Sports
Broadcast industry CEO says consolidation is ‘essential’ to compete for NFL soaring media rights prices
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The evolution of live sports programming has become a battleground between traditional broadcast companies and streaming platforms, vying for the right to air the best games possible year after year.
The NFL is the cream of the crop, generating roughly $10 billion per year on its current media rights deal. And the league is likely to renegotiate that deal by the end of this year, with reports indicating that they want it done before kickoff in Week 1 of the 2026 season in September.
With additional media partners potentially entering the fold in this new deal, where do the incumbents like FOX, CBS and NBC lie in the pie chart that is the NFL schedule?
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The Fox broadcast team, from left to right, Tom Brady, Tom Rinaldi, Kevin Burkhardt, Erin Andrews, and Dean Blandino pose for photo prior to an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys at Solider Field on Sept. 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
Curtis LeGeyt, the CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, which lobbies federal agencies and lawmakers alike on behalf of the broadcast industry, spoke with John Ourand on “The Varsity” podcast, where he suggested the broadcast industry must consolidate if it wants to continue competing with streaming platforms for live sports rights.
EX-NFL STAR SHAWNE MERRIMAN ADVOCATING FOR PLAYERS TO GET PAID MORE WHEN TV RIGHTS DEALS EXPLODE
“I think, for better or worse, (consolidation) is an essential thing right now,” he explained. “And I’m looking at this purely through the lens of broadcast. If we’re going to compete for those NFL sports rights, if we’re going to compete locally to ensure that teams feel like they have a local distribution option that is freely available through local broadcasts as opposed to the cable regional sports networks or even streaming, broadcasters need some scale in order to complete for that. The only way to gain that scale is through some level of consolidation.”
We’re already seeing key mergers across broadcast television, including Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, which is awaiting approval that will likely go through. Also, the NFL and ESPN reached a landmark deal where the sports giant acquired NFL Network, NFL RedZone and NFL Fantasy. In exchange, the league received a 10% equity stake in ESPN, which was valued at around $3 billion.
A close-up view of a person operating a broadcast camera with a cover with the FOX Sports logo during the NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 16, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)
Merging these broadcasters together can help compete against the likes of Amazon, Netflix, and perhaps others will join the fray if and when negotiations ensue for a new media rights deal. With JC Tretter elected as the NFL Players’ Association’s new executive director, those negotiations could be coming sooner than later.
Now, where does the NFL fan come into play here? The price of simply watching the NFL schedule is quite expensive, with fans having to pay at least $575 to watch every game if they wished in 2025. The need for ESPN, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and NFL+ subscriptions, among others, only points upward as media rights prices for the league continues to grow.
Fans would like it if they could access their favorite sports if its free-to-air broadcasts doing so.
A general view of the Amazon “Thursday Night Football” broadcast set with Charissa Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth and Richard Sherman during the TNF on Prime halftime show during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 2, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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The FCC said last month it would seek public comment about the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services, which includes the other major sports leagues in the country like the NBA, MLB and more.
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The Greatest Spectacle in Racing always delivers. The Indianapolis 500 is the biggest motorsports event in the world, the racing is incredible and the winner’s life is forever altered.
Each Memorial Day weekend, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the legendary Indy 500, which has more than a century’s worth of champions. From Ray Harroun in 1911 to today’s speed demons, these drivers forever etch their names into history at the Brickyard.
Here’s a list of all those who have earned a spot on the celebrated Borg-Warner Trophy by winning the Indy 500.
Indy 500 Winners
Josef Newgarden after winning the 2024 Indianapolis 500. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDYCAR Sanction (2008-Present)
- 2026: Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank w/ Curb Agajanian)
- 2025: Alex Palou (Ganassi)
- 2024: Josef Newgarden (Penske)
- 2023: Josef Newgarden (Penske)
- 2022: Marcus Ericsson (Ganassi)
- 2021: Hélio Castroneves (Meyer Shank)
- 2020: Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman)
- 2019: Simon Pagenaud (Penske)
- 2018: Will Power (Penske)
- 2017: Takuma Sato (Andretti)
- 2016: Alexander Rossi (Andretti-Herta)
- 2015: Juan Pablo Montoya (Penske)
- 2014: Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti)
- 2013: Tony Kanaan (KV Racing Technology)
- 2012: Dario Franchitti (Ganassi)
- 2011: Dan Wheldon (Bryan Herta)
- 2010: Dario Franchitti (Ganassi)
- 2009: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
- 2008: Scott Dixon (Ganassi)
Dual Sanctioning (1996-2007)
Indy Racing League
- 2007: Dario Franchitti (Andretti-Green)
- 2006: Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske)
- 2005: Dan Whelson (Andretti-Green)
- 2004: Buddy Rice (Rahal Letterman)
- 2003: Gil de Ferran (Penske)
- 2002: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
- 2001: Hélio Castroneves (Penske)
- 2000: Juan Montoya (Chip Ganassi)
- 1999: Kenny Brack (A.J. Foyt)
- 1998: Eddie Cheever Jr. (Cheever)
- 1997: Arie Luyendyk (Treadway)
- 1996: Buddy Lazier (Hemelgarn)
CART Sanction (1979-1995)
- 1995: Jacques Villeneuve (Green)
- 1994: Al Unser Jr. (Penske)
- 1993: Emerson Fittipaldi (Penske)
- 1992: Al Unser Jr. (Galles-Kraco)
- 1991: Rick Mears (Penske)
- 1990: Arie Luyendyk (Doug Shierson)
- 1989: Emerson Fittipaldi (Patrick)
- 1988: Rick Mears (Penske)
- 1987: Al Unser (Penske)
- 1986: Bobby Rahal (Trusports)
- 1985: Danny Sullivan (Penske)
- 1984: Rick Mears (Penske)
- 1983: Tom Sneva (Bignotti-Cotter)
- 1982: Gordon Johncock (STP Patrick)
- 1981: Bobby Unser (Penske)
- 1980: Johnny Rutherford (Chaparral)
- 1979: Rick Mears (Penske)
CART = Championship Auto Racing Teams
USAC Sanction (1956-1978)
- 1978: Al Unser (Chaparral)
- 1977: A.J. Foyt (A.J. Foyt)
- 1976: Johnny Rutherford (Bruce McLaren)
- 1975: Bobby Unser (All American Racer)
- 1974: Johnny Rutherford (Bruce McLaren)
- 1973: Gordon Johncock (Patrick)
- 1972: Mark Donohue (Roger Penske)
- 1971: Al Unser (Vel’s Parnelli Jones)
- 1970: Al Unser (Vel’s Parnelli Jones)
- 1969: Mario Andretti (STP Corp)
- 1968: Bobby Unser (Leader Cards)
- 1967: A.J. Foyt (Ansted-Thompson)
- 1966: Graham Hill (Mecom)
- 1965: Jim Clark (Lotus)
- 1964: A.J. Foyt (Ansted-Thompson)
- 1963: Parnelli Jones (JC Agajanian)
- 1962: Rodger Ward (Leader Cards)
- 1961: A.J. Foyt (Bignotti-Bowes)
- 1960: Jim Rathmann (En-Paul)
- 1959: Rodger Ward (Leader Cards)
- 1958: Jimmy Bryan (George Salih)
- 1957: Sam Hanks (George Salih)
- 1956: Pat Flaherty (John Zink)
USAC = United States Auto Club
AAA Sanction (1909-1955)
- 1955: Bob Sweikert (John Zink)
- 1954: Bill Vukovich (Howard B Keck)
- 1953: Bill Vukovich (Howard B Keck)
- 1952: Troy Ruttman (JC Agajanian)
- 1951: Lee Wallard (Murreil Belanger)
- 1950: Johnnie Parsons (Kurtis Kraft)
- 1949: Bill Holland (Lou Moore)
- 1948: Mauri Rose (Lou Moore)
- 1947: Mauri Rose (Lou Moore)
- 1946: George Robson (Thorne)
- 1945: N/A*
- 1944: N/A*
- 1943: N/A*
- 1942: N/A*
- 1941: F Davis – M Rose (Lou Moore)
- 1940: Wilbur Shaw (Boyle)
- 1939: Wilbur Shaw (Boyle)
- 1938: Floyd Roberts (Lou Moore)
- 1937: Wilbur Shaw (Wilbur Shaw)
- 1936: Louis Meyer (Louis Meyer)
- 1935: Kelly Petillo (Kelly Petillo)
- 1934: Bill Cummings (HC Henning)
- 1933: Louis Meyer (Louis Meyer)
- 1932: Fred Frame (Harry Hartz)
- 1931: Louis Schneider (BL Schneider)
- 1930: Billy Arnold (Harry Hartz)
- 1929: Ray Keech (MA Yagle)
- 1928: Louis Meyer (Alden Sampson II)
- 1927: George Souders (William S White)
- 1926: Frank Lockhart (Peter Kreis)
- 1925: Peter De Paolo (Duesenberg)
- 1924: L.L. Corum and Joe Boyer (Duesenberg)
- 1923: Tommy Milton (HCS Motors)
- 1922: Jimmy Murphy (Jimmy Murphy)
- 1921: Tommy Milton (Louis Chevrolet)
- 1920: Gaston Chevrolet (William Small)
- 1919: Howdy Wilcox (IMS Corp)
- 1918: N/A*
- 1917: N/A*
- 1916: Dario Resta (Peugeot)
- 1915: Ralph DePalma (EC Patterson)
- 1914: Rene Thomas (Louis Delage)
- 1913: Jules Goux (Peugeot)
- 1912: Joe Dawson (National Motors)
- 1911: Ray Harroun (Nordyke & Mermon)
*Racing paused due to WWI
**Racing paused due to WWII
AAA = American Automobile Association
Who Has Won The Most Indy 500s?
Four racers share the record for the most Indy 500 victories with four. Below is a list of drivers with two or more wins:
- Hélio Castroneves (4)
- A.J. Foyt (4)
- Rick Mears (4)
- Al Unser (4)
- Dario Franchitti (3)
- Louis Meyer (3)
- Wilbur Shaw (3)
- Mauri Rose (3)
- Johnny Rutherford (3)
- Bobby Unser (3)
- Emerson Fittipaldi (2)
- Gordon Johncock (2)
- Arie Luyendyk (2)
- Tommy Milton (2)
- Juan Pablo Montoya (2)
- Josef Newgarden (2)
- Takuma Sato (2)
- Bill Vukovich (2)
- Rodger Ward (2)
- Dan Wheldon (2)
- Al Unser Jr. (2)
How To Watch The 2026 Indy 500
The 2026 Indy 500 will air on FOX at 12:30 p.m. ET with the pre-race show set to begin at 10 a.m. ET on FOX. You can stream the race and coverage surrounding it on FOX One.
- Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
- Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
- TV channel: FOX
- Streaming: FOX One, FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com
- Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN
Travis Head and his wife Jessica have been subjected to a barrage of online abuse after the Australian cricketer was embroiled in a spat with India great Virat Kohli during an IPL match.
The players clashed during the T20 match between Head’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.
Heated words were exchanged between the two before Kohli was dismissed for 15 and his team slumped to a 55-run defeat.
As the two sets of players lined up for the post-game handshakes, Kohli ignored Head’s outstretched arm but shook hands with the other players.
The Instagram accounts for Head and Jessica have since been flooded with abusive comments, apparently from fans of the former India captain.
Jessica told The Advertiser newspaper that her friends and family had also received hateful private messages.
“I woke up to my socials blasting… we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family,” she said Monday, according to the reports.
“Passion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game.
“Hopefully this encourages more kindness, and support for one another.”
She also said it felt like “a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup”, referring to the 2023 50-over tournament when Australia beat hosts India in the final in Ahmedabad.
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IndyCar rookie Caio Collet was involved in a terrifying crash toward the end of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday afternoon with Felix Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward fighting for first place.
Collet got loose in Turn 2 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and overcorrected just enough to send his vehicle into the wall. His right rear caught fire as he skidded down the track and onto the grass.
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Caio Collet drives a Combitrans AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet through turn three during practice on Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 22, 2026. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)
Emergency personnel came over to put the fire out and help Collet out of his car.
He was able to walk away from the scary wreck, but track officials called for a red flag. The red flag stopped the race and gave drivers a breather for what would be a total shootout for the final few laps.
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Caio Collet leads the field during the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 24, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)
Collet will fall down the leaderboard as he didn’t finish the race.
The A.J. Foyt Racing driver was making his first appearance in the Indy 500. He graduated into the NTT IndyCar Series after finishing second in the Indy NXT Series last year. He won three races on the Indy NXT Series in 2025.
The Brazilian came into the race in 21st place in the IndyCar standings with 70 points through six starts. He has yet to finish in the top 10 in his first season.
David Maluka talks with Caio Collet before practice for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 18, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)
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The 2026 Indy 500 already featured more than 50 lead changes and was one of the more competitive events in recent memory.
Felix Rosenqvist won the race on the final lap.
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