As we prepare to sit back and enjoy time with family this Thanksgiving weekend, there is much to be thankful for. The holiday season always serves as a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the blessings in our lives. Sports media is no different, though for many, it’s a working holiday.
Turkey Day is packed with football, with close to 50 million viewers potentially watching a 3rd and 5 at the same time. Black Friday brings more football. The NFL gives way to rivalry week, where the history and pageantry of college football are on full display. The NBA and NHL take a backseat to the sport that defines fall, while WWE puts on its own brand of WarGames.
Amid all the bantering and attention-seeking headlines, this is a time for reflection. Sports are a healthy, enduring part of American culture, and sports media has plenty to be thankful for.
Money Talks
Sports media should be thankful for greed. Networks and streaming services are now battling head-to-head for the rights to your favorite sports.
Just this year, the NBA began its new 11-year, $76 million media rights deals with NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company, and Prime Video. MLB recently announced short-term agreements with Disney, Netflix, and NBCUniversal. Meanwhile, the NHL secured a media rights deal in Canada that nearly doubled its previous earnings. All the while, the NFL teases networks and streaming platforms with talks beginning earlier than expected.
Greed isn’t bad. Business is good. When the sports business thrives, sports media grows with it. Costs may rise for viewers, but the return is a blessing in disguise.
We Only Do It Live
Sports media should be thankful for the staple of games being live. It wasn’t always this way for the seniors at the sports media Thanksgiving table. Today, access to live sports is easier than ever, whether with a click of a button, a download of an app, or by finding your local neighborhood illegal streaming site.
Every game is accessible as it happens, everywhere. Live sports remain the most watched television product on Earth, and the thrill of an unpredictable outcome creates a sense of community as fans rally around screens in record numbers.
Content Boom
Sports media should also be thankful for technology. Beyond delivering games, it has amplified fan passion across the globe. Podcasts continue to grow, evolving into video content for platforms like Netflix and YouTube, bringing sports storytelling to televisions and mobile devices everywhere. “There’s money in those hills,” said the pioneers as they marched west.
Technology has also empowered athletes to build personal brands and connect with fans and media in ways previously unimaginable. Remember when Twitter was supposed to be the death of sports media?
For sports media and content creators, the age of sports content demand has never been higher than today.
Gamble > Gobble
Sports media should be thankful for sports gambling, which continues to penetrate the old norms of media. What was once taboo—mentioning a betting line—has become commonplace among networks, teams, and leagues.
Everyone is cashing in, with no sign of slowing down. Sportsbook revenue has kept radio stations profitable and created a new digital ecosystem for prediction markets. It’s a safe bet this Thanksgiving: take the over on sports gambling’s growth in 2026.
Opportunity Rising
Finally, sports media should be thankful for the iconic voices of the industry. They all stand on the shoulders of giants who never imagined the field would become so fruitful.
Stephen A. Smith gets $20 million from ESPN to host a show—one show—and then tells his bosses how much more or less he wants to work.
Dana White went from running gyms to buying the UFC and turning it into the global behemoth it has become.
Bill Simmons went from writing about high school sports at the Boston Herald to becoming the most recognizable name in sports podcasts.
In each case, the growth of sports in America and the passion it inspires drove these individuals to unexpected greatness. That’s the promise, the excitement, and the story that continues to captivate those chasing their dreams while inspiring the next generation. Sports media should be thankful for the opportunities that success in sports makes possible, enabling the industry to grow and evolve.
Give Thanks!
Sports is Thanksgiving. It brings people together to share time and create community. Sometimes that results in strangers becoming friends, and friends becoming family. We break bread with one another and find commonality in an uncommon world.
So, as the holiday weekend unfolds—between the kickoff, tipoff, faceoff, and bell—remember to take a moment to appreciate the bigger picture. Sports media may chase ratings, deals, and the next big story, but at its core, it’s about connection: the shared thrill of a game, the stories that inspire, and the communities that gather around them.
This Thanksgiving, we can be thankful not just for the wins and the headlines, but for the enduring power of sports to bring people together. In a world that’s constantly changing, that’s a blessing worth celebrating.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
