Two Circles: a record $170bn (€152.6bn) generated by sports rights holders in 2024 (+7% vs 2023)

Sports rights holders generated revenues of $170bn (€152.6bn) in 2024, up 7% on 2023 ($159bn/€142.7bn) and a record, according to "The 2025 Sports Revenue League" study conducted by Two Circles and published in May 2025.

"This figure puts sports as the third largest entertainment industry behind video games and TV, and more than 2x the revenue of the music industry. In 2024, more than a trillion hours of sport was consumed by fans across the globe; this was record-breaking levels, and is only set to grow," explained the UK data-driven consultancy, sales and marketing agency.

"That 7% growth was partly driven by major cyclical events. The Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, and UEFA Euro 2024 contributed $3.8bn and $2.5bn to their federations revenues respectively. The Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics proved to be a positive step for the movement - from a commercial, audience and fan perspective - helping to set up LA (USA) for another record-breaking Games in 2028."

The National Football League ranks first among the sports rights holders with the highest revenues in 2024…