The NFL landscape is shifting, and the latest episode of Sporticast (episode 551) dives into the biggest moves—including Fox and NBC adding more games for the 2026 season. Hosts Scott Soshnick and Kurt Badenhausen break down what this means for fans, networks, and the league itself.
During the network upfronts, NBC had plenty to celebrate. Sunday Night Football remains the No. 1 primetime show for 15 consecutive years, and Peacock revealed that the 2026 season opener will feature the Dallas Cowboys facing the New York Giants. But the real headline? NBC is adding an extra Sunday game at the end of the season, further expanding its NFL portfolio.
It’s no surprise the league is eyeing new deals ahead of its 2029 opt-outs. The appetite for NFL football is insatiable: 84 of the 100 most-watched broadcasts in 2025 were NFL games, and ad pricing has surged 72% over the past decade. With that kind of momentum, networks are racing to lock in more inventory.
The episode also explores the high-stakes bidding war for the Seattle Seahawks. Sportico broke the news of two potential bids: one from steel magnate Aditya Mittal and former Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, and another from billionaire Vinod Khosla—a prominent West Coast VC and investor in the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks are poised to fetch a record price, reflecting the NFL’s soaring value.
Finally, the hosts recap Sportico’s Invest West event in San Francisco, featuring team owners Joe Lacob, Alex Bhathal, and Vivek Ranadivé, along with California team leaders and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Lacob and Bhathal are now rivals on the court after the Portland Fire’s record-setting WNBA home opener (19,335 fans). Lacob’s Golden State Valkyries top Sportico’s WNBA team valuations at $850 million, and he candidly discussed his failed bid for MLB’s San Diego Padres and a potential 2027 lockout. “We assumed likely not a season next year,” Lacob said. “Or at least that it was a possibility.”
With more games, bigger bids, and rising stakes, the NFL business machine keeps rolling. Stay tuned—this story is far from over.