Major League Baseball has officially announced new three-year agreements. These MLB media rights deals involve NBC, Netflix, and ESPN. The new agreements foreshadow a larger TV deal coming in 2028. All of these new deals will begin with the 2026 baseball season.
The Rationale Behind the Changes
The new structure follows ESPN’s earlier decision. They opted out of the “Sunday Night Baseball” package this year. MLB successfully negotiated new partnerships. These partnerships will help expand the league’s reach. Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement. He called the deals a “great opportunity to expand our reach.” He mentioned the three powerful destinations for sports and entertainment.
Key Components of the Agreements
ESPN secured a new agreement with MLB. They acquired the rights to MLB.TV. This deal also includes a midweek game package.
NBC Sports will now take over the Sunday Night games. This is a premier weekly broadcast slot. This move brings a major broadcast network back to weekly MLB games.
Netflix is a major new player in the agreements. They will become the exclusive home for the next three Home Run Derbies. This includes the major event from the All-Star break. Bringing such a marquee event to a streaming giant is significant. These MLB media rights deals reflect changing media consumption.
Looking Ahead to 2028
Many agreement details were previously reported by CNBC. This official announcement confirms the details. The current MLB media rights deals are relatively short. The three-year term sets the stage for a much larger negotiation. That significant TV deal is expected in 2028. These partnerships are a strategic step. They help MLB prepare for its future broadcasting landscape.
READ MORE : Entertainment
