"Major League Baseball announced a new three-year media rights agreement on Wednesday with NBC, ESPN, and Netflix that could see baseball fans channel surfing to find their games. The shakeups in the agreement mostly see NBC and its parent company, NBCUniversal, commanding a larger share of baseball coverage, picking up several key games and events previously aired by ESPN, including "Sunday Night Baseball." And, for the first time in 26 years, NBC will once again air baseball games on its broadcast network."
"ESPN, meanwhile, opted out of its $550 million rights to "Sunday Night Baseball" games earlier this year, which it has aired since 1990. But the sports network will continue a nearly-four decade partnership with MLB as it will instead receive rights to a national midweek game package, along with MLB.TV. Finally, streaming giant Netflix is now up to bat with a limited number of special event games, including the T-Mobile Home Run Derby and an Opening Night exclusive."
"If all of this sounds like some inside baseball, it kind-of is: While diehard baseball fans aren't likely to be so impacted, the new agreements may help the league expand its reach. But these rights do come at a price, according to reporting by CNBC: MLB is losing about $300 million for the rights to the same games previously paid for by ESPN."
Major League Baseball reached a new three-year media rights agreement with NBC, ESPN, and Netflix beginning in 2026. NBC and NBCUniversal will take a larger share of national coverage, acquiring several marquee games and events previously on ESPN, including Sunday Night Baseball, and will air baseball on its broadcast network for the first time in 26 years. ESPN opted out of its $550 million Sunday Night Baseball rights but will retain a national midweek package and MLB.TV rights. Netflix will stream a limited number of special events, including the T-Mobile Home Run Derby and an Opening Night exclusive. The deals reduce league media revenue by about $300 million.
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