MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league is committed to making it easier for fans to find and watch baseball games. Acknowledging the growing frustration with how fragmented baseball’s television landscape has become.
Speaking on Mad Dog Sports Radio on SiriusXM, Manfred admitted that “discoverability is an issue” as fans continue to navigate a confusing web of regional sports networks, streaming platforms, and blackout restrictions that vary by market.
“Look, absolutely no question that discoverability is an issue,” Manfred said speaking with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. “All I would say to our fans is this. In a period of real disruption on the media side, it is important to try different things to figure out exactly what’s gonna work for us over the long haul. And I can tell you 100% when we go to the market in 2028 with all of our rights. A principal concern will be to narrow the number of places that people need to go, and to eliminate blackouts. The reach and discoverability for our fans, I’m 100% committed to making better in 2028.”
The comments come at a pivotal time for baseball’s media strategy. Regional sports networks, long the backbone of MLB’s local television model, continue to face instability. The league also announced at an event last month that they are close to deals with ESPN for a regular-season package. Also with Comcast’s NBCUniversal for the wild card series and Sunday night regular-season games, and with Netflix for the All-Star Home Run Derby. These are all in part due to ESPN and MLB mutual opt-out announcement earlier this year.
Manfred also said a deal for in-market rights for Arizona, Cleveland, Colorado, Minnesota and San Diego is also close.
The commissioner said the disruption in the RSN space is “clearly” ongoing. But that MLB has worked to ensure fans can still watch their favorite teams through both traditional and direct-to-consumer options.
“There is clearly disruption in the regional business,” Manfred said. “The good thing from the fan’s perspective is that FanDuel Sports — now, they keep changing their name — has continued in business. Some clubs have elected to stay there. Every club in baseball always has the option of coming with us. We can do their games in a moment’s notice.”
He added that fans should have confidence knowing there will continue to be multiple ways to access games.
“The important thing really for the fans is they know there’s gonna be a cable product available in every single market,” he said. “And with the exception of Houston. There will be a direct-to-consumer product available for those who’ve opted out of the cable bundle. And that’s a good thing in terms of discoverability.”
With positioning national and local rights up for renewal in 2028. MLB appears ready to use that milestone as a reset point. Manfred’s latest comments make clear the league’s goal is to simplify where fans can watch games and finally put an end to one of the sport’s most persistent frustrations — blackouts.
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