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What to know about UCL playoffs second legs

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A consequential week awaits in Europe as the UEFA Champions League’s knockout phase playoffs continue with a batch of second leg matches, several of which will be fiercely contested with spots in the round of 16 on the line.

Three first leg matches concluded in a draw or with a team boasting a narrow one goal advantage, a trip to the next round no sure thing for several high-profile teams. The list includes Real Madrid, who have just a 1-0 lead over Benfica before Wednesday’s second leg at home, and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Monaco 3-2 last week. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have all to play for after a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge in the first leg.

A handful of teams, meanwhile, will hope their sizable first leg advantages make for a strong foundation as they target spots in the round of 16. Newcastle United have the largest lead after a 6-1 win at Qarabag, while Galatasaray head to Juventus with a 5-2 advantage. In the surprise of the first leg, though, Bodo/Glimt visit Inter after their surprise 3-1 win on Wednesday.

Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.

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How to watch

Paramount+ will once again be a one-stop shop for all things Champions League this week, while CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network will have select coverage on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Coverage on both days begins on CBS Sports Golazo Network before the early matches before the UEFA Champions League Today pre-match show begins on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. All matches will be available on Paramount+ while CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network will carry select games on both Tuesday and Wednesday, while Paramount+ will also have The Golazo Show. Coverage concludes with the UEFA Champions League Today post-match show on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network as well as new editions of The Champions Club and Scoreline on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

UEFA Champions League bracket

First leg scores

  • Galatasaray 5, Juventus 2
  • Monaco 2, Paris Saint-Germain 3
  • Benfica 0, Real Madrid 1
  • Borussia Dortmund 2, Atalanta 0
  • Qarabag 1, Newcastle United 6
  • Olympiacos 0, Bayer Leverkusen 2
  • Bodo/Glimt 3, Inter 1
  • Club Brugge 3, Atletico Madrid 3

Get ready for the Knockout Stage like never before with the UEFA Champions League Bracket Games! Create a pool to compete against friends or enter our Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a dream trip to London, including 2 UCL tickets and a tour of the UCL Today set! Plus, see how you stack up against UCL Today’s own Jamie and Micah. Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 draw, or play on the CBS Sports App!

Knockout phase playoffs second leg schedule

All times U.S./Eastern

Tuesday’s storylines

Atletico Madrid’s dominance in question: Since returning to the Champions League after several years away in the 2013-14 season, Atletico Madrid have become one of the competition’s fixtures. They have made it to the round of 16 on all but two occasions in the last 12 seasons and are still the favorites to advance on Tuesday but after last week’s 3-3 draw at Club Brugge, reaching the next round is no guarantee. The Belgian side went toe-to-toe with Atleti, revealing some of their opponent’s shortcomings in the process. Diego Simeone’s side still boasts a handful of talented goalscorers, headlined by Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez, the pair supported by impactful players like Alexander Sorloth and new signing Ademola Lookman. Their defensive performances, though, have been all over the place – they have one clean sheet in their last five, a 4-0 win against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, conceding nine goals in that stretch. Brugge have sneakily been a strong attacking side in the Champions League with 15 goals in eight league phase matches, gifted at finding a way to exploit vulnerable defenses.

Are Italian sides in trouble?: Coupled with Juventus’ first leg capitulation at Galatasaray, Inter’s tie with Bodo/Glimt will serve as a bellwether for the state of the game in Italy, the pressure fully on the Serie A leaders after losing 3-1 in Norway last week. Glimt are riding a high after beating both Manchester City and Atleti in recent weeks and have the benefit of a familiarity with Aspmyra Stadion’s artificial turf but even then, Inter failed to match the tempo of the opponent in the first leg and return home with a sizable disadvantage. They rebounded in domestic play with a 2-0 win at Lecce but may have to cope without Lautaro Martinez, who came off with a calf injury at Glimt and missed Saturday’s match and may be at risk of missing Tuesday’s Champions League encounter. They will likely count on Marcus Thuram to lead their attacking charge but Inter have not exactly an attacking force in Europe with 15 goals during the league phase, an average tally during those eight games, a worrying sign for a team in need of goals on Tuesday.

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Wednesday’s storylines

Real Madrid’s up-and-down season: From a results standpoint, things were coming up Real Madrid last week – their win over Real Sociedad and Barcelona’s defeat to Girona meant they took top spot in LaLiga, while a 1-0 win at Benfica means they have an important advantage heading into the second leg. Their four-match win streak came to an end on Saturday, though, with a 2-1 loss at Osasuna, a game that served as a reminder of the team’s longstanding issues. There’s a longstanding imbalance to Los Blancos’ squad, even as coach Alvaro Arbeloa commits to playing Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior alongside each other. The strategy works sometimes but is far from foolproof, as was the case on Saturday – they only managed 1.7 expected goals from 15 shots at Osasuna, while the hosts had 2.29 xG from 13 shots. There is no reason to expect Arbeloa to drop Mbappe and Vinicius when Benfica come to town on Wednesday but against a visiting side that limited Madrid’s offense to just 0.89 xG from 17 shots, finding the correct balance may be an all-important task for the coach.

Paris Saint-Germain bounce back:
Paris Saint-Germain entered their first leg at Monaco with just four wins in their last eight and a chance to end their rut, which they did – even if it was the hard way. An early brace from U.S. international Folarin Balogun ensured PSG had to come back from a 2-0 deficit in order to come out with a first leg advantage, while a 3-0 win over Metz on Saturday ensured they would have more wind in their sails in time for Wednesday’s second leg. They will have to manage against Monaco without Ousmane Dembele, who came off early in the first leg with an injury and may still be unavailable on Wednesday, leaving Luis Enrique to call upon the likes of Desire Doue and Achraf Hakimi to hold down the attacking fort.

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BetMGM Grand National Offers | Free Bonus Bets & Promos

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All eyes are on Aintree this week ahead of the 178th edition of one of the UK’s most prestigious horse races, the Grand National.

Ahead of the famed race, horse racing betting sites are providing customers with plenty of Grand National offers.

The BetMGM Grand National offer is a ‘bet and get’ offer, providing new customers with £40 in Grand National free bets when they sign up and bet £10.

And along with similar Grand National betting sites, BetMGM are running several offers during the three-day meeting for existing customers too.

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To that end, we’ve compiled a guide to the latest BetMGM Grand National offers, including information on the BetMGM sign up offer and any relevant info on BetMGM Grand National free bets.

What is the BetMGM Grand National offer?

The latest BetMGM Grand National offer, which runs before and during the Grand National Festival, is a standard bet £10, get £40 offer.

To claim the offer, customers can sign up via our link and deposit a minimum of £10 through an eligible payment method.

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Next, bettors must wager £10 or more on any sports market at odds of evens or greater. This is a low odds threshold to unlock any welcome bonus, though each-way bets must have a £20 total stake with only the win part qualifying for the BetMGM Grand National offer.

The free bet offer from BetMGM is split into the following denominations: 1x £10 free horse racing bet, 1x £10 free football bet, 2x £10 free bet builder bets.

Grand National free bets will be credited to a bettor’s account after their qualifying wager has been settled.

The horse racing and football free bets don’t have any requirements attached to them and can be placed on a selection at any price. However, the free bet builder wagers must have combined odds of 3/1 or higher.

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Free bets expire within seven days, and you must select the free bets via the checkbox on the betslip when you want to use them.

Is there a BetMGM bonus code for Grand National 2026?

Customers don’t need to use a BetMGM offer code to unlock the BetMGM Grand National offer.

All new customers need to do is click our link before depositing £10 and betting £10 on any sports market, including the Grand National, with odds of evens or greater.

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BetMGM Grand National Offers – Bet boosts

Customers will find bet boosts among the BetMGM Grand National offers, with the bookie choosing to enhance the odds on selected horses or other single markets.

These bet boosts will be available throughout the meeting, which starts on Thursday and runs through the Grand National, with several boosts available on the day of the race.

BetMGM Grand National Offers – Golden Silks

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BetMGM’s Golden Silks scheme gives bettors the chance to bag a profit boost token for each day of the 2026 Grand National Festival.

Punters will need to opt in and then wager a minimum of £20 or more on racing to unlock seven profit boost tokens, with one available each day of the week.

The tokens can secure a 10 per cent boost for any winning bets and will be available to use on any race at Aintree, including Saturday’s Grand National.

BetMGM Grand National Offers – Golden Wheel

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Existing BetMGM customers can secure free bets and more by spinning the Golden Wheel, which is a unique BetMGM Grand National offer.

Users are entitled to one free spin per day to unlock prizes, such as BetMGM free bets, up to £5,000 in cash, free spins and more.

BetMGM Grand National Offers – Best odds guaranteed

BetMGM offers customers the best odds guaranteed for bets placed on the Grand National after 11am on the day of the race.

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BetMGM pays out at the best possible price, so if the starting price is greater than the odds you took, you’ll receive the bigger price.

BetMGM Grand National Offers – Each-Way Plus

BetMGM regularly runs its each-way plus offer on UK and Irish races, and the Grand National Festival will be no exception.

The each-way plus promotion boosts the number of places paid out on for each-way wagers.

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Punters can expect extra places to be available on several races at Aintree across all three days.

How does the BetMGM free bet offer compare with rival Grand National offers?

BetMGM is one of the best new horse racing betting sites on the market and provides one of the best Grand National offers for new customers. Check out the table below to see how it compares against rival bookmakers with our table below.

Bookmaker

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Offer

Free bet restrictions?

Eligible payment methods

Betfair Sportsbook

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Bet £10, get £50 in free bets

Free bets can only be used on accumulators, bet builders & other multiples

Bank transfer, debit card & Apple Pay

Paddy Power

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Bet £5, get £30 in free bets

n/a

Debit card, Apple Pay, bank transfer

Betfred

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Bet £10, get £50 in free bets

3x £10 free sports bets, 2x £10 free accumulator bets

Debit card, Apple Pay, instant bank transfer

BetGoodwin

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Bet £10, get £15 in free bets

1x £5 sports bet, 1x £5 acca bet, 1x £5 sub cover bet

Debit card

NetBet

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Bet £10, get £20

£5 football bet builder, £5 football acca, £5 horse racing acca, £5 tennis bet

Debit card, bank transfer, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal

Responsible Gambling

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If you decide to engage with any of the BetMGM betting offers highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets.

Betting should only ever be considered a form of entertainment – it will never be a surefire way to make money.

When taking advantage of Grand National offers, assume you’ll lose and therefore, only wager what you can afford. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget.

Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.

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The same applies if you’re using new casino sites, slot sites, poker sites or any other form of gambling.

If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

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£17 tickets still available for Tyson Fury vs Makhmudov ahead of Saturday fight

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The Gypsy King is set to go against Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov

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It may seem as though Tyson Fury only recently walked away from boxing, yet the heavyweight star is poised to make a dramatic comeback to the sport. The Mancunian fighter previously announced his retirement following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.

However, earlier this year he began teasing a return to the ring, sharing glimpses of his training sessions and hinting at potential venues for his next fight. Eventually, he made it official – and this weekend, the wait is finally over.

On Saturday, April 11, Tyson Fury will take on Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov in a highly anticipated bout at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While the fight will be broadcast live on Netflix, many fans will undoubtedly want to witness the two heavyweight contenders go head-to-head for their careers, honour and legacy in person.

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Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do exactly that. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ranks among the largest and most prestigious arenas in the UK, with a capacity of 62,000 spectators, reports the Mirror.

As such, tickets remain available despite the general sale having launched several months ago. There’s a host of general admission and VIP and hospitality options still up for grabs, reports the Mirror.

Below, we’ve outlined everything supporters need to know about securing tickets for Fury vs Makhmudov this weekend.

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How to buy Fury vs Makhmudov tickets

Tickets for Fury vs Makhmudov are currently on sale through a range of online ticketing retailers, including official, resale and VIP platforms. The most affordable option for tickets is currently through resale website Viagogo.

The online secondary market has tickets available from as low as £17 per person. This is by far the cheapest and most straightforward way to secure Fury vs Makhmudov tickets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.

Next is VIP and hospitality specialist Seat Unique. This online retailer focuses on providing fans with access to live events alongside added perks such as early entry, food and drink packages, premium seating and much more.

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Prices start at £219 per person for Premium Seats, rising to £999 for access to the Super Suite. Tickets are also still available through Ticketmaster, which has a range of tickets on offer for around £50 for seats towards the top of the venue. Prices rise to as much as £4,000 each for ringside access.

Where is Fury vs Makhmudov?

Tyson Fury will face Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The north London arena serves as the home ground of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Many major acts have graced this impressive 60,000+ capacity venue, including Beyoncé, Coldplay and many others.

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Fury v Makhmudov Undercard

  • Tyson Fury v Arslanbek Makhmudov – Heavyweight
  • Conor Benn v Regis Prograis – Catchweight (Super Welterweight)
  • Jeamie TKV v Richard Riakporhe – For TKV’s British heavyweight title
  • Frazer Clarke v Justis Huni – Heavyweight

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Why Indian broadcasters hesitant to buy FIFA WC 2026, 2030 media rights? | FIFA World Cup 2022

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FIFA is facing a major challenge in India as the media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups remain unsold, despite the 2026 tournament kicking off in just a few weeks. The governing body began the sale process in July 2025, initially asking for $100 million, but has now slashed the price to $35 million in a bid to attract buyers. However, even this steep reduction has not been enough to secure a deal. 


JioStar front runners so far

 


JioStar, formed after the merger of Star India and Viacom18, is currently the leading contender, valuing the rights at around $25 million for both editions. Its predecessor, Viacom18, had paid $62 million for the 2022 World Cup. Currency fluctuations, particularly a stronger US dollar, have further increased costs for broadcasters dealing with dollar-denominated rights.

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Let us try to find out why is this the case in a country where football is consistently growing interest among the young generation – 
 


Consolidation reduces competition

 


The merger of Star India and Viacom18 has dramatically reduced competition, leaving fewer serious bidders. Sony Sports, Eurosport, and FanCode have also shown limited appetite for high-value sports rights, citing profitability concerns and strategic priorities. Even Zee Entertainment, exploring sports channels, is yet to enter high-value deals.

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Cricket’s dominance and budget constraints

 

Heavy investments in cricket, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) and ICC events, have consumed a large share of broadcasters’ budgets. Cricket also offers more advertising opportunities with frequent commercial breaks, unlike football, which restricts inventory and limits revenue potential. 
For a comparison to that of cricket media rights, the ongoing IPL media rights cycle for 2023–2027 is worth ₹48,390 crore, which averages around ₹9,678 crore per year. This breaks down to roughly ₹118 crore ($14.61 million) for each match. 

 

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Unfavourable match timings

 


FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be held across the US, Canada, and Mexico, meaning games will air late at night or early morning in India. These inconvenient timings are expected to lower live viewership, further diminishing ad revenue potential.

 

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Football’s fragmented audience

 


While football is India’s second-most popular sport with over 300 million fans, the viewership is highly concentrated in metros and regions like Kerala, Goa, and the Northeast. This fragmented audience makes it harder to attract mass-market advertising.

 

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Declining rights values across leagues

 


The hesitation is part of a broader trend. Premier League media rights have fallen from $145 million (2013-16) to $65 million (2025–28). Similarly, Indian Super League (ISL) rights dropped from Rs 275 crore to Rs 8.62 crore in one season. Bundesliga, La Liga, and UEFA competitions have also seen declining valuations in India.

 

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Structural changes in India’s sports media market, the dominance of cricket, fragmented football viewership, limited ad inventory, and unfavorable match timings together explain why broadcasters remain cautious about investing in FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030 media rights. Despite football’s popularity, these factors make it a high-risk proposition for Indian buyers.

 

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Man City FA Cup semi-final vs Southampton date and kick-off time confirmed

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Manchester City will take on Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals after beating Liverpool 4-0 last weekend.

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Manchester City will return to Wembley Stadium to take on Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, April 25. The game will kick off at 5.15pm with the match available on BBC One and TNT Sports 1. City reached the last-four last weekend when they beat Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Erling Haaland scored the opener on 39 minutes from the penalty spot before adding a second shortly before half-time. Antoine Semenyo added a third shortly after the break with Haaland completing his hat-trick just before the hour mark.

The victory ensured City would be back at Wembley just five weeks after beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. Mikel Arteta’s side were expected to reach the semi-finals when they travelled to Championship club Southampton.

Man City vs Southampton VIP and hospitality tickets

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However, the Saints pulled off a major shock to beat the Gunners 2-1 with former City youth player Shea Charles scoring the winner five minutes from time. Should City beat Southampton, they will face either Chelsea or Leeds in the final on Saturday, May 16. Their semi-final will be played on Sunday, April 26, at 3pm.

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Were City to win the FA Cup, they would complete a domestic double this season. Pep Guardiola’s side also have the chance to make it a treble if they can win the Premier League.

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Justice Department reportedly probes NFL over antitrust exemptions

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The Justice Department reportedly opened an investigation into the NFL on Thursday over whether the league used anticompetitive tactics against fans.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the investigation.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department and the NFL for comment.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaking at a press conference in San Francisco

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a press conference after Super Bowl LX at Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2026. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire)

The reported investigation comes as Trump administration officials and lawmakers have warned about revisiting the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. The law allows the NFL to negotiate league-wide TV deals without violating U.S. antitrust rules, provided it meets certain conditions, including protecting customer access.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, addressed the issue in a letter to the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. He requested a review of the league’s antitrust exemption status.

Meanwhile, surging streaming prices and sky-high ticket costs have combined to leave the average American NFL fan boxed out of watching their beloved game altogether or making it impossible to find.

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A Fox News poll in March indicated that 72% of sports fans think major sporting events should stay free on broadcast TV, amid reports that the NFL is considering allowing teams to sell the rights to preseason games to streaming services.

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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said on “Fox & Friends” last month that officials are reviewing thousands of comments on whether a significant share of sports should remain free on broadcast television.

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The Amazon Prime Video Thursday Night Football logo appears on a television camera during the second half of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 29, 2024. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Carr said the FCC is looking into whether sports leagues should continue to benefit from a special antitrust exemption, and that public comments solicited on the matter largely support keeping games more accessible.

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“We actually got thousands and thousands of comments. It was a big number for the FCC… The vast majority so far, based on an initial assessment, support keeping a significant portion of these sports games on free, over-the-air broadcast TV,” Carr said.

FORMER NFL STARS WEIGH PROS AND CONS OF LEAGUE’S GLOBAL EXPANSION, STREAMING GAMES

“So, we’ll be looking at it. There could be actions at other portions of the government, and Congress as well, if these sports leagues continue to push this issue.”

Carr made his feelings clear, stating he thinks the experience of finding a game to watch has become frustrating and costly.

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“You effectively have to have a computer science degree to decipher this,” he said, adding that, historically, broadcast TV and sports leagues have had a mutually beneficial relationship that allowed leagues to grow while supporting local news.

LEGENDARY SPORTS AGENT SUGGESTS FRESH APPROACH TEAMS SHOULD TAKE AS NFL TICKET PRICES CONTINUE TO SKYROCKET

“We’re at a tipping point where these leagues can push it so far, putting games behind paywalls, that they undermine their ability to claim that antitrust exemption.”

NFL fans themselves have also spoken out about the league’s streaming strategy.

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OutKick’s Davey Hudson took to the streets of Nashville and New York City last month to talk to aggrieved football fans.

“I think it’s frustrating when you just want to watch a game, and you have to figure out what app it’s on. And then you’re paying for multiple apps all the time,” one fan said.

Another fan was blunt, calling the current system of watching games “f—ing stupid.”

“Well, it’s f—ing stupid, you have to get five different platforms to watch all of the games that you want to, and still you have to pay on top. It’s ridiculous at this point,” the fan said.

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One fan called it a “pain in the a–” to keep track of where and when the games are being streamed.

A different fan called it a “money grab,” citing Netflix as the latest streaming service the NFL brought in to start broadcasting its games.

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NFL fans who want access to every game need to purchase YouTube TV for “NFL Sunday Ticket,” in addition to the costly subscriptions for all the streaming services the NFL broadcasts on. Those streaming services are Amazon Prime, Peacock and Netflix. The combination of those respective services is over $1,500 a year, and that doesn’t include the fees that come with basic cable packages or high-speed Wi-Fi that is needed to accommodate the platforms.

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Fox News’ Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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2026 SA Derby preparation for Maher pair in Caulfield feature

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Amazake keeps the South Australian Derby as his primary goal with an important appearance set for Caulfield.

On Saturday, the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) provides the launchpad toward the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville come May 2.

Dad And Dave and Awesome Artist, fellow Ciaron Maher charges, will share the Saturday bill with Amazake.

National assistant trainer Jack Turnbull from the Maher team indicated Dad And Dave will look to stake his claim as a Derby hopeful during Saturday’s event, whereas Awesome Artist might proceed to the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on April 25.

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With eight starts still seeking a first win, Amazake boasts impressive staying qualities and is far more filled out than during his spring efforts.

The gelding earned third place in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield en route to a distant finish in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington, something Turnbull admitted was too soon.

“We gave him a crack because he ran a place in the Norman Robinson, but he was up against Observer at that stage who was a cut above,” Turnbull said.

“Time has been his friend and he’s a fuller horse now and more mature.

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“I think he’ll be fine now, so we’ll give him his chance, so he’ll run on Saturday and then onto the Derby in South Australia.

“He’s still a maiden, which you wouldn’t believe, but he’s won good prize money and has been running in good form races and only getting beaten a couple of lengths, with excuses.

“He’s in good shape.”

Coming off the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on March 21, Amazake and Dad And Dave placed fourth and ninth.

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In Tasmania over summer, Dad ‘N’ Dave claimed the Tasmanian Derby (2200m) in February.

“If he doesn’t run to form, we’ll probably turn him out,” Turnbull said.

“He’s done the whole Tasmania thing, and he would want to show us that he warrants a trip for the Derby.

“Awesome Artist is down here after winning last time and maybe heading to the St Leger.”

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Racing fans should explore betting sites for the best racing betting markets on the betting sites ahead of the South Australian Derby.

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The UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2026 shows the fitness sector has achieved record growth

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By Kath Hudson    09 Apr 2026

The newly published The UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2026 shows penetration has reached a remarkable 18 per cent of over-16s, with a record 12.2 million members.

Released this morning at an event in London, this is the second report into the UK fitness sector commissioned by UK Active, following last year’s debut. It is produced in collaboration with Sport England and 4Global, with analysis from Grant Thornton UK.

The data represents a sample coverage of 74 per cent of private operators, 85 per cent of public operators and 88 per cent of independent operators. 

The headline stats are impressive: total income has reached £6.5 billion, up from £5.7 billion in 2024.

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Visits to clubs have risen by 10 per cent since 2024 – reaching 679 million and showing continued growth in demand from people of all ages.

The sector is generating £7.5 billion in attributable social value through health and fitness, measured in terms of life satisfaction and reduced health conditions.

The total number of clubs has reached 5,842 – an increase of 4.2 per cent since 2024.

Outgoing CEO of UK Active, Huw Edwards, says: “Today’s report provides clear evidence that the UK is home to one of the strongest health and fitness sectors in the world and a much-needed success story for UK plc.

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“Consumer demand for the services provided by gyms, pools and leisure centres is growing year-on-year, and our members are rising to the challenge by investing in new clubs and services.

“The most exciting thing is the untapped potential to get millions more people active if the sector gets the right support from the government to remove the barriers to growth and help us reach more communities.”

Utku Toprakseven, chief development officer, at 4Global, says: “This year’s analysis highlights a maturing sector, where operators are generating more value per member through more frequent usage, diversified offers and stronger alignment with consumer needs. At the same time, the data reinforces the critical role of the sector in supporting national health outcomes, with £7.5 billion of social value being generated through sustained participation.”

Rob Turner, partner, consulting, at Grant Thornton UK, says: “This sector is a key contributor to both the UK economy and the nation’s health. The growth in gym numbers and their rising popularity strongly support the Government’s Prevention Agenda and will, in turn, ease pressure on the NHS. 

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“Additionally, fitness spaces are also evolving into key social hubs, with wellness becoming a core part of personal identity, and more than just exercise. For public and private investors alike, this is a high‑growth market with significant long‑term potential.”

The UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2026 is sponsored by headline partners BLKBOX, and Matrix, and contributing partners Precor and Technogym.

Sign up for a free digital subscription to HCM to see our feature on the report in the next issue. 

UK Active members can download the report from its website.

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McLaughlin: Can Pac-12 Regain its Former Power 5 Status?

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Meetings have taken place to discuss the notion of pooling the media rights in College Football, with a focus on the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.

The move would change the sport in a major way.

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin and ‘Locked On Georgia Tech’ host Jarvis Davis discuss the QB battle in Atlanta.

Will Alberto Mendoza emerge to start for Brent Key’s Yellowjackets in 2026?

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Baylor Bears logoBaylor heads into the 2026 season with Florida transfer QB DJ Lagway ready to take control for the Bears.

What is Dave Aranda looking for this Spring?

00:00 Discussing media rights in college sports
07:02 College football media rights talks
08:46 Pac 12 losing Power 5 status
13:35 Georgia Tech Quarterback depth chart
16:52 Building a run-focused offense
22:21 Impact of quarterback’s running ability
29:04 Baylor football schedule breakdown
32:55 Aranda’s future and team outlook

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

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KKR vs LSG LIVE Score, IPL 2026: 4, 6, 4 – KKR’s 21-Year-Old Star Angkrish Raghuvanshi Goes Berserk After Mohammed Shami Breathes Fire Early

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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants LIVE Updates, IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi have stabilised Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) innings after the early dismissal of Finn Allen against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their crucial IPL 2026 clash in Kolkata on Thursday. KKR have reached 89/1 after 9 overs, with Rahane and Raghuvanshi nearing half-centuries. LSG pacer Mohammed Shami bowled a terrific first over, after which Prince Yadav took the first wicket. KKR are desperate to notch up their first win of the season after getting off to their worst start in IPL history. (LIVE SCORECARD)

KKR playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi.

LSG playing XI: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav.

KKR vs LSG LIVE Score | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, IPL 2026 LIVE Updates, straight from Eden Gardens, Kolkata:

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KKR vs LSG, IPL 2026: Will Cameron Green finally bowl today after recent doubts? | Cricket News

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KKR vs LSG, IPL 2026: Will Cameron Green finally bowl today after recent doubts?
Cameron Green (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: The focus ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has been on whether Cameron Green will return to bowling. During the warm-up ahead of the match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, the all-rounder was seen bowling in the nets, raising hopes that he might soon resume full duties after missing out with the ball in earlier matches.KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane made it clear that Green’s bowling is key to improving the team combination.

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“When he (Green) is allowed to bowl, we will see him, the combination gets better, so Rovman Powell plays, when Cam Green bowls then we have an extra bowler,” he said at the toss after being asked to bat first. He also confirmed a lineup change, adding, “Just one change – Sunil (Narine) comes in place of Blessing, Varun is still recovering from his hand injury.”Talking about batting approach, Rahane said, “We just want to, as a batting unit, watch the ball and react, rather than putting pressure on ourselves, trying to focus on a certain target and then try to achieve that. I think just being in the moment, try to react and watch the ball.”The discussion around Green started after KKR’s loss to Mumbai Indians, where he didn’t bowl and the team struggled to defend a big total. Rahane’s earlier comment, “That question you need to ask Cricket Australia,” added to the confusion and sparked debate about player workload and outside influence.Later, Cricket Australia clarified that there was no sudden restriction. Green has been managing a lower back issue and is gradually working towards bowling again. His recent net session suggests progress, though it’s unclear if he will bowl today against LSG. For such a high-profile player, expectations remain high for both batting and bowling contributions.

KKR vs LSG Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Ajinkya Rahane(c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik TyagiKolkata Knight Riders Impact subs – Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Tejasvi Dahiya, Rahul Tripathi, Tim SeifertLucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince YadavLucknow Super Giants Impact subs – Ayush Badoni, Matthew Breetzke, Shahbaz Ahmad, Mayank Yadav, Himmat Singh

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