Among locally oriented sports broadcasters, NESN has few peers, and on Thursday Forbes confirmed that by ranking the network the ninth most valuable business brand in sports.
Nike and ESPN lead the list, being valued at $15.9 billion and $11.5 billion, respectively. NESN, valued at $500 million, according to the business magazine, clocked in ahead of MLB Advanced Media, and is the second-most valued regional sports network.
Forbes' list breaks down the most valuable sports brands by category, with others including most valuable athlete, teams and events. Tiger Woods, the New York Yankees and the Super Bowl captured those honors.
Of course, NESN broadcasts the Red Sox and Bruins, two of the most valued teams in their respective sports, the network's main assets. Likewise, it certainly doesn't hurt that the Boston area is known as one of the most rabid sports markets in the world, meaning much of NESN's success can be attributed to you, the fans.
