ESPN commentator Chris Russo voiced sharp criticism of Major League Baseball during Wednesday’s edition of First Take, taking issue with the league’s evolving media strategy and its impact on local broadcasts.
Russo focused heavily on MLB’s decision to place the season opener between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants on Netflix rather than regional television. He argued the move reflects a larger pattern of prioritizing revenue over accessibility.
“Think of all the great games that you don’t have a chance to do [on local networks]. Because Major League Baseball, in their ever-ending search to get the almighty dollar. They move the games around,” Russo said.
He then pointed to the Yankees’ local rights holder, YES Network, as an example of how those decisions affect longtime broadcast partners.
“Gee whiz, it’s bad enough. You got to find Netflix,” Russo said. “If you’re YES Network that does 162 games, Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in August, they carry the ball game. This [Opening Night] is a big game for them, and they can’t do it because baseball realizes it’s a marquee game. They take it off YES Network’s plate, and gives it somewhere else. That’s not the right thing to do.”
Furthermore, Russo argued that MLB has developed a habit of shifting its most attractive matchups away from local outlets and toward national or streaming partners. In his view, that leaves regional networks with a diminished schedule.
“You leave all the garbage to YES Network and SNY, and then you take the marquee games Friday night on Apple TV? How many times do you see that? Dodgers and Yankees after the All-Star break on Apple TV? I mean, it’s not right,” Russo said.
Additionally, Russo framed the league’s approach as being driven primarily by financial incentives rather than fan experience or broadcaster relationships.
“Why do they take all the good games and leave those regional networks? Because money, money, money, money, money,” he said.
While MLB has expanded its national and streaming partnerships this offseason with Netflix, NBC/Peacock and ESPN, the strategy has created tension among traditional broadcasters and some fans. Regional sports networks still carry the majority of games and serve as a daily connection between teams and their audiences.
However, Russo’s comments highlight a growing concern among fans. As leagues chase larger rights deals and broader distribution, they risk disrupting the viewing habits that built their fan bases.
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