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The 2026 World Cup May Be the Last Great Sports TV Bargain

Fox’s 2026 World Cup rights look wildly undervalued, but the next round of sports rights negotiations could leave Hollywood paying the price.

In a world in which the combined media rights value for North America’s Big Four sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL) currently eclipses $15 billion annually, bargain hunters must beware. The 2026 World Cup may be the last major sports broadcast deal secured at a real discount. And that might just be the first domino in a problematic chain reaction for Hollywood. 

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Back in 2015, FOX was able to extend U.S. World Cup rights through this year for a pittance. Yet, that is exactly why the next round of negotiations is expected to produce fireworks. Sports rights are the last vestige of consistent mass-audience appeal on linear television and the best way to engage high-risk subscribers and juice ad-supported tiers on streaming. But with every new envy-inducing deal that crosses the finish line, the entertainment ecosystem is forced to contract. 

How Fox landed the deal of the century

The 2022 World Cup Final between France and Argentina was watched by around........

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