MLB announces new media rights deals for NBC, ESPN and Netflix

Major League Baseball (MLB) has officially announced a new three-year media rights agreement with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN, marking a significant shift in the league’s broadcasting landscape. This deal, which begins with the 2026 season, sees NBC Sports taking over the Sunday Night games, while Netflix will be the new home for the next three Home Run Derbies. ESPN, on the other hand, has acquired the rights to MLB.TV and a midweek game package.

New Media Rights Agreement

The new agreement comes after ESPN opted out of its “Sunday Night Baseball” package earlier this year. As part of the deal, ESPN will sell and distribute MLB.TV, the league’s out-of-market streaming service, through the ESPN app. The network will also receive a new 30-game midweek package of live games on ESPN’s linear networks and the ESPN app. Additionally, ESPN will sell and distribute MLB Network and in-market games for select MLB teams via the ESPN app, including the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies.

NBC will now have a strong presence in baseball, adding MLB to its Sunday lineup, which already features the NBA and NFL. The network will also carry MLB’s entire Wild Card round, ranging from eight to 12 games each season. Netflix, meanwhile, will own the rights to a singular game on Opening Night for the next three seasons and will exclusively deliver all 47 games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic to its audience in Japan.

Implications for MLB’s Media Revenue

The new deal has significant implications for MLB’s media revenue. While the league had to take a haircut of about $300 million per year relative to what ESPN had been paying before opting out, the new agreements with NBC and Netflix help make up for the lost revenue. NBC is paying about $200 million a year for its new package, and Netflix is paying about $50 million annually for the Derby. ESPN, meanwhile, is paying about $550 million for its new package.

The average ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game averaged 1.8 million viewers this past season, and the new deal may help MLB expand its reach through the new and streaming-exclusive partners. The league’s quest to raise TV revenue will continue at the end of the 2028 season, when it will get these rights back plus existing broadcast rights from Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. The NBA and NFL have both seen significant increases in their national media revenue in recent years, and MLB will be looking to follow suit.

Future of MLB Broadcasting

The new media rights agreement marks a significant shift in the way MLB games are broadcast and streamed. With the rise of streaming services like Netflix and ESPN+, the league is looking to expand its reach and provide more options for fans to watch games. The deal also highlights the importance of flexibility and creativity in carving up new packages of games to ensure continued growth in media revenue. As the sports broadcasting landscape continues to evolve, MLB will be looking to stay ahead of the curve and provide the best possible experience for its fans.