January 17, 2023
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New plot twist in the feud between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf: The latter is close [[link removed]] to announcing a multiyear broadcast deal with The CW — the fifth-largest network in the U.S. The controversial Saudi-backed series has accused the Tour of interfering with negotiations.
Teams Washington Commanders Could Have New Owner By March [[link removed]]
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The process of a possible sale of the Washington Commanders will reportedly “be over soon.”
Dan Snyder and his wife Tanya Snyder announced [[link removed]] plans to explore a potential sale in November. Sources told [[link removed]] Front Office Sports that Snyder is still weighing both a full and partial sale of the franchise.
Should Snyder sell, an announcement could come as soon as March, according [[link removed]] to NBC Sports Washington, possibly ahead of the league’s annual meeting at the end of that same month. The NFL’s new year begins March 15.
As a potential deal nears, talk about who might buy the team is swirling.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos didn’t submit [[link removed]] an official bid by the December deadline but isn’t completely out of the running. However, Dan and Tanya Snyder would reportedly rather not sell to Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post. Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, and Sparks co-owner Todd Boehly — who led a consortium that won last year’s bid for Chelsea FC — has reportedly pulled out of the race.
Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who own the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils through Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, are among the half-dozen bidders vying for the Washington team, sources told Front Office Sports.
None of the December bids exceeded $6.3 billion, one source said.
Snyders’ Sale
The Snyders hired Bank of America after multiple investigations into the team for misconduct in the workplace and financial improprieties within the franchise.
Snyder purchased the team for about $800 million in 1999 and, at 34, was the youngest owner in the league.
World More Than 500K Tickets Already Sold for FIFA Women’s World Cup [[link removed]]
FIFA
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is already set for success with six months to spare.
More than 500,000 tickets have been sold [[link removed]] to the ninth edition of the tournament, which begins July 20, 2023, in Australia and New Zealand — the first co-hosted women’s tournament.
The final at Stadium Australia on Aug. 20 is the most “sought-after match.” Australia’s opener against Ireland will reportedly [[link removed]] move from Allianz Stadium to Accor Stadium, allowing nearly 40,000 more people to attend. The competition marks the debuts of Morocco, Zambia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Republic of Ireland.
Ticket sales reportedly [[link removed].] put the tournament on track to surpass 2019’s attendance record of 1.1 million in France.
Fans from more than 120 countries have purchased tickets, with the most coming from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., England, and Qatar.
The 2023 edition will be the first with 32 teams — it previously only had 24 — with a record 64 matches played in 10 stadiums.
This year’s competition also has a new format. The first FIFA Women’s World Cup Playoff Tournament will be held in February and feature 10 countries competing for three spots.
Tournament Talks
Last month, FIFA announced [[link removed]] new competitions for the women’s sport.
Soccer’s global governing body revealed plans to introduce the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup and establish the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup. It also endorsed expanding the women’s tournament at the Olympics from 12 to 16.
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Deals Viacom18 Secures ‘Historic’ Rights Deal for Women’s Cricket [[link removed]]
IPL
Another major media company has invested in a sport with more than 2.5 billion fans.
Viacom18 — a joint venture between Paramount Global and Mumbai-based Network18 — has reportedly secured [[link removed]] a five-year, $116 million media rights deal with the new women’s Indian Premier League. The inaugural women’s Twenty20 tournament will begin play in March.
“After pay equity, today’s bidding for media rights for women’s IPL marks another historic mandate,” tweeted [[link removed]] BCCI secretary Jay Shah. “It’s a big and decisive step for empowerment of women’s cricket in India.”
The deal has a per-game value [[link removed]] of roughly $1 million. It’s the second-largest deal for women’s sports rights behind the WNBA’s, per [[link removed]] Ampere Analysis. Viacom18 outbid Disney Star, Sony, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises. Its parent company Network18 is owned by Mumbai Indians owner Mukesh Ambani — the world’s richest sports team owner with a net worth of $88.8 billion, per [[link removed]] Forbes.
In June 2022, Viacom18 landed [[link removed]] a five-year, $2.6 billion deal for streaming rights to the men’s Indian Premier League. That same month, Disney Star reportedly acquired Indian TV rights for $3 billion over five years. The network previously paid $2.1 billion for eight years.
Global Frenzy
Earlier this month, Cricket Australia extended [[link removed]] its domestic media rights deal with pay-TV operator Foxtel and free-to-air TV broadcaster Seven Network for $1 billion.
The pact — which covers all home men’s and women’s international matches — runs from 2024 through the end of the 2030-31 season.
Conversation Starters The NHL has extended [[link removed]] its deal with SiriusXM through its 2028-29 season, which will provide subscribers in North America with access to every NHL game through the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some state NIL laws allow schools to prohibit [[link removed]] athletes from securing deals with their sponsors’ competitors, but others don’t have any such requirements. The NFL and NGL Mitú announced a deal [[link removed]] to create and amplify digital content about the league made for and by the Latino community.
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What to Watch
The Toronto Raptors (20-24) face the Milwaukee Bucks (28-16) on Tuesday night at Fiserv Forum.
How to Watch: 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Betting Odds: Bucks -4.5 || ML -196 || O/U 224
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