Streaming platforms are forecast to spend $14.2 billion (€11.9 billion) on sports rights in 2026, up 7% year-on-year, according to new research from Ampere Analysis.
Ampere projects Amazon Prime Video will become the biggest investor in streaming sports rights globally, accounting for 27% of total spend with US$3.8 billion – more than half a billion dollars ahead of last year’s leader, DAZN.
The shift is partly driven by 2026 being the first full year of NBA rights within DAZN’s long-term deal, valued by Ampere at $1.8 billion per season, while DAZN’s 2025 spending was boosted by its US$1 billion agreement for the FIFA Men’s Club World Cup, which does not take place in 2026.
““Since 2018, its first full year with top-tier sports rights, DAZN has been the leading streaming spender on sports. However, Amazon’s NBA deal, which began in the 2025–26 season, combined with its existing major rights for NFL Thursday Night Football in the US and the UEFA Champions League in Germany, Italy and the UK, means it overtakes DAZN’s spending for the first time this year,” said Danni Moore, Senior Analyst, Ampere Sports at Ampere Analysis.
Paramount+ also enters Ampere’s top five streaming spenders following its new UFC deal in the US, reported at around US$1.1 billion per year.
The growing importance of live sport for subscriber acquisition, retention and ad-tier revenues is pushing general entertainment streamers to compete more aggressively for premium rights – with Ampere forecasting “generalist” platforms will account for 44% of total streaming sports rights spend in 2026, up from 31% in 2025.
