Fox will maintain its existing National Football League media rights agreement without modifications until the contract concludes at the end of the 2029 season, according to remarks made by Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch during an earnings conference call. The network stated it plans to engage in negotiations regarding opt-out provisions and renewal terms at a point nearer to the 2030 season, following what Murdoch characterized as the customary timetable for such discussions.
The decision comes after the NFL conducted preliminary discussions with both Fox and CBS-parent Paramount Skydance regarding potential modifications to their current agreements. Those preliminary talks centered on eliminating opt-out clauses and increasing the financial terms for live game rights. Fox and CBS currently hold the rights to the NFL’s Sunday afternoon game packages. Without opt-out provisions, both companies’ agreements with the league would extend through the conclusion of the 2033-34 season.
The NFL has indicated it maintains flexibility to renew agreements early with other media partners and to add new broadcast partners as circumstances warrant. The league has previously expanded its media relationships to include YouTube and Netflix in recent years. An NFL spokesperson declined to provide comment on Murdoch’s statement.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has previously expressed the view that the league’s media rights may be undervalued relative to other professional sports properties. The NBA secured an 11-year media rights agreement valued at $77 billion in 2024. The NFL’s most recent comprehensive media rights deal, signed in 2021, exceeded $100 billion in total value. Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston indicated this week that the NFL has not yet initiated discussions with Disney regarding a potential new agreement.
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