Major League Baseball is currently in active talks with Apple, NBC, and Netflix to reassign national media rights starting in 2026 after ESPN ends its deal in 2025, according to an NYTimes report.
In February of this year MLB and ESPN agreed to end their contract well before it was supposed to expire in 2028. That arrangement had promised MLB 550 million dollars annually for rights to Sunday night matchups the Home Run Derby and early playoff rounds.
ESPN cited a drop in coverage of baseball and attempted to renegotiate fee amounts but a deal could not be struck and both parties parted ways. Now The Athletic and other outlets report that MLB is in active talks with Apple NBC Peacock Netflix and potentially ESPN again to divide parts of the package.
Among those Apple TV and NBC are seen as leading the race for Sunday night coverage and first round playoff games. Netflix has emerged as a front contender for the Home Run Derby and perhaps even some international content like the World Baseball Classic. ESPN might pivot toward weekday games or boost its digital offerings given its intent to maintain a presence in the sport.
Commissioner Rob Manfred and his team are seeking to fill the roughly 570 million dollars per season that had been guaranteed by ESPN under the old agreement. The deals now on the table are believed to span three seasons and would culminate in 2028 when MLB’s other media contracts with Fox and TBS also expire.
Both Apple and NBC are seen as especially well positioned given Apple already airs Friday night games on its streaming platform and NBC’s Peacock has already secured Sunday morning matchups.
Netflix does not yet broadcast regular season baseball games but it has signaled interest in event driven content and showcases like the Home Run Derby which could align with its content strategy.
Whether rights end up with one dominant platform Apple NBC or a mix of partners remains in flux but the league is clearly steering toward modern media models packed with both streaming and traditional television options.
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