"Major League Baseball games will have new television and streaming homes beginning with the 2026 season following the expiration of ESPN's media rights contract. Although MLB content will still be featured on the self-proclaimed "worldwide leader in sports" next year, its previous package of events are being redistributed to other networks and services. According to multiple reports, Peacock (NBC) is set to take over "Sunday Night Baseball" and the Wild Card Series, while the Home Run Derby will likely be heading to Netflix."
"I'm thrilled with the way it all shook out. Start by saying important that ESPN stay involved with the game. Really glad it worked out. I think having NBC having network exposure for Sunday Night Baseball is a real plus for us. Being part of that year-round Sunday night programming on NBC, I think is going to be really good for the game."
"MLB having exposure to multiple major platforms can only help the league expand their audience, so it's easy to see why Manfred is excited about their new media deals. A downside to MLB diversifying their offerings is fans needing subscriptions to more networks and services. However, the multiple broadcasting partners will likely lead to more revenue for the league in the long run."
Major League Baseball media rights contracts expire after the 2025 season, prompting redistribution of marquee events to new broadcast partners beginning in 2026. Peacock (NBC) is reported to acquire Sunday Night Baseball and the Wild Card Series, and Netflix is likely to televise the Home Run Derby. ESPN is expected to continue televising weekday games and may pursue MLB.TV integration into its app. Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed satisfaction with the mix of network and streaming exposure, citing NBC's network reach and Netflix's large media presence. The changes should broaden MLB's audience and revenue but increase subscription demands for fans.
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