Can MLB TV Convince Dodgers to Accept One-Channel Deal?

Major League Baseball might be on the verge of a huge change in how we watch games. Commissioner Rob Manfred has a big idea: by 2029, fans could finally stream every team, anywhere, without those maddening blackout restrictions.

This plan would pull all media rights into one MLB-run streaming service. Some clubs seem excited, but big-market franchises? They’re a bit wary, and honestly, who can blame them?

Manfred’s Vision: Ending Blackouts and Fragmentation

Right now, if you want to catch every Dodgers game, you have to juggle SportsNet LA, Fox, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Apple TV. It’s a headache—subscriptions, platforms, league schedules, broadcast rights, all tangled up.

Manfred wants to untangle that mess by putting all the rights under a single MLB-controlled streaming umbrella. That sounds a lot simpler, doesn’t it?

The Goal Behind Consolidation

He thinks a unified media setup will drag baseball’s broadcasts into the modern era. Fans everywhere could get easier access, and ideally, the league would make more money.

It’s part of a bigger trend in sports: centralizing rights to make things smoother for everyone and, let’s be honest, more profitable.

Winners and Losers in the New Revenue Model

The idea sounds great on paper, but the money side is tricky. Right now, big-market teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Cubs rake in cash from massive local TV deals.

The Dodgers, for example, pull in about $500 million a year from Charter Communications, and that deal runs through 2038. They also own SportsNet LA outright, which is a huge advantage.

Impact on Smaller-Market Teams

Meanwhile, teams like the Milwaukee Brewers only make about $35 million a year from local TV. A national streaming platform could really help these smaller clubs, narrowing the financial gap between the league’s giants and everyone else.

Challenges Facing Large-Market Clubs

For Manfred’s plan to work, he’ll have to convince the big-market teams that they won’t lose money in the process. If they’re not sure, they probably won’t walk away from those fat local deals.

Dodgers president Stan Kasten likes the idea in theory, but he’s quick to admit that the negotiations will get messy. Every team’s media contract is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Possible Incentives to Gain Support

Manfred might have to sweeten the deal. He could let big-market teams keep a bigger slice of their local revenue, or maybe let them sell their regional sports networks straight to MLB.

• Letting big-market clubs keep more local revenue
• Giving teams the option to sell their networks to MLB
• Setting up cost controls—maybe even a salary cap—to keep profits steady

These ideas could come up in the next collective bargaining talks after the 2026 season.

Timing and Negotiation Outlook

Kasten says the Dodgers support the idea of universal fan access, but everything’s still in the early stages. Getting everyone on board means working through lots of different interests, old broadcasting agreements, and what the owners expect to make.

Why 2029 is the Target Year

Six years gives MLB time to tackle legal, contractual, and logistical headaches. By aiming for 2029, Manfred is showing just how big this change could be—and how much time it’ll really take to break from the old media world.

Final Thoughts: A Potential Revolution in Baseball Broadcasting

If a national MLB streaming platform ever ditches blackouts, the fan experience could change completely. Baseball might finally claim its spot as a true leader in sports media innovation.

Big-market teams would want guarantees, no doubt. Smaller markets? They might actually benefit for once.

Fans everywhere could get access to America’s pastime like never before. But honestly, we all know it’s going to take a lot of compromise and some real strategy to get there.

Manfred has his work cut out for him. He needs to find a way that keeps fans happy, supports every franchise, and doesn’t mess with baseball’s long-term finances.

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Here is the source article for this story: Every game on the same channel? How might MLB sway Dodgers to go along?