Sports Data Monopolies: Exposing the Problem and Why Your Rights Matter (Part 1)

In this four-part blog series, we reveal the challenges posed by the sports data monopoly. We’ll examine how major leagues, by selling exclusive rights to single providers, control the flow of information, inflating costs and stifling innovation. From the roots of these monopolies to their far-reaching consequences, we’ll show why a fairer system is urgently needed—and propose a new model that benefits leagues, businesses, and fans alike. Let’s see how this centralized control over sports data led to a duopoly—and why it burdens everyone involved.

In the modern sports industry, data is the lifeblood that fuels media coverage, betting platforms, and fan engagement. However, the current landscape is dominated by leagues that choose to grant exclusive data rights to a single provider. This practice has created a system that stifles competition, limits innovation, and places an unfair burden on businesses and fans alike.

These leagues have entered into exclusive agreements that prevent anyone else from collecting data directly from venues. For example, if a company like LSports wants to gather real-time data from a match, it is legally barred from doing so due to the league’s decision to grant exclusivity. This restriction allows the chosen providers to charge exorbitant fees, which increase dramatically each year, leaving customers with no alternative but to pay up. Smaller companies and startups are effectively shut out of the market, unable to compete with the high costs of accessing data.

The consequences of this monopoly extend beyond financial strain. The lack of competition means there is little incentive for the exclusive providers to improve the quality of their services. Error rates in data collection currently range from 1.8% to 3%, which, while seemingly low, can have significant repercussions in industries like sports betting and media, where accuracy is paramount. These errors could be reduced further with more competition and technological innovation, but the current system discourages such progress.

For the leagues themselves, the situation may seem lucrative in the short term but is ultimately problematic. By locking themselves into exclusive deals, they surrender control over their data, limiting their ability to explore alternative revenue streams or partnerships. This not only stifles their growth but also leaves them dependent on a single provider, which can dictate terms and prices.

Fans and consumers are also affected. The high cost of accessing data often translates to higher prices for live scores, statistics, and analytics. This diminishes the overall fan experience and limits the potential for deeper engagement with sports.

In short, the sports data industry is in dire need of reform. The monopolistic practices of the leagues—choosing to grant exclusive rights to single providers—are holding back competition, innovation, and fairness. But how did we get here? In the next part of this series, we’ll explore the origins of this monopolistic system and why it has become so entrenched.

Part 2 will be published on the 10th of February.