Major League Baseball (MLB) is on the verge of a significant overhaul of its media rights agreements. The Wall Street Journal reports that NBC is nearing a deal to broadcast “Sunday Night Baseball,” potentially worth close to $200 million annually over three years. This aligns with MLB’s strategy of aligning all major media deals to expire by 2028, coinciding with the end of current contracts with Fox and TNT Sports.
The potential NBC deal extends beyond Sunday nights. Discussions include acquiring rights to Wild Card round games, previously part of ESPN’s agreement. ESPN’s current MLB deal concludes after this season. Separately, Netflix is reportedly negotiating to secure streaming rights to the Home Run Derby for an estimated $35 million annually.
MLB aims to exceed the $550 million in annual revenue generated from its previous ESPN agreement by distributing media rights across multiple partners. The Athletic reports that MLB and ESPN are close to finalizing a deal for MLB.tv, the league’s out-of-market streaming package. This proposed agreement also encompasses in-market rights for five team-controlled clubs and approximately 30 exclusive weekday games.
NBC’s planned Sunday night broadcasts would fill the summer gap between its NBA and NFL coverage. Its streaming service, Peacock, is also expected to carry some content, though specifics haven’t been released. Yahoo Sports previously suggested Apple TV+ might relinquish its “Friday Night Baseball” deal, potentially paving the way for NBC and Peacock. However, The Athletic indicates Apple is still in negotiations with MLB, leaving the Friday night package’s future uncertain.
While no official announcements have been made, multiple reports suggest MLB is on the cusp of unveiling significant changes to its media rights structure.