Alex Sherman: Mark, thanks for joining us. Pleasure being here. You have started a sports fund in 2024 let's start here.Why sports. And what are you thinking about investing in now. Well, I guess sports, because I've always loved it.I actually think as an asset class, it's something you want to be invested in. And I think you're literally in the first second inning. I think you can make a fortune of money investing in sports.So that was the reason why I started it. You just don't have that much competition ...

CNBC has learned that the NFL is hoping to renegotiate TV rights deals sooner than previously expected. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell telling our Alex Sherman he thinks the NFL is leaving money on the table based on the increase in media revenue for other professional sports leagues. And Alex joins us now. Do tell Alex, good morning. Morning, Joe. Um, I caught up with the commissioner this Sunday at a 49ers game in San Francisco. I'm a big 49ers fan for those that don't know. An off camerara interview, but ...

League lacrosse gearing up for its championship weekend. This is a league recently inked a fresh 5-year broadcast deal with ESPN. The network also became a minority owner in the PLL.Here to talk about the league's growth, the big weekend, and the sports streaming landscape, PLL co-founder Paul Rael. Paul, great to see you. Great to see you, too.Thanks for having me. Um, perfect timing. We got a potentially big media deal here in the works.They've got a lot of sports assets, Warner Brothers, uh, and Paramoun ...

CNBC is out this morning with our official NFL valuations. The average team is now worth 7.65% billion. That's an increase of nearly 18% compared with last year.Right now, we want to take a look at the top five most valuable NFL teams. Coming in at the top once again, the Dallas Cowboys worth 12.5% billion. That's nearly $2 billion more than the next most valuable team.Rounding out the top five, you've got the LA Rams, the New York Giants, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots. Joining us right ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated revenue of $1,308 million, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year [16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $526 million, reflecting a significant increase of 75%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40%, up from 25% in the prior year [16] - The UFC segment reported revenue of $416 million, a 5% increase, while adjusted EBITDA was $245 million, a 6% increase [16][17] - The WWE segment generated revenue of $556 million, a 22% increase, with adjusted EBITDA of $330 million, a 31% increase [20] - The IMG segment saw a revenue decrease of 4% to $307 million, but adjusted EBITDA improved significantly to $29 million from a negative margin in the prior year [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - UFC's partnerships and marketing revenue increased by 39% to $86 million, driven by new partnerships and renewals [17] - WWE's live events and hospitality revenue increased by 29% to $186 million, attributed to higher ticket sales and site fee revenue [20] - IMG's revenue decline was primarily due to the loss of FA Cup rights, partially offset by new production agreements [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company set 36 individual market records for ticket sales in WWE, selling out 16 events during the quarter [9] - WWE's partnership with Netflix has shown robust growth, with over 280 million view hours since its launch [10] - The company anticipates strong performance in upcoming events, including the Canelo versus Crawford fight and the FIFA World Cup [14][30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capitalizing on sustained demand for premium content and live events, raising its full-year guidance for revenue and adjusted EBITDA [5][29] - The strategy includes leveraging partnerships across multiple TKO properties, enhancing brand partnerships, and integrating IMG On Location and PBR [18][30] - The recent ESPN deal for WWE's premium live events is expected to create a high-margin revenue stream with attractive visibility and stability [35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the continued momentum across UFC and WWE, highlighting strong operating performance and the potential for further growth [15][29] - The company is optimistic about the impact of the new ESPN deal and the integration of IMG, expecting to achieve significant savings and revenue growth [30] - Management noted that while there are challenges in the upcoming quarters, the overall outlook remains positive with strong demand for premium content [34] Other Important Information - The company generated $375 million in free cash flow, with a conversion rate of 71% [27] - The company ended the quarter with $2.769 billion in debt and $535 million in cash [27] - A share repurchase program of $2 billion is expected to commence in 2025, subject to market conditions [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the implications of the new WWE deal with ESPN? - Management emphasized the importance of not putting all rights on one platform, highlighting the benefits of having multiple partners to maximize monetization and reach [42][44] Question: Why was the WWE PLE deal announced before the UFC deal? - Management clarified that the timing was due to simultaneous negotiations for multiple properties and confirmed that the UFC deal is progressing well [60][62] Question: What are the growth opportunities beyond the UFC media rights renewal? - Management highlighted the potential for increased profitability through partnerships, sponsorships, and the expansion of live events, indicating a strong growth trajectory [96][100]

Media Rights & Revenue - MLB aims to consolidate national and local media rights to create more valuable packages for potential buyers, increasing national exposure and reach [6][7] - MLB is confident in securing significant rights fee increases in 2028 by having all content available, including playoffs and regular season games [2][3] - Centralizing media revenue and sharing it equally (1/30) among teams could reduce the need for local revenue sharing, appealing to large market teams [9] - MLB is close to finalizing a Sunday package deal with multiple bidders, including NBC, Apple, and ESPN [11][12] - International rights, especially concerning players like Shohei Ohtani, will be a significant component of future media rights deals [39][40] Competitive Balance & Player Relations - MLB acknowledges the significant spending difference between high and low-spending teams and is considering solutions to improve competitive balance [17] - MLB recognizes the players union's stance against a salary cap but aims to convince players that any system changes will benefit everyone [19][20] - MLB intends to address concerns about competitive balance, acknowledging fans' concerns in various markets [16] Game Integrity & Gambling - MLB emphasizes transparency in sports betting through partnerships and monitoring systems to defend the integrity of the game [42][43] - MLB's policy regarding players involved in gambling scandals allows posthumous Hall of Fame eligibility, distinguishing between living and deceased individuals [44][45] Fan Engagement & Growth - MLB attributes the spike in ratings to a better on-field product and rule changes that have made the game faster and more action-packed [22] - MLB is investing heavily in youth participation, with youth programming showing measurable returns and MLB becoming the fastest-growing major sport [55][56] - MLB is actively promoting its stars through multifaceted marketing programs, including social media engagement [25][28] Expansion & Future Initiatives - MLB is committed to resolving the situations with the Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays before considering expansion [35][36] - MLB is considering expansion by two teams, ideally one in the Eastern Time Zone and one in the Mountain or Western Time Zone [37] - MLB anticipates expansion fees to be in the billions, given recent franchise value developments [38] - MLB is actively considering participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, viewing it as a marketing opportunity [50][51]

Sports Business Headlines - Yahoo Finance Sports Report analyzes sports business news, including team trades and billion-dollar deals, to inform investment decisions [1] - The report features high-profile trades, media rights deals, and financial plays shaping the sports business [1] Key Events & Deals - The report covers the Red Sox Rafael Devers trade [1] - Netflix's Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford superfight is highlighted [1] - WNBA's broadcast rights extension with Scripps is discussed [1] Featured Personalities & Companies - Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin teases the 2025 Fanatics Fest in New York City from June 20-22 [1] - F1 Arcade US President Jon Gardner discusses the Formula One entertainment venue and racing league's growth in the United States [1] Yahoo Finance Resources - Yahoo Finance provides free stock ticker data, news, portfolio management resources, and market data [1] - The Yahoo Finance app is available on Apple and Android [1]

Group 1: NFL and Streaming Partnerships - The NFL is expanding its Christmas Day games to three, with Amazon securing one game and Netflix two, reflecting the league's commitment to its media partners [1][2][3] - Netflix has a three-year deal with the NFL, ensuring two Christmas Day games in 2024 and at least one in 2025 and 2026, marking a significant achievement for the streaming service [3][5] - Amazon has acquired various NFL rights, including Thursday Night Football and exclusive playoff games, enhancing its sports content portfolio [4] Group 2: Viewership and Market Impact - Netflix's Christmas Day games in 2024 averaged 24 million viewers, with 65 million Americans watching at least part of the games, indicating strong audience engagement [5] - The NBA's Christmas Day games in 2024 averaged 5.25 million viewers, an 84% increase year-over-year, showcasing the competitive landscape for holiday sports viewership [7][8] - The success of NFL games on Christmas could pose challenges for the NBA and its media partners, as the NFL is likely to continue this trend [8] Group 3: Stock Performance - Netflix's stock is currently trading at $932.12, reflecting a year-to-date increase of 5.1% and a 51.8% rise over the past year [9] - Amazon's stock is trading at $195.56, showing a year-to-date decline of 11.2% but an 8.3% increase over the last year [9]