Technology providers, production companies, and service providers are the ones who must make every scenario technically and operationally viable, while providing financially compelling solutions. The challenge is that vendors must often anticipate change faster than their clients. After many great conversations at IBC 2025 it became clear, that while broadcasters and federations were still debating future strategies, vendors were already showcasing the software-tools, interoperable solutions, and modular workflows that will enable whatever direction the industry takes.

In this second part, I'll dive into two scenarios at opposite ends of the spectrum:

The Wild West of hyper-fragmentation and piracy, where fans are forced into multiple subscriptions and regulators struggle to keep up.

The Public Value Rebound, where governments intervene to safeguard access to culturally significant sports, reshaping how federations, broadcasters, and tech platforms must collaborate.

The rise of global streaming platforms, the reach for younger audiences, and the relentless pressure to monetize live events are reshaping how football, basketball, and other sports reach its fans. In just a few years, the ecosystem could look radically different from the one we know today and raises big questions about traditional players, technology, strategy, but most importantly: the fan experience.

In dozens of conversations over the past year, I’ve heard versions of the same question: what’s next? And in this piece I wanted to share the first three potential futures that are already taking shape — scenarios that could define the next 5–7 years of live sports.