FWONB - Smaller sports may become next shopping targets for big streamers

Niche sports leagues may be the next frontier in acquisitions for the ravenous streaming industry, CNBC notes as it observes rising sports rights fees that mean content giants will be paying up one way or another. The trends point the way toward a potential buyout for groups like World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE -0.8%), Formula One racing (FWONA -1.7%), NASCAR stock car racing or mixed martial arts leader Ultimate Fighting Championship, according to CNBC. Before what is now Endeavor Group (EDR -1.4%) bought UFC for just over $4 billion in 2016, Disney (DIS -1.5%) had negotiated terms of a deal that would see the Mouse House paying about $4.3 billion for the sports company. But then-CEO Bob Iger felt the bloody brand didn't fit with Disney's image. Two years later, though, ESPN paid $1.5 billion for five-year UFC TV rights, and ESPN+ has a deal until 2025 to stream UFC fights.

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Smaller sports may become next shopping targets for big streamers