A model of this text first appeared within the CNBC Sport e-newsletter with Alex Sherman, which brings you the largest information and unique interviews from the worlds of sports activities enterprise and media. Sign as much as obtain future editions, straight to your inbox. Last week, I informed you I’d have extra to say on Paramount’s seemingly incoming bid to accumulate Warner Bros. Discovery. Well, I lied. That’ll have to attend yet another week. We interrupt your repeatedly scheduled programming to carry you a particular announcement. I caught up with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this weekend on the San Francisco 49ers recreation at Levi’s Stadium. We coated quite a few completely different topics, together with Goodell’s feedback that the league’s media rights renegotiations might start as early as 2026 , 4 years sooner than the prevailing opt-out clause. “I think our partners would want to sit down and talk to us at any time, and we continue to dialogue with them. I like that opportunity,” Goodell stated. “Obviously it’s not going to happen this year. But it could happen as early as next year. That could happen.” I needed to ask Goodell in regards to the battle of curiosity query surrounding Tom Brady . Quite a bit has been written on the query of whether or not a nationwide broadcaster of video games ought to be capable of seem within the Las Vegas Raiders’ coaches’ field given he in all probability has entry to extra info than a standard group’s minority proprietor. Brady and his enterprise companion Tom Wagner acquired a few 10% stake within the group final yr , CNBC reported. Goodell was animated when talking in regards to the perceived battle of curiosity. He essentially dismissed the notion that there was an issue. “Teams have the right to say whatever they want to. They don’t have to disclose any information if they think it’s a conflict of interest,” Goodell informed me. “Teams don’t need to say anything. Sometimes they don’t say anything to somebody who’s not [a minority owner]. We get a lot of former players that are in [broadcast meetings] that are close to their former teams. I think our teams are pretty smart about saying, ‘I’m not sharing something with him.'” “Where’s the conflict?” Goodell continued. “He’s not hanging around in the facilities. We don’t allow that.” Brady, too, defended his twin roles in his weekly e-newsletter printed Wednesday. “I love football. At its core it is a game of principles. And with all the success it has given me, I feel I have a moral and ethical duty to the sport, which is why the point where my roles in it intersect is not actually a point of conflict, despite what the paranoid and distrustful might believe,” Brady wrote. “Rather, it’s the place from which my ethical duty emerges: to grow, evolve, and improve the game that has given me everything.” Goodell and I additionally mentioned the idea of league enlargement. I requested Goodell if the subsequent logical transfer was to develop internationally as an alternative of throughout the U.S. “I don’t know if I could predict that, but I would say that the markets outside the U.S. are very, very attractive,” stated Goodell. “And we’ve got pretty good coverage here.” Goodell stated a group in London was “possible,” including, “There are markets that could certainly support a team. We’ve always focused on, what are the competitive consequences of that? Can we manage that? And so every year we try to learn something from the international series.” Goodell famous the Minnesota Vikings are taking part in back-to-back worldwide video games within the coming weeks, one thing he stated has “never been done before.” The Vikings will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin on Sunday, adopted by the Cleveland Browns in London on Oct. 5. “It starts to give you a sense of, can you do certain things that are going to be necessary from a scheduling standpoint and a training standpoint? When we first came up with the idea of [an international] regular season game, I didn’t think there would be as much support. But now, every team wants to do it,” Goodell stated. “We don’t have to talk them into it. They’re asking us.” A Week 1 NFL recreation in Brazil, streamed on YouTube, drew 16.2 million U.S. followers and 1.1 million worldwide followers, showcasing the expansion potential of the league if Goodell can develop the sport globally. Goodell praised the league’s partnership with YouTube, particularly citing the platform’s capability to achieve a youthful viewers. YouTube acquired Sunday Ticket from DirecTV three years in the past, and the Brazil recreation was the first-ever recreation on the principle (free) platform. “I think there’s so many different directions that relationship will go, and it won’t be one, it’ll be many,” Goodell stated of YouTube. “Sunday Ticket has been a huge hit for them as well as for us.” Sources conversant in the matter informed me Sunday Ticket presently has between 2 million and 5 million subscribers – so, greater than DirecTV had however nonetheless a considerably area of interest product. “It’s hitting a younger demographic,” Goodell stated. “It’s the technology they bring. They’re changing the way people are watching sports, whether it’s multiview or just for creators.” Still, Goodell pushed again on the notion that youthful viewers aren’t watching full video games anymore. “I know everyone says kids don’t watch. That’s not true, in our experience,” he stated. “I think they may be watching with multiple screens or several devices. They’re watching their fantasy team or they’re watching some aspects of the game.” Goodell additionally informed me he was happy with the league’s rollout of personal fairness possession – capped at 10% for choose PE companies. He informed me “not yet” by way of elevating that threshold – one thing he is advised he’d be open to up to now. *** Speaking of YouTube, I’ve yet another YouTube nugget for you. I’m informed YouTube TV has about 10 million subscribers and could also be on a collision course with NBCUniversal that might finish in NBCU’s networks going darkish on the platform, in response to individuals conversant in the matter. (Don’t fear CNBC watchers, you’ll be able to at all times subscribe to CNBC Pro or CNBC+ to observe your favourite exhibits!) The YouTube-NBCU deal is up on the finish of September. I typically hear potential blackout chatter as carriage renewal deadlines method. But this one feels a bit of completely different. YouTube TV, at 10 million, is attending to be a serious participant within the distribution recreation – and it needs to be handled as such. That means, it needs decrease charges for NBCU’s networks. YouTube TV executives have not been thrilled with the best way NBCU has priced Peacock, arguing it has undermined the wholesale worth of NBCU’s cable bundle, in response to sources conversant in the discussions. I’m informed that is one of many explanation why Peacock simply raised its value in July. By the best way, after NBCUniversal, I’m informed YouTube TV has a Disney deal to nail down close to the tip of October. And, lo and behold, Disney simply introduced a value enhance for Disney+. I’m additionally informed some executives at NBCU view YouTube skeptically. Blacking out NBCU could also be dangerous for YouTube TV subscribers, but when these prospects cancel YouTube TV due to a blackout – is that actually that dangerous for the broader YouTube in the long term? In different phrases, it is easy for YouTube TV to take a hardline stance as a result of any degradation in conventional TV finally advantages Big YouTube (the free service), even when it means YouTube TV – the digital cable bundle – loses prospects. One particular person conversant in the negotiations informed me, solely half-jokingly, YouTube TV “needs to make an example out of someone” to show it means enterprise in the case of getting decrease charges. Still, NBCUniversal is a beneficial companion for YouTube. Old SNL clips, for instance, are very fashionable on YouTube. One YouTube govt informed me it does not behoove the corporate to make enemies of main content material suppliers for the principle service. More to return on this one. And our commonplace disclosure, that Comcast’s NBCUniversal owns CNBC. Versant would change into the brand new dad or mum firm of CNBC upon Comcast’s deliberate spinoff of Versant. On the report With sports activities investor Marc Lasry … Minor league baseball, the WNBA and the NWSL – that is the place sports activities investor Marc Lasry needs to place his cash, he informed me in an unique interview. The former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks (he offered in 2023 ) informed me whereas he needs he waited one other yr or two to promote the group (NBA valuations have continued to skyrocket), he stands by his logic to promote when he did – primarily, it is arduous for small-market groups to compete and win within the NBA. The Bucks received the NBA title in 2021. Lasry acknowledged he did not have a lot religion one other championship can be coming any time quickly – and heading right into a doubtlessly extended interval of not profitable champions is not good enterprise. “You only make money in sports three ways: ticket sales, sponsorship and media,” Lasry stated. That logic has additionally pushed his funding in skilled bull using, which Lasry sees as an undervalued asset. Lasry, who’s the CEO and co-founder of Avenue Capital Group, acquired the New York Mavericks – a group with the Professional Bull Riders league – in 2024. TV scores for PBR are shockingly excessive – generally topping 2 million U.S. viewers. That’s greater than many MLB video games draw. (Shocking, at the very least, to me. Apologies to the PBR followers on the market who knew this already.) Lasry feels there’s an arbitrage play with PBR. Sure, media corporations aren’t going to pay the identical for PBR as they do for MLB – however the hole should not be as large as it’s, he informed me. You can watch our complete dialog right here . Or pay attention right here and comply with the CNBC Sport podcast when you favor the audio model. CNBC Sport spotlight reel The better of CNBC Sport from the previous week: Speaking of Tom Brady, he has offered his protocols! Yes, Aescape, an organization that makes robots that give massages, has acquired “the exclusive rights to Tom Brady’s recovery and longevity protocols.” CNBC’s Jessica Golden spoke to Brady and his enterprise companions and has all the main points . CNBC’s Dom Chu spoke with the PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague in regards to the Ryder Cup coming to New York’s Bethpage Black course. The Ryder Cup begins tomorrow, Sept. 26. Walmart is teaming up with Spanish soccer league La Liga because the first-ever presenting companion of the “El Clásico” rivalry match-up between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. It’s yet one more soccer tie-up for the nation’s largest retailer, which partnered with MLS in July. CNBC’s Luke Fountain has extra. Contessa’s Corner Hi all! Contessa right here once more together with your weekly sports activities betting replace: Americans like to gamble – particularly youthful Americans. At least, that is the conclusion from TransUnion, which analyzed second-quarter wagering right here within the U.S. Thirty % of Americans are betting now, in contrast with 25% simply final yr. And the large drivers? Millennials — up 42% yr over yr — and Gen Z, up 34%. These youthful gamblers are additionally dabbling in speculative investing, which many consultants would say seems to be rather a lot like playing. TransUnion says it is “likely these consumers use cryptocurrency” of their on-line buying and selling and playing. Neither DraftKings nor FanDuel settle for any transactions in crypto, which might point out a willingness to discover unlicensed, offshore playing platforms. The debt is stacking up for these threat fans, with month-to-month funds up 20% for millennials and 27% for Gen Z. Of course, it is regular for youthful adults to take on debt once they purchase houses or have youngsters, however these debt will increase far outpace inflation at 6% and wage development at 8%. In 2024, headlines warned that legalized playing might wreck Americans’ funds. Northwestern University and UCLA researchers tied it to larger bankruptcies and decrease credit score scores. But not so quick, says Michael Mandel , chief economist on the Progressive Policy Institute. He factors out early adopter states truly noticed a 40% drop in bankruptcies between 2019 and 2024 — higher than the nationwide common. And credit score scores? They ticked larger in these states, proper in keeping with the remainder of the nation. And yet another factor: European lottery big Allwyn is making its transfer within the U.S. sports activities gaming market. The firm simply inked a deal to accumulate 62% of each day fantasy platform PrizePicks at an implied $2.5 billion enterprise worth. See you subsequent week! The large quantity: 106 “Sister Jean” is retiring at 106 years previous . Jean Dolores Schmidt rocketed to celeb standing in 2018 when the Loyola Chicago Ramblers made a shocking NCAA Final Four run as an 11 seed. “Sister Jean” has been a campus minister and the official chaplain of the Ramblers males’s basketball group. Quote of the week “We’ve been, I would say, on the 1-yard line about five times. OK? And we haven’t been able to get it done. It’ll get done. What’s the hurdle? The hurdle is always at the end day, nobody wants to be first.” — Marc Lasry, after I requested me after we will lastly see a university sports activities program promote a bit of itself to non-public fairness for money. Around the league As the lads’s World Cup will get able to make its solution to the U.S. subsequent yr, FIFA is already contemplating increasing the sphere to a whopping 64 groups for 2030. Next yr’s World Cup, which can be performed all through North America, will contain 48 groups – a rise from the 32-team subject FIFA has used since 1998, reviews Front Office Sports. Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce ‘s hit podcast “New Heights” is now obtainable to stream on Prime Video within the U.S. Among the episodes obtainable at launch is the brothers’ Taylor Swift interview, the place she revealed the discharge date and canopy artwork for her upcoming album “The Life of a Showgirl.” The San Francisco 49ers have a deal in place to promote 3.2% of the franchise to Fortress Investment Group Managing Partner and Board Chairman Pete Briger Jr ., sources informed Sports Business Journal. If this sounds acquainted, the 49ers offered a 6.2% stake to 3 Bay Area households in May. Briger’s deal is claimed to be on the identical $8.6 billion valuation because the minority sale in May, SBJ reviews.