The media world will take a new approach to broadcasting Major League Baseball games.
The league has signed a new and widely anticipated deal with NBCUniversal, Netflix and Disney’s ESPN that will see the national pastime air on streaming stations where it has never been before, as well as on NBC for the first time in 26 years. ESPN has acquired the rights to air out-of-market games and midweek game packages that previously belonged to MLB.TV. NBC is launching a new baseball series on Sunday night. And Netflix will air the Home Run Derby, an exclusive opening night game and revival of the Field of Dreams game, in 2026.
“Our new media rights agreements with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix provide us with an exciting opportunity to expand our reach to fans through three powerful destinations for live sports, entertainment and featured events,” MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. said in a statement. “Following the heels of the last World Series game, which averaged more than 51 million viewers worldwide, these partnerships build on MLB’s growing momentum, including a generation of stars setting new standards of excellence, new rules that improve the game on the field, and a This includes increases in key fan engagement metrics such as viewership, attendance, participation and social media consumption. We look forward to leveraging the unique expertise that ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix each bring to the sport for the benefit of our fans.”
The new deal gives MLB a new lifeline after ESPN earlier this year scrapped its current rights deal that was supposed to last through 2029. But the deal also spreads MLB games across a wider range of media outlets, potentially confusing fans and preventing some hardcore fans from watching at least some of their favorite games aired on subscription-based streaming outlets. At the same time, there’s a breath of fresh air in MLB. It’s one of the most-watched World Series in recent history of the game.
MLB had to come up with a new plan, especially after ESPN complained about the value of the league’s small contracts with Roku and Apple. ESPN was paying about $550 million a year in MLB broadcast rights fees and is expected to pay the same amount for the new package.
Under the terms of the new deal, ESPN will gain influence over hundreds of lucrative games that were previously sold through MLB.TV. Starting in 2026, fans will be able to purchase games outside of their home region through ESPN. In addition, ESPN has the rights to air a package of 30 domestic games on its linear network and app. ESPN also has the rights to broadcast the Memorial Day game and the second half opener after the All-Star Game. ESPN will stream more than 150 out-of-market games, one per day, through the ESPN app.
In addition, ESPN has acquired exclusive local in-market streaming rights for teams including the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.
“This fan-friendly agreement allows us to showcase the great sport of baseball on both a local and national level while prioritizing the future of streaming,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “MLB.TV is a coveted and essential partner for die-hard MLB fans across the country, and is strongly complemented by our full national game package and market team rights within the ESPN app.”
NBCUniversal has launched a new “Sunday Night Baseball” franchise, offering year-round sports programming, including NBA and NFL games on Sunday nights. NBC will have access to all four postseason wild card series, with games broadcast on NBC, Peacock, and the new NBCSN cable network. In addition, NBCU will regain rights to an 18-game package that will begin at or around noon local Sunday and will be simulcast on NBCSN.
NBC and Peacock will be able to televise portions of the MLB Draft in 2026, when it will be moved to the Saturday of All-Star Week. NBC and Peacock will also air the Futures Game, a game featuring Minor League Baseball’s top players, and a new event featuring former players and celebrities will be streamed on Peacock after the game.
NBCU is expected to pay $200 million annually for the new rights deal.
“We’re excited to welcome Major League Baseball back to the NBC Sports family as we bring the best of the game on Sunday Night Baseball on NBC, NBCSN and Peacock, the first game of the day aired exclusively on Peacock and NBCSN most Sunday mornings, and all Wild Card Round games on NBC, NBCSN and Peacock,” NBC Sports President Rick Cordella said in a statement.
Netlfix, which has increased its focus on sports and live programming in recent months, will kick off the next three MLB seasons with an exclusive Opening Night game the night before the traditional Opening Day full schedule. The streaming giant will also broadcast the T-Mobile Home Run Derby the day before the All-Star Game. In 2026, Netflix will broadcast the Field of Dreams game from Dyersville, Iowa on August 13th. This is my first return to the stage in four years. Netflix also streams special event games each year.
“We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Major League Baseball,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said in a statement. “We started with a critically acclaimed documentary that deepened the existing global passion for baseball. Now, we’re seizing that moment and bringing massive cultural spectacles from Opening Day to Home Run Derby directly to our members, reinforcing Netflix as the ultimate home for both stories and sports.”
Fox Sports holds the rights to air domestic games on Saturdays, along with the World Series, All-Star Game and postseason games. Warner’s TBS will retain the Tuesday night game package and postseason rights. Apple will continue streaming Friday night doubleheaders.
