance, signaling its growth as an independent entity.
Love coffee? Up to 5 cups a day may be safe for most healthy adults, heart experts say
🚨 For now: FIFA will NOT sanction Leandro Paredes
It has been confirmed that Leandro Paredes will not receive any sanction from FIFA following the incidents in the World Cup Final, where he struck Eric García in the throat. According to the BBC, th...
Sports and politics: No longer strange bedfellows
Sports has always billed itself as above petty indifferences, something that brings people together on the sanctity of the playing field. FIFA, the guardian of the soccer World Cup pledges to ensure accessibility to everyone, promising that each athlete will receive a reception that is “safe, welc...
Regular Coffee Consumption Linked to Health Benefits, AHA Says
A new report from the American Heart Association says that it's safe for most adults to drink up to five cups of coffee per day. New research also suggests regular coffee consumption may be linked to lower risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart failure for some individuals. Health benefits apply to paper filtered or instant coffee.
The secret to successful sports organizations? Employees who feel safe enough to speak up
With major sporting events like Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup drawing global attention this summer, new findings from a University of Florida researcher highlight an often-overlooked factor behind their success: the well-being of the employees working behind the scenes.
Canes TV? Hurricanes to launch own sports network for 2026-27 season
The Hurricanes, who won the Stanley Cup in June, were among the professional sports franchises left without a television partner when Main Street Sports Group ceased operations at the end of the 2025-26 season.
🏈 Y! Sports AM: Grass vs. turf
NFL players aren’t pleased that the natural grass that covered their fields during the World Cup is already being replaced with the artificial turf they know and hate.
Morocco’s Foreign-Born World Cup Squad and the Politics of Nationality
A national soccer squad comprising only foreign-born players is the latest example of Morocco’s centuries-long effort to define national identity beyond its borders.
Coffee may protect your heart but energy drinks could harm it
For most adults, a daily caffeine habit may be safer for the heart than many people assume. A new American Heart Association review found that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, roughly three to five cups of regular black coffee, is generally safe and may even be linked to lower risks of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and Type 2 diabetes. But the source matters: highly concentrated energy drinks and shots can sharply raise blood pressure and trigger irregular heart rhythms.
From Bernie to Mamdani, how the Occupy movement transformed American politics
Yotam Moram, who helped lead Occupy Wall Street, discusses why power must be built through movements, not simply through elected officials
2026 FIFA World Cup
2026 FIFA Men's World Cup news, live scores, schedules, live streams, stats, standings, bracket and more from NBC Sports
College football’s best QBs for 2026, plus poll results
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Don’t spy on anyone today. Coming up: 🏈 CFB QB tiers 📺 Clark out at ESPN 🗳️ Your poll results As one football leaves us, the next one settles in right on time. The World Cup is in the past now. American football is nigh. It’s time to switch our focus. At least until later in this newsletter. We’ve entered one of my favorite parts of the college football preseason: when predictions feel a little more weighty, just...
Seth Meyers Calls Trump ‘The Sports Reaper’
The late-night host joked that the president’s sports curse had struck again after he backed Lionel Messi of Argentina, which then lost the World Cup final to Spain.
Clearing his lines
Only one player across the entire World Cup completed more clearances than new Leeds signing Tarik Muharemovic. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international cleared his lines 41 times. Only Nico Elvedi of Switzerland got rid of the ball on more occasions - 48.
How much caffeinated coffee is too much for heart health?
New research shows that consuming 5 cups of caffeinated coffee a day is safe for most adults and may even benefit drinkers, according to the American Heart Association.
FIFA Investigates Post-Match Scuffle Between Argentina And Spain Players
FIFA opened an investigation Monday after Spain’s celebrations on beating Argentina in the World Cup final took an ugly turn when players briefly clashed on the field.
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
Bernstein's Ian Moore on why prediction markets are outpacing sports books
Ian Moore, Bernstein, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk prediction markets outpacing sportsbooks during the World Cup and what's ahead for predictions markets and sports betting.