ESPN and Major League Baseball Reach New 3 Year Television Deal That Includes MLB.TV Rights
The contentious negotiations between ESPN and Major League Baseball (MLB) have finally borne fruit, as the two sides have agreed to a three-year deal.
Before we get into the specifics of the new television agreement, we have to discuss how we got here.
Last February, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred wrote a blistering memo to team owners, announcing that the league’s 4-decade partnership with ESPN was ending.
Photo: KRON4
In the document, Manfred blasted ESPN’s efforts to lower the league’s television rights fees, using recent deals with Apple and Roku to support their case.
As outlined by Manfred, there were substantial differences between the league’s deal with ESPN and the streaming agreements, including the exclusive window that the Worldwide Leader had enjoyed for decades.
Photo: ESPN
After attacking ESPN’s direct-to-consumer plans, Manfred then vowed to explore deals with other partners.
The Two Sides Resumed Talks Earlier This Year
While it appeared that ESPN and MLB were set to go their separate ways, the two sides reportedly resumed negotiations in June.
MLB
By August, the two parties began closing in on a deal that would see ESPN carry MLB.TV and pick up the rights to all out-of-market games.
Additionally, the Worldwide Leader would gain control of the in-network games for the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies, which would presumably be available on ESPN’s streaming app.
MLB
Finally, the network would keep the rights to roughly 30 games a year on its linear network.
The Deal Has Been Finalized
Three months after we reported that ESPN and MLB were closing in on a deal, a new television agreement has finally been announced.
Photo: ESPN
ESPN will now pay $550 million to obtain the rights to MLB.TV and the aforementioned in-market rights for select teams.
Photo: MLB
“I think it’s really important that we manage to continue a relationship with ESPN. They’ve been kind of the bedrock of our broadcast program for a long time,” Manfred said.
Changes To ESPN’s Baseball Programming
While the new agreement will see Sunday Night Baseball move to NBC, ESPN will still air 30 games during the regular season, primarily on weeknights and in summer months.
Photo: Major League Baseball
The Worldwide Leader has, however, also lost the right to the wild-card round of the MLB Playoffs and the Home Run Derby.
“This fan-friendly agreement allows us to showcase the great sport of baseball on both a local and national level, while prioritizing our streaming future,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “MLB.TV is a coveted, must-have companion for passionate MLB fans all over the country, and it will be strongly complemented by our national game package and in-market team rights — all within the ESPN App.”
Photo: MLB
After condemning ESPN’s focus on streaming, Manfred now admits it was important for MLB to continue partnering with the network.
Photo: The Mirror
“We’re excited to have a midweek package back out there,” Manfred said. “This is an evolution of a relationship. Long relationships go through these things, and it’s an evolution that I think is significant. I think it is consistent with ESPN’s focus on streaming going forward.”
NBC Gets Back Into the Baseball Business
Under the terms of the new television agreement, NBC has agreed to pay MLB $200 million for the rights to Sunday Night Baseball, a prime-time game on Labor Day, and the Sunday early-afternoon games that were a bedrock of Peacock’s programming in 2022 and 2023.
Photo: ESPN
Finally, Netflix will pick up the Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams Game, and the first game of the MLB season.
Photo: MickeyBlog
