Major League Baseball revealed three-year media rights agreements with ESPN, NBC and Netflix on Wednesday, following ESPN's earlier opt-out of its previous contract. The deals, worth nearly $750 million annually, redistribute key broadcasts including Sunday Night Baseball to NBC and the Home Run Derby to Netflix. These partnerships aim to expand national coverage starting in 2026 while integrating MLB.TV with ESPN's streaming platform.
Major League Baseball's new broadcasting landscape emerged from negotiations after ESPN opted out of the final three years of its prior deal in February 2025, which was set to pay $550 million annually. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's office highlighted ESPN's reduced investment as a factor in the split, stating it was "not consistent with the sport’s appeal or performance on their platform."
The agreements, effective for the 2026-2028 seasons, bring in almost $750 million per year. NBC and Peacock will pay nearly $200 million annually for Sunday Night Baseball, the Wild Card Series (eight to 12 games), 18 Sunday Leadoff games, and All-Star Week events including the MLB Draft and Futures Game. ESPN secures a new $1.65 billion package over three years, featuring 30 exclusive regular-season games, the Memorial Day game, the post-All-Star break opener between the Phillies and Mets on July 16, 2026, and the Little League Classic with the Braves versus Brewers on August 23, 2026. ESPN will also handle in-market streaming for six teams, adding the Mariners in 2026, and integrate MLB.TV into its app starting in 2027, with the service remaining on the MLB app in 2026 at $150 per year. T-Mobile subscribers continue to receive free access.
Netflix enters live MLB broadcasting with a $50 million per season commitment, airing an Opening Day game each year—beginning with Yankees at Giants on March 25, 2026—the Home Run Derby on July 13, 2026, at Citizens Bank Park, and the Field of Dreams game featuring Phillies versus Twins on August 13, 2026, in Dyersville, Iowa. Netflix will also stream 47 games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic exclusively in Japan.
Existing partners like Fox (postseason, All-Star Game, Saturdays), TBS (Division Series, Tuesdays), and Apple TV+ (Friday Night Baseball) continue through 2028. The deals reflect surging 2025 ratings, with World Series Game 7 drawing more viewers than the NBA Finals or college football championship, boosting revenue by 45 percent over the prior ESPN-only package. Fans may need additional subscriptions like Peacock and Netflix for full access, though impacts on local broadcasts like the Cubs' Marquee Sports Network remain minimal.
