The current tv rights stalemate

For the past 2 decades most professional sports became financiele dependable on the tv rights fees, the tv broadcasters and platforms were willing to shell out for the broadcasting rights of a sport event. That paid for the majority of the salaries and other expenses for the organisers and rights holders. Prior to that it was ticketing and food and beverage sales, later, sponsorship became the leading financial support and then tv rights.

However, over the past 5 years or so, the streaming services have become competitors for the tv broadcasters. They bid higher fees to corner the market and are willing to run at a loss for the time being hoping that, in time, they will become profitable and recover those initial losses. So far, to no avail. DAZN, the main operator in sports streaming globally has never turned a profit and accumulated loasses are far above 10 billion USD. They still turned a heavy loss for 2025.