The following piece looks at how MLB’s new three-year media-rights deals scatter games across broadcast networks, cable, and streaming platforms. It breaks down which outlets carry the action, how many games land on each, and what this mosaic means for local markets and national telecasts.
Overview of MLB’s three-year media-rights landscape
MLB’s latest rights deals spread regular-season and marquee events across a wild mix of networks and streaming services. Netflix pops in for a few big moments, NBC jumps back into Sunday baseball, and ESPN dials down its Sunday night presence.
The schedule’s no longer centered on any one home. Fans who want to catch the Cubs, White Sox, or other teams live now face a more tangled viewing map, whether on-air or on demand.
Here’s how the major players line up across 2027–2029 and what it means for watching baseball:
- Netflix: Dips in with a standalone season opener (Yankees at Giants) and a couple of headline events—the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game—in 2027 and 2028. Cubs and White Sox skip Netflix this season.
- NBC family (NBC, Peacock, NBCSN): Jumps back into regular-season baseball with a multi-platform plan. Peacock picks up Sunday Leadoff; NBC revives Sunday Night Baseball, now with Jason Benetti calling the action. Some Peacock-only games also air on NBCSN, and big dates like the Futures Game, Star-Spangled Sunday (July 5), and every wild-card game will pop up across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.
- ESPN and ABC: ESPN drops Sunday Night Baseball but keeps a summer batch of about 30 games (June–August) and a few special events like Jackie Robinson Day and the Little League Classic. ABC chips in three games.
- Fox Sports: Offers more than 85 games, including Baseball Night in America, the All-Star Game, and the World Series. The Cubs show up six times on Fox and twice on FS1.
- TBS: Locks in two exclusive Friday-night games and a first-half schedule with a couple of Cubs appearances. Some TBS broadcasts get blacked out in certain markets.
- MLB Network and local-market dynamics: MLB Network airs daily games, but Cubs and White Sox broadcasts get blacked out in-market since Marquee Sports Network and CHSN handle most local coverage.
Netflix: A selective entry into MLB’s calendar
The streaming giant plants a flag with high-profile events, not blanket coverage. Netflix’s MLB slate for 2027 and 2028 features the Yankees-at-Giants season opener, plus the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game. The Cubs and White Sox don’t show up on Netflix this year, highlighting just how picky Netflix is with its baseball picks.
NBC: Returning to regular-season baseball across platforms
NBC leans into a modern, multi-screen strategy that blends traditional and streaming distribution. Regular-season games will show up across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN (where that’s still a thing). Peacock gets the Sunday Leadoff games, while NBC revives Sunday Night Baseball with Jason Benetti’s familiar voice.
Some Peacock-only games will also air on NBCSN. NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN coordinate big dates—like the Futures Game, Star-Spangled Sunday, and all wild-card games—across platforms, aiming for the widest reach possible.
ESPN and ABC: A refreshed, summer-focused footprint
ESPN steps back from SNB but stays a summer baseball hub. The network puts out about 30 exclusive summer games, mostly from June through August, plus events like Jackie Robinson Day and the Little League Classic. ABC adds three games, giving fans a little more to watch on network TV, whether they’re into primetime or just want something on a weekend afternoon.
Fox and TBS: A dual-path national package
Fox and TBS anchor national baseball in this new era. Fox Sports broadcasts more than 85 games, including Baseball Night in America, the All-Star Game, and the World Series. Cubs fans get six Fox telecasts and two on FS1.
TBS grabs two exclusive Friday-night games and a first-half schedule with Cubs appearances. Some TBS games will be blacked out locally, depending on market rights—always a bit of a headache for fans hoping for nationwide access.
Local-market dynamics: Marquee, CHSN, WCIU and in-market blackouts
Local rights and blackout rules will shape where you can watch Cubs and White Sox games.
MLB Network airs daily games, but in-market blackouts block Cubs and White Sox broadcasts. Marquee Sports Network and Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) handle most local games.
CHSN has nearly every White Sox game and will simulcast 10 on WCIU-Channel 26. Four of those games are against the Cubs.
Marquee keeps airing most Cubs games. However, it’s already lost 14 to national networks, and honestly, more could slip away as the rights shuffle keeps rolling.
Here is the source article for this story: MLB viewing guide for Cubs, White Sox fans
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