• by Wayne Friedman , October 7, 2014

North American sports business media right revenues will continue to soar -- at a faster rate than gate revenue, sponsorship, and merchandising -- in the coming years.

Media rights will total some $14.8 billion for 2014 -- up a massive 18.7% from 2013, according to PwC Sports Outlook. By 2018, media rights will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.1%, getting to $19.3 billion in four years.

PwC says media rights will ebb in later years: 8.2% in 2017 and 3.6% in 2018.

PwC says sponsorship revenue will be another growing earner in the coming years -- up 5.2% in 2014 to total $14.6 billion. Gate revenues will continue to pull in the biggest share for sports business -- at $17.8 billion by the end of 2014, up 2.8% versus a year ago.

Four years from now, PwC estimates gate business will still grab the highest sports business revenue, totaling $19.7 billion, up 2.6% on a compound growth rate basis.

Overall, it is estimated total revenue from sports business will climb 6.5% over 2013 to $60.6 billion this year, hitting $70.7 billion in four years at a compounded growth rate of 4.5% by 2018.