Global spending on sports media rights is projected to exceed $78 billion (€73 billion) by 2030, according to new forecasts from Ampere Analysis. The research firm anticipates a 20% increase in investment between 2025 and 2030, fueled by significant US rights renewals and heightened competition from global streaming platforms vying for premium live sport content.
Ampere suggests that the United States will continue to be the primary growth engine, with the new NBA rights cycle starting in the 2025–26 season and new MLB deals from 2029 pushing the US market to over $36 billion in 2030. Additional upside could materialize if the NFL chooses to renegotiate its long-term contracts: while many current agreements extend to 2034, Ampere expects initial discussions as early as 2026.
In Europe, spending on sports rights is forecast to increase by a more modest 17%, from $18.3 billion in 2025 to $21.3 billion in 2030. Despite recent downward pressure in some auctions, Ampere believes the increasing appetite of global streamers for live sport will help stimulate competition in upcoming tenders. Major events including the 2030 FIFA World Cup and Winter Olympics are also expected to underpin value. Rights holders are already courting the big platforms. Ampere highlights UEFA’s latest Champions League sales process, where agency partner Relevent has helped secure deals with Paramount as one example of streamers being pulled more deeply into European football rights.
In Asia, media rights spending is projected to rise from $7.2 billion in 2025 to $9.9 billion in 2030, with Indian cricket serving as a key growth driver. New packages for the Indian Premier League and ICC tournaments, including future T20 World Cups, are expected to command higher fees from 2027 onwards.
“Sports rights remain a reliable driver of value in media,” said Dan Harraghy, senior research manager – sports at Ampere Analysis. “Major US renegotiations will shape the next rights cycle… At the same time, the growing involvement of global streaming platforms has the potential to reshape competition in European tenders, while new cricket rights deals in Asia will also increase in value. Together, these dynamics will lift worldwide spend to more than $78 billion by 2030.”