MLB Media Rights Deal Split Between NBC, Netflix and ESPN

The landscape of Major League Baseball broadcasting is shifting fast as the league wraps up new three-year media rights deals with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN. These agreements end some long-running traditions and open up fresh ways for fans everywhere to watch the sport.

NBC is taking over one of ESPN’s most iconic programs. Netflix is stepping into baseball for the first time. ESPN’s rolling MLB’s streaming package into its own platform. The whole media scene around baseball is growing more varied and competitive—maybe even a little unpredictable.

NBC Takes Over “Sunday Night Baseball“

NBC just landed the rights to produce and broadcast Sunday Night Baseball, ending ESPN’s 35-year run with the primetime slot. Sunday nights on NBC will now feature year-round coverage across the NFL, NBA, and MLB, with big matchups rotating to keep audiences tuned in.

Expanded Playoff Coverage and Streaming Changes

NBC also picked up rights to the MLB wild-card playoff round. That’s a big boost to their sports lineup and gives them a stronger postseason presence.

Plus, NBC’s Sunday morning streaming games will move from Roku to Peacock. Subscribers can expect a smoother platform for catching live games.

ESPN Holds Steady Despite Losing Flagship Role

ESPN’s losing Sunday Night Baseball, sure, but the network will still air about 30 national games per season. The exact schedule’s still up in the air, but ESPN’s coverage will remain significant.

Local and Out-of-Market Broadcasts

ESPN’s deal goes beyond just national games. The network keeps out-of-market rights for all 30 MLB teams, so fans can follow their clubs from anywhere.

ESPN also gets in-market rights for six teams without their own local broadcast deals. That gives ESPN a nice edge in certain regions.

The Financial Stakes and Negotiation Drama

All these new deals follow ESPN’s decision to walk away from its previous $1.65 billion contract with MLB, which kicked off some tough negotiations. Even with the programming shakeup, ESPN agreed to keep paying $550 million a year, matching its old commitment.

That’s a big show of confidence in baseball’s value—even without the Sunday night anchor.

Integration of MLB.TV into ESPN’s Ecosystem

One major twist: MLB’s handing over control of its MLB.TV streaming package to ESPN. The service will plug right into ESPN’s app and the MLB platform, making it easier for subscribers to get access.

This change could help more fans stream games and cut down on the hassle of finding where to watch.

Netflix Steps Into the Batter’s Box

Here’s a curveball: Netflix is joining MLB as a media partner for the first time. The streaming giant will air some of baseball’s biggest events, showing it’s serious about live sports.

Signature Events on Netflix

Netflix’s rights include:

• Opening Night – kicking off the regular season for viewers everywhere.
• Home Run Derby – bringing one of baseball’s wildest nights to a massive streaming crowd.
• Field of Dreams Game – the annual nostalgia-fueled matchup, mixing movie magic with the real thing.

With these events, Netflix subscribers can catch rare, high-profile baseball games without needing cable. That could pull in more cord-cutters and international fans—maybe even some folks who’ve never watched a game before.

What This Means for Fans

For most viewers, these new media rights deals bring a mix of change and familiar comfort. Fans will have to get used to different networks for their favorite games.

But with several major companies sharing the rights, there are more ways to watch. Streaming will play a bigger role, and there’ll be more platforms showing games.

It’s a lot more flexible now. You can pick how and where you want to catch baseball.

NBC’s taking over Sunday Night Baseball, which is a pretty bold move. ESPN’s pushing harder into streaming, and Netflix is finally jumping into the game.

The next three years should be interesting for MLB fans. With all these changes, it feels like baseball’s media world is shifting to fit how people actually watch now.

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Here is the source article for this story: Major League Baseball announces media rights deals with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN