MLB and ESPN mutually ended their long-running partnership in February, with a reported March 1 opt-out deadline on the final three years of a broadcast agreement that extended through 2028. MLB sought new broadcasting partners, with Fox Sports and NBC among reported interested parties and NBC reportedly making an offer. Negotiations resumed in July and produced a framework granting ESPN exclusive digital rights to out-of-market regular-season games and in-market rights for five clubs for three years. ESPN would air about 30 exclusive regular-season games on a different weeknight, exclude Sunday Night Baseball, and include MLB.TV in its direct-to-consumer offering, though out-of-market subscriber details remain unclear.
It began in February, when the two sides mutually agreed to end their partnership that began in 1990. There reportedly was a March 1 deadline for both sides to opt out of the final three years of a broadcast agreement that extended through the 2028 season. As a result, MLB has worked to find a new broadcasting partner willing to take on ESPN's TV rights.
Major League Baseball and ESPN have a framework agreement that would give the network the exclusive rights to sell all out-of-market regular-season games digitally and in-market games for five clubs over the next three years, sources briefed on the discussions told The Athletic. ESPN would continue to broadcast around 30 regular-season games, but not "Sunday Night Baseball." ESPN would move to a different night during the week. The games on the network would remain exclusive, meaning viewers would only be able to watch these matchups through ESPN. The agreement would begin next season.
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