The MLB and ESPN Are Breaking Up After Nearly Four Decades
After nearly four decades, the relationship between ESPN and Major League Baseball will come to an end following the 2025-2026 season.
In a memo obtained by Evan Drellich of The Athletic, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told owners that the league and its longtime broadcasting partner had mutually agreed to part ways.
Photo: KRON4
After this season, it has long been assumed that ESPN would opt out of its $550 million per year deal with the MLB. The prevailing notion, however, was that the league and its premier broadcast partner would subsequently iron out a new deal.
Rob Manfred Goes on the Offensive
In his memo, Manfred accused ESPN of an “aggressive effort” to lower its rights fee. According to the commissioner, ESPN used the MLB’s recent deals with Apple and Roku to support their case.
Photo: Major League Baseball
Manfred argues that those deals, in which the MLB is paid $85 million and $10 million, respectively, are not apt comparisons, as unlike Apple and Roku, ESPN gets a fully exclusive window.
“A Shrinking Platform”
After laying out the financial situation, Manfred discussed ESPN’s business model. If you have been following along here at MickeyBlog, you know that the Worldwide Leader in Sports is set to launch its direct-to-consumer product later this year. The move comes as cable subscriptions continue to decline.
ESPN
In his memo, Manfred bluntly stated that he does “not believe Pay TV, ESPN’s primary distribution platform, is the future of video distribution or the best platform for our content.”
After citing ESPN’s relatively low subscriber count, the commissioner concluded that it was not beneficial to “accept a smaller deal to remain on a shrinking platform.”
Photo: GETTY IMAGES FOR ESPN
As a parting shot, Manfred criticized ESPN for its lack of baseball coverage outside of primetime games. The Worldwide Leader in Sports has not broadcast daily episodes of Baseball Tonight since 2017, and its premier morning shows, such as First Take and Get Up, routinely ignore the MLB.
Where Will the MLB Air?
Based on the tone of Manfred’s memo and his seeming willingness to burn the sport’s bridge with ESPN, the MLB seems likely to have another broadcasting partner lined up.
Photo: The Mirror
The commissioner ended his memo by noting that he “will have at least two potential options for consideration over the next few weeks” and that the league will move forward with “a new broadcast and/or streaming platform.”
Photo: MLB
So, enjoy Sunday Night Baseball while you can because, after this season, MLB and ESPN are splitting up.
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