ESPN vs Liberty Media

Merriman: Lights Out Sports to Cut CDN Costs via 5G Broadcasting

In an interview, Shawne Merriman, former NFL player and founder of Lights Out Sports TV, discusses the high costs of content delivery networks (CDNs) for live sports streaming. He highlights the potential of 5G broadcast technology to reduce these costs by sending one signal to many viewers rather than millions of individual streams. Merriman also shares insights on revenue strategies, emphasizing direct ad sales over programmatic for monetization. He mentions upcoming high school football productions with exclusive rights and fan engagement initiatives. The interview covers the evolution from traditional broadcasting to streaming and the financial pressures facing major networks.

• Lights Out Sports TV is a new sports streaming platform founded by Shawne Merriman.
• Merriman says CDN costs are the primary challenge for live sports streaming.
• The company aims to use 5G broadcast chips to distribute single signals to many viewers, reducing costs.

Jake Paul Boxing Event May Leave Netflix for DAZN

Jake Paul is scheduled to headline a boxing event in Dubai on December 24, 2026, announced by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). The opponent and streaming platform are yet to be confirmed. According to the New York Post, Netflix is not expected to carry the event, with DAZN pay-per-view reportedly the leading alternative. This follows Paul's previous fights on Netflix, including the Mike Tyson bout in November 2024 and the Anthony Joshua fight in December 2025. Speculation suggests Netflix may be reducing its focus on live sports after the departure of former Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria. The potential move to DAZN would mark a shift in MVP's distribution strategy, which also includes a multi-year agreement with ESPN for its women's boxing brand MVPW.

• Jake Paul will headline a boxing event in Dubai on December 24, 2026, announced by MVP.
• Netflix is not expected to carry the event, with DAZN pay-per-view reportedly the leading alternative.
• Paul's previous fights on Netflix included Mike Tyson (Nov 2024) and Anthony Joshua (Dec 2025).

Shoulder Content Shifts Football Ad Pricing Dynamics

The article explains the phenomenon of shoulder content in football (NFL) advertising: while the price of a 30-second spot in live games increased, the average price of CTV campaigns around football dropped 13% in the 2025-26 season. This is due to the rising share of shoulder content (pre-game, post-game, and ancillary programming) in ad campaigns. Rights holders like ESPN/Disney and DAZN use shoulder content to expand ad inventory beyond the fixed game clock. The piece includes two case studies: The Fan Zone on DAZN (licensed vs. owned content) and Super Bowl LXI's six feeds on Disney outlets. It also provides practical guidance for media buyers, sellers, and producers on how to handle live and shoulder inventory pricing and reporting separately.

• In the 2025-26 NFL season, the price of a 30-second ad in live games increased, while the average price of CTV football campaigns decreased by 13%.
• The decrease is attributed to a higher share of shoulder content (non-live programming) in campaigns, which has a lower CPM than live inventory.
• Broadcast partners recoup about half of their NFL rights fees through advertising, and rights fees are projected to increase by over 50% in the next cycle.

Liberty Media Corporation Announces Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

Liberty Media Corporation announced the release date and conference call for its third quarter earnings.

Liberty Media Corporation Announces Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

Liberty Media Corporation announced the release date for its third quarter earnings and conference call, scheduled for Oct 08, 2026.

8-K Financial Filing Analysis for Liberty Media (2026-09-02)

Liberty Media Corporation announced executive leadership transitions effective October 1, 2026. Philip J. Boeckman, formerly a long-tenured Partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and Managing Partner/Co-Head of EMEA Capital Markets in London, has been appointed as Chief Legal Officer. In this role, Boeckman will oversee all legal functions across the company. Concurrently, current executive Renee L. Wilm will transition from her legal leadership role to become Senior Advisor to the company, providing strategic counsel and supporting key initiatives across Liberty Media's portfolio.

• Philip J. Boeckman is appointed Chief Legal Officer of Liberty Media Corporation, effective October 1, 2026.
• Boeckman joins after serving as a Partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP from 1999 to 2026, including leadership roles as London Managing Partner and Co-Head of EMEA Capital Markets.
• Renee L. Wilm transitions to the role of Senior Advisor to the Company effective October 1, 2026, providing ongoing strategic guidance.