Major League Baseball has announced new media rights agreements with ESPN, NBC, and Netflix, averaging nearly $800 million per year. The deals follow ESPN's decision to opt out of its previous contract in February, which initially appeared to signal a split but ultimately led to renegotiated terms benefiting all parties.
Under the new three-year agreements, ESPN will pay $550 million annually, retaining 30 regular-season games primarily on weeknights and during summer, along with out-of-market streaming rights for MLB.TV. The network also gains in-market streaming rights for six teams whose games are produced by MLB: San Diego, Colorado, Arizona, Cleveland, Minnesota, and Seattle. However, ESPN loses postseason games and the Home Run Derby.
NBC and its streaming service Peacock will become the new home of “Sunday Night Baseball” and the Wild Card round, paying $200 million per year. The first game is scheduled for March 26, when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks. NBC will air 25 Sunday night games, mostly on its main network, with the remainder on NBC Sports Network. The deal also includes the Major League Futures Game and coverage of the first round of the MLB amateur draft.
Netflix will pay $50 million annually for the Home Run Derby and two additional games per year, including the season opener on March 25 between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, and an MLB at Field of Dreams game on August 13. This aligns with Netflix's strategy of securing major events in professional sports.
Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, noting that the deals maximize rights for key events while positioning MLB for future negotiations. The league aims to adopt a more national approach to its media rights, reducing reliance on regional sports networks. The existing agreements with Fox and Turner Sports, averaging $729 million and $470 million per year respectively, remain in place until after the 2028 season.
