ESPN completes its purchase of MLB.TV
ESPN completes its purchase of MLB.TV
Viewers will henceforward be able to watch out-of-market MLB games through ESPN platforms like the ESPN Unlimited service.
It’s been quite a year for shuffling top sports properties through ESPN. The sports-first network has suffered one major loss, as it saw UFC fights depart for Paramount starting in 2026. But it has gained big-name events as well, signing a deal with WWE to stream its premium live events on the ESPN direct-to-consumer service. ESPN has been working toward a deal to acquire all out-of-market MLB broadcasts through the MLB.TV service, and a new report indicates that the deal is now finalized.
Key Details:
- Batter up!: ESPN has completed its deal to acquire MLB.TV.
- Not for you: MLB.TV will not be integrated into YouTube TV, as other ESPN streaming content will be.
- What’s the hold up?: MLB still hasn’t officially announced broadcast deals with partners for ESPN’s old package of games.
John Ourand of Puck News is reporting that ESPN has finalized its deal to acquire MLB.TV, even though the agreement has not yet been announced.
MLB has been shopping its out-of-market games service for months, and ESPN has shown consistent interest. It can use the geo-targeting tech on the ESPN app to ensure that viewers can access all out-of-market contests available in their area, just like they can with the NHL Power Play out-of-market platform on ESPN Select.
It’s not yet clear whether viewers will have to continue paying an additional fee for MLB.TV once it’s integrated into ESPN. Last season, MLB.TV cost $150 to watch all out-of-market games throughout the season, but ESPN doesn’t charge any additional fee for access to out-of-market NHL games.
ESPN will be the exclusive platform to watch out-of-market MLB games, meaning that YouTube TV will not include MLB.TV content when it absorbs other sporting events from the ESPN Unlimited service. The ability to ingest ESPN content onto the YouTube TV app was a concession won by the streamer in its recent carriage fight with Disney, but MLB.TV is not coming along for the ride.
MLB is likely waiting to announce its MLB.TV deal with ESPN until it can formally present its new partners for the package of games that ESPN surrendered earlier this year. It’s been months since reports indicated MLB had agreed to deals in principle with ESPN, NBC, and Netflix to divvy up the “Sunday Night Baseball” package, the Home Run Derby, and rights to wild card playoff series formerly held exclusively by the Four-Letter Network.
Will you follow MLB.TV to the ESPN app? Are you fed up with the shuffling of major sports properties that are important parts of how you access games? Let us know how you feel in the comments below.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.