Latest MLB rights deal rumors say major changes are in store
Latest MLB rights deal rumors say major changes are in store
According to Kendall Baker of Yahoo Sports, a new MLB deal could be on the way soon, but with some surprising moving parts.
When the rumors persist to this degree, it usually means a deal is just around the corner. If that holds true, MLB will have a new partner for its outstanding broadcast rights very soon — perhaps as early as Wednesday. The latest reports on which TV outlets and streaming services will get MLB games that once belonged to ESPN, but were forfeited by that channel in February come courtesy of Kendall Baker of Yahoo Sports, and he has some surprising updates in store for baseball fans.
Key Details:
- So long, Apple: Baker reports that Apple TV+ is giving up its rights to “Friday Night Baseball.”
- Out-of-market in the house: ESPN is set to purchase MLB.TV, as well.
- Shuffle and swap: NBC/Peacock will get baseball on Sunday and Friday, and Netflix is expected to land the Home Run Derby.
Baker posted this thread on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday that, although no deals are 100% finalized, agreements are very close to being sealed. Perhaps the biggest scoop in Baker’s reporting is that Apple TV+ is giving up its rights to stream its weekly doubleheader of “Friday Night Baseball” games, potentially freeing up money to allow it to acquire rights to Formula 1 races, which it has shown interest in.
The reporting from Baker also indicates that there’s truth in a rumor first reported on Monday: MLB.TV is being sold to ESPN. The league’s out-of-market games service would be a natural fit to be distributed via the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming platform, thanks to its geo-locating abilities.
As for the other properties formerly held by ESPN and Apple, they’ll be divvied up amongst two new partners. NBC and Peacock will get both “Friday Night Baseball] and “Sunday Night Baseball,” while Netflix will scoop up the rights to the Home Run Derby, a move which fits with its cherished sports philosophy of only buying sports rights it can eventize.
The fact that ESPN appears to be purchasing MLB.TV could be a step toward its long-held goal of getting its hands on some local rights from the league. MLB.TV distributes in-market games for several MLB teams that don’t currently have a regional sports network (RSN) partner, and ESPN would love the chance to broadcast those games. But it’s possible that MLB would retain those rights in any deal, as the league’s commissioner, Rob Manfred, has repeatedly said that he wants to use those teams to help launch an in-market streaming platform that offers the games of most, if not all, of the league’s clubs.
There are lots of moving parts to this permutation of the deal, and there could still be changes before everything is finalized. But when reporting of this nature keeps coming out about a big media deal, it’s likely that said deal is close to being signed, and baseball fans should keep an eye on The Streamable for more news about the MLB’s decision soon.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.