MLB x Netflix x ESPN: Inside the Deal Reshaping Sports GDP

Good morning, ! This week we’re looking at the contribution to GDP of the sports industry across different geographies. Major League Baseball has unveiled a sweeping three-year media rights package with NBC, ESPN, and Netflix. SEGG Media is acquiring a 51% stake in Ant Media & Productions.

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MEDIA & SPORTS

MLB Reshapes Its Media Future With New Deals Across NBC, ESPN and Netflix

Major League Baseball has unveiled a sweeping three-year media rights package with NBC, ESPN, and Netflix, signaling a major reshuffle ahead of its larger 2028 negotiations. The move follows ESPN’s decision to opt out of its long-running Sunday Night Baseball deal, for which it had been paying $550 million annually.

Beginning in 2026, NBC will take over the iconic Sunday night window, paying roughly $200 million per year. That figure represents a sharp haircut for MLB, which will now receive about $250 million for games that previously cost ESPN about $550 million, a drop of nearly $300 million.

ESPN isn’t stepping away, however. The network has secured a new rights bundle worth $550 million, including distribution of MLB.TV, a 30-game midweek package, and the ability to sell and distribute MLB Network and select in-market games through the ESPN app.

On the streaming front, Netflix will become the exclusive home of the next three Home Run Derbies and will air an Opening Night game each season, part of a package valued at about $50 million annually.

Despite the Sunday night revenue dip, MLB broadens its reach across three powerful platforms—positioning itself for a potentially transformative rights renewal in 2028. (More)

TOGETHER WITH MODE MOBILE

Apple’s Starlink Update Sparks Huge Earning Opportunity

Apple just secretly added Starlink satellite support to iPhones through iOS 18.3.

One of the biggest potential winners? Mode Mobile.

Mode’s EarnPhone already reaches 50M+ users that have earned over $325M, and that’s before global satellite coverage. With SpaceX eliminating "dead zones," Mode's earning technology can now reach billions more in unbanked and rural populations worldwide.

Their global expansion is perfectly timed, and accredited investors still have a chance to invest in their pre-IPO offering at $0.50/share.

With their recent 32,481% revenue growth and newly reserved Nasdaq ticker, Mode is one step closer to a potential IPO.

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Disclosures

Mode Mobile recently received their ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($MODE), indicating an intent to IPO in the next 24 months. An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur.

The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period.

This offer is only open to accredited investors.

INVESTOR CORNER

SEGG’s Streaming Playbook: Buy Content, Build Conglomerate

SEGG Media is acquiring a 51% stake in Ant Media & Productions, the content arm of Ant Middleton, best known for SAS: Who Dares Wins and now a London mayoral hopeful. The deal hands SEGG exclusive global (non-MENA) streaming rights to Special Forces Trilogy—a 10-episode, Dubai-shot reality series set to air in 2026 via Sports.com Studios.

It’s more than a content grab. It’s a signal: SEGG is doubling down on becoming a vertically integrated player across sports, media, and streaming. Chairman Matthew McGahan positioned the move as “adding outstanding assets to the balance sheet”—language aimed squarely at public markets and M&A desks.

SEGG’s hybrid model—blending streaming rights, IP ownership, and production infrastructure—mirrors Liberty Media’s F1 and Endeavor’s UFC strategy. The key difference? SEGG is betting on high-impact reality content over live rights to drive fan engagement.

Why it matters: With the market cooling on media rights multiples, this model offers an alternative path to audience and asset growth. If Special Forces Trilogy hits, SEGG will have proof-of-concept for leveraging talent-led IP to anchor a streaming platform with global ambitions. (More)

ENTREPRENEURS

Lusia Harris: A Founder Who Used Hoops to Build a Future

Lusia Harris made history as the only woman officially drafted by the NBA. But her real legacy came after the buzzer. Post-retirement, she pivoted into entrepreneurship — not with a startup pitch deck, but by building infrastructure for the growth of women’s sports. From coaching to creating development programs in underserved schools, Harris showed that sports equity isn’t just policy — it’s a business model. In an era of NIL deals, athlete-backed funds, and venture-backed women’s leagues, she remains the quiet architect of today’s momentum. Call it mission-driven entrepreneurship — with a jump shot. (More)

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TECH & INFRASTRUCTURE

GDP Share Tells the Real Story: U.S. Sports Infrastructure Dominates

The sport economy now accounts for 2.8% of U.S. GDP, compared to 2.3% in Europe and just 1.3% in the Middle East, per Oliver Wyman. Behind those figures lies a capital-intensive truth: no region matches the U.S. when it comes to infrastructure investment, monetization, and utilization.

The U.S. leads with massive public-private financing for multi-use venues, tech-forward stadiums, and hospitality-focused upgrades. Think $5B SoFi Stadium, $1.5B Allegiant, or the $2B redevelopment of MSG Sphere. These aren’t just venues—they’re content factories and year-round revenue engines.

Europe, with deeper sporting roots, trails slightly, often constrained by regulatory frameworks and legacy facilities. The Middle East, despite headline projects like Qiddiya and Lusail, still lags in GDP penetration. The gap highlights a key challenge: translating megaprojects into recurring economic activity.

Bottom line: In the sports economy, infrastructure isn’t a cost—it’s a catalyst. Regions that invest smartly in tech-enabled, multi-functional facilities are building GDP engines, not just stadiums. (More)

eSPORTS

Sponsorships Still Carry the Circuit

The latest breakdown of eSports revenues confirms what insiders already know: Sponsorships (40.5%) remain the industry’s undisputed economic engine. Brands continue piling in, drawn by gaming’s lock on younger audiences and its global reach. The next-biggest pillar, Media Rights (25.3%), is scaling fast as tournaments rack up record viewership across Twitch, YouTube, and regional broadcasters. Meanwhile, Publisher Fees (12.2%) keep ecosystems like League of Legends and Valorant humming. Digital-first revenue streams round out the mix: Digital Advertising (8.7%), Merchandise & Tickets (7.6%), and Streaming contributions (5.7%). The takeaway: eSports is maturing into a diversified business model. As media deals grow and live events rebound, the industry is inching closer to the financial architecture of traditional sports. (More)

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TWEET OF THE WEEK

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game."

Babe Ruth