They are contractors and so they get paid what they negotiate for themselves. Pay for most jobs in the world is market driven, just like in sports.
Also if you think money is currently a problem in sports I ask "where have you been all these years". Sports has been "all about the money" before TV existed.
Sports in has a twofold purpose. Entertain fans and do it well enough that enough watch so that advertising can be sold.
Saying that players are getting paid too much money for a game that is played by kids on playgrounds misses the mark.
