Abstract

Broadcast rights contracts signed by professional sports leagues and teams, the NCAA for its men’s basketball tournament, and collegiate conferences that extend into the decade of the 2020’s, clearly indicate that television networks continue to provide a very lucrative revenue source. The money from television networks to purchase the right to broadcast games is the foundation of the economic sports business model and the largest revenue source for a popular sports league such as the National Football League (NFL) or an organization such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This chapter focuses on the dynamics of television broadcast rights fees contracts and their impact on the sports business. It is this revenue stream that influences league or team decisions, such as the ability to sign free agents, the overall competitive balance of the league, and recently movement of a university to another conference. Aus dem Text