The NHL is reportedly in talks with ESPN and TNT Sports about early media rights renewals, mirroring the NFL's swift approach to media rights deals. With the NFL's early media rights market move, other leagues are now racing to secure their deals before the NFL's content budget dominance. Puck sports correspondent John Ourand revealed that PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp discussed early extensions with broadcasters, aiming to secure deals before the NFL's renegotiations in 2029 and 2030. This strategy seems to be catching on, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has approached ESPN and TNT Sports for early renewals, set to expire in 2028. The NFL's potential revenue increase, estimated at $10 billion annually, could significantly impact other sports' rights. Networks like TNT, which didn't retain NBA rights, could benefit from this shift, as they won't be priced out of other sports' rights. However, the NHL and PGA Tour's strategies remain uncertain, as networks await the NFL's demands, making long-term deals challenging.
