ABSTRACT
Broadcast rights contracts signed by professional sports leagues and teams, the NCAA for its men’s basketball tournament, and collegiate conferences that extend into the decade of the 2020’s, clearly indicate that television networks continue to provide a very lucrative revenue source. The money from television networks to purchase the right to broadcast games is the foundation of the economic sports business model and the largest revenue source for a popular sports league such as the National Football League (NFL) or an organization such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC). For example, the IOC generates 47 percent of its revenue from its broadcast contracts, with sponsorship ranking as the second highest revenue source at 45 percent (International Olympic Committee, 2012).
