NBCUniversal is reportedly pursuing the MLB game rights ESPN relinquished in 2025. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, revealed this news, noting the offer is substantially lower than ESPN's previous payout.
In February 2025, ESPN exercised a clause to opt out of its agreement's final three years, ending after the 2025 season. ESPN paid $550 million annually for the rights. While the NBCU offer remains undisclosed, sources say it's "significantly" less. This reduction likely stems from NBCU’s exclusion of international and radio rights, unlike Disney's agreement. They also reportedly passed on highlight clip rights.
A successful bid would see NBC air Sunday night MLB games. Combined with its NFL deal and returning NBA games, this strengthens NBC's live sports portfolio. This shift necessitates significant schedule changes, leading to the cancellation of five shows to accommodate the increased sports programming.
This increased focus on live sports reflects a changing media landscape. Live sports maintain strong linear and streaming appeal, attracting real-time viewership. The ability to distribute rights across platforms is also attractive, maximizing revenue streams. Despite high costs (hundreds of millions of dollars), the economics favor sports. Deals typically cover numerous games, extending the cost across many hours of broadcast time. Even after production, salaries, and other expenses, the per-hour cost of sports remains competitive compared to traditional programming.
ESPN reportedly offered MLB around $200 million annually for the remaining three years, but MLB declined. MLB is also reviewing its media deals, possibly consolidating them after 2028. This involves teams allowing MLB to sell local rights for a streaming service, with teams sharing revenue. A potential subscriber option for removing blackouts per team could be included.
Beyond linear rights, NBC is interested in streaming rights for Peacock and possibly the first round of postseason games and the Home Run Derby.