MLB Announces New TV Deals with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball unveiled its new television agreements with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in its broadcasting landscape.

The deals will allow ESPN to cover out-of-market games for all 30 teams, along with games for six selected clubs. NBC and Peacock will take over “Sunday Night Baseball” and the first round of the playoffs, while Netflix will host the Opening Day game, the Home Run Derby, and the special ‘Field of Dreams’ game.

This announcement comes following ESPN’s decision to opt-out of its original contract, which was worth about $1.65 billion over three seasons. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had previously criticized ESPN in a memo, referring to the network as a “shrinking” platform during the negotiations.

The new agreements, effective in a few months, are reported to bring MLB approximately $750 million per year. NBC is expected to pay nearly $200 million annually, with Netflix providing $50 million each season.

“We think the combination of ESPN, NBC Universal, and Netflix is a great one for us,” said Manfred. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a relationship with ESPN, which has been foundational for MLB’s broadcasting strategy.

The updated deal allows MLB to join the ranks of other sports leagues on NBC’s Sunday Night franchise. However, if scheduling conflicts arise, those games will air exclusively on Peacock.

ESPN’s agreement will also include a new package, retaining the original financial commitment under the new terms. The network has plans for exclusive weeknight games and will continue to be the audio home for MLB’s major events.

The changes reflect a broader effort by MLB to solidify its broadcasting strategy amid increasing competition in sports media. With deals across multiple networks, MLB is better positioned for future negotiations.

As part of the agreements, MLB also relinquished its rights to MLB.TV, its out-of-market streaming platform, which has been in high demand. ESPN will be determining how it handles MLB.TV’s pricing and distribution moving forward.

With these contracts, Manfred hopes to lead MLB into a more prosperous media future and set up advantageous negotiations for when current agreements expire in 2028.