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MLB Broadcast Rights Shake-Up: Streaming Services Vie for Marquee Games
15 Aug
Summary
- ESPN and MLB mutually agreed to end their longtime broadcast deal in 2026
- ESPN is negotiating with MLB for potential broadcast packages, including Sunday Night Baseball
- MLB wants to package all broadcast rights together after 2028 to maximize revenue
According to the article, the current ESPN-MLB broadcast deal is set to end in 2026, three years from now. In the lead-up to this, ESPN is one of several TV channels negotiating with Major League Baseball for potential broadcast packages that would begin in 2026.
The major MLB properties up for discussion include Sunday Night Baseball, which has been an ESPN property for 35 years, the Home Run Derby, and early-round postseason games. This suggests that Sunday Night Baseball may move to a streaming platform, such as Peacock if NBC secures part of the package.
The article notes that while ESPN and MLB had a rather acrimonious split earlier this year, the channel is still interested in carrying MLB games. However, the most important aspect is that MLB wants all broadcast rights to end after the 2028 season, allowing the league to package them together and potentially include local rights as well.
This move could be beneficial for the league in terms of maximizing revenue, but it may come at a cost for consumers, as the cost of watching games is likely to increase. The article suggests that big-market teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Mets may be reluctant to give up their lucrative local RSN deals, even though it could be a good deal for small-market teams.
