Lachlan Murdoch says Fox will not renegotiation NFL contract early

Fox will not amend its NFL media rights agreement before the contract reaches its opt-out period after the 2029 season, CEO Lachlan Murdoch said during a quarterly earnings call on Aug. 6, 2026.

The decision followed preliminary discussions between Fox and the NFL about the future of the broadcaster’s rights package. The league can opt out of most of its current media agreements after the 2029-30 season.

“In advance of the season, we’ve had a recent thorough and productive discussions with the league, and as a result, we will not be making any amendments to our existing contractual relationship, which extends to the completion of the 2029 season,” Murdoch said. “We’ll be ready to engage with the NFL on the opt-out seasons and beyond at a date closer to the 2030 season, which has been the customary timetable.”

Fox and CBS hold the NFL’s Sunday afternoon broadcast packages. Without the opt-out provision, their agreements run through the 2033-34 season.

The NFL had also held discussions with CBS parent Paramount Skydance about revised terms that would increase annual rights payments in exchange for additional guaranteed seasons, CNBC reported.

Those discussions are reportedly looking to increase the rights deal by nearly $1 billion per year.

The NFL signed its current media rights agreements, valued at more than $100 billion, in 2021. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league’s rights could be undervalued compared with other sports properties.

The league retains the ability to negotiate early renewals or add media partners.

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Its current lineup includes Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN, ABC, Amazon, YouTube and Netflix.

Murdoch said Fox continued to have a positive relationship with the NFL and expected to discuss rights beyond 2029 closer to the end of the current term.

“We don’t see any changes to our contractual terms until the 2030 season,” Murdoch said. “Our relationship with the NFL is an incredibly positive one. We engage with them all the time.”