In a major expansion of its North American sports broadcasting portfolio, entertainment and racing conglomerate Liberty Media announced on Friday, November 13, that it has secured a landmark two-year U.S. media rights agreement with ESPN to broadcast the FIM MotoGP World Championship beginning with the 2027 racing season. The comprehensive pact will see live grand prix coverage, sprint races, and qualifying sessions distributed across ESPN, ESPN2, and the ABC broadcast network, while extending MotoGP’s exclusive Spanish- and Portuguese-language streaming presence on Disney+ across Latin America through 2028.
Elevating Two-Wheel Motorsport in the United States
The broadcast partnership marks a pivotal commercial milestone for MotoGP following Liberty Media’s acquisition of commercial rights holder Dorna Sports earlier this year. Modeled on Liberty’s wildly successful commercial revitalization of Formula 1 across the United States, the new television framework is specifically engineered to expand American fan engagement and cultivate a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts.
"MotoGP represents the absolute pinnacle of two-wheel motorsport, combining breathtaking mechanical innovation, razor-thin overtaking margins, and unparalleled athletic courage," stated Liberty Media President and CEO Derek Mabon. "Partnering with ESPN provides MotoGP with the premier sports broadcasting platform in North America, delivering prime-time visibility, world-class production value, and expansive multi-platform digital storytelling to millions of passionate racing fans."
Streaming Consolidation and Direct-to-Consumer Transition
The media rights deal also reflects broader structural transformations sweeping through sports media distribution. Under the agreed terms, every grand prix race weekend will be streamed live on ESPN's direct-to-consumer digital platforms, featuring customizable on-board camera angles, real-time telemetry dashboards, and multi-language commentary feeds.
Sports media executives at Playfly Sports noted that live digital streaming has captured an estimated 18% to 22% of total sports viewing audiences nationwide in 2026, accelerating the migration of niche and global racing series away from fragmented regional cable networks toward centralized digital distribution giants capable of packaging live rights with expansive shoulder programming.
Expanding International Athlete Capital
The commercial momentum surrounding international sports franchises was further highlighted on Friday by New York Knicks guard Josh Hart, who announced the acquisition of a significant minority ownership stake in Italian professional basketball club Napoli Basket through Underdog Global Partners. The investment illustrates the growing trend of active American athletes leveraging venture capital to acquire strategic equity in European and international athletic properties.
MotoGP organizers confirmed that promotional campaigns and preliminary broadcast integration specials will begin airing across ESPN properties late next season ahead of the official 2027 season-opening grand prix.
Editorial Fact Check & Key Findings
Key points
- ESPN acquired exclusive two-year U.S. media rights for the MotoGP World Championship starting in 2027.
- Disney+ Latin America extended exclusive Spanish and Portuguese streaming rights through 2028.
- New York Knicks guard Josh Hart purchased an ownership stake in Napoli Basket.
What the evidence shows
Liberty Media secured a two-year broadcast rights agreement with ESPN to air MotoGP races across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and digital streaming platforms starting in 2027, alongside Josh Hart's investment in Napoli Basket.
Background and limits
Liberty is applying its proven Formula 1 commercial playbook to elevate motorcycle racing viewership in North America.
Why this matters
Official Liberty Media corporate announcements and ESPN sports programming schedules verify rights agreements.
