MLB, ESPN agree to new deal as other negotiations continue
MLB, ESPN agree to new deal as other negotiations continue
The league is also very close to agreements with NBC and Netflix, according to reports.
While it has always been the case, the importance of live sports rights in media companies’ efforts to attract viewers has arguably never been higher, as more and more viewers flee traditional TV distributors. Since significant top-flight sports rights don’t hit the open market often, it’s no surprise the MLB’s currently available media have become a startling hot commodity. Those rights are available because ESPN opted out of its existing deal in February. Despite some caustic words at the time, MLB and ESPN have reportedly agreed to a new and very different broadcast deal, while the league continues to negotiate with other prospective partners, primarily NBCUniversal.
Key Details:
- Local and national: ESPN is getting both local and nationally broadcast games, as well as out-of-market rights.
- Closing in: MLB is in “advanced talks” with NBCUniversal, and also close to an agreement with Netflix.
- Apple talks go on: Apple is still in discussions with the league, and may not lose its “Friday Night Baseball” package.
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports that ESPN and MLB have a “framework agreement” that will send exclusive rights to sell all out-of-market regular-season games digitally to the network, as well as the in-market distribution rights to five clubs over the next three seasons. Currently, MLB distributes out-of-market games on its own platform MLB.TV, which will move into the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service in the deal.
The five teams ESPN will have in-market rights to include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, and San Diego Padres — clubs for which MLB took over distribution duties after their regional sports network partners moved on without them in recent years. The new monthly price for bundling MLB.TV with ESPN’s streamer has not yet been decided, but there will likely be an add-on cost to watch it on ESPN. ESPN is also expected to keep around 30 regular-season games for national broadcast, but this will not be the “Sunday Night Baseball” package it gave up earlier this year. The deal is not yet signed, but is expected to be fully completed in December.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that NBCUniversal is in “advanced talks” to acquire the package of Sunday MLB games, as well as select postseason rights for three years at a price close to $200 million per season. Negotiations are still ongoing, but if a deal is completed, at least some games would also be available to stream on Peacock.
In addition, WSJ says that Netflix is approaching home plate on a deal to stream the Home Run Derby for over $35 million per year. As with all the other agreements MLB is closing in on, this deal would expire after the 2028 season, which will allow the league to align all of its national rights for re-negotiation, since deals with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports also expire then.
Finally, Front Office Sports reports that Apple is still talking with the league. Earlier this week, it was reported that Apple may walk away from “Friday Night Baseball,” but FOS says the two sides are still talking, and now it appears more likely that Apple TV+ keeps its weekly Friday doubleheader package.
There are still plenty of details up in the air, and final arrangements could change at any moment. Keep checking in with The Streamable for updates on all the MLB’s moves as it seeks out new media partners.
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.