MLB’s national TV numbers climbed across the board in 2026. Commissioner Rob Manfred says NBC, in particular, stood out with the network’s return to baseball coverage.
What We Know: NBC carried 14 Sunday Night Baseball games in its debut season, averaging 2.7 million viewers, the package’s best mark since 2007 on ESPN. Five games topped 3 million, including three straight in late July and early August. Meanwhile, FOX Sports posted its strongest MLB season since 2021 at 2.4 million viewers. ESPN/ABC’s 30-game slate averaged 1.2 million, down from 1.8 million last year on Sunday nights.
What They Said: Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner (via Sports Business Journal): “NBC, from Day 1, was about reach for us and they certainly delivered that. Equally important, they leaned into baseball. The promotion surrounding things like Opening Day has just been phenomenal.”
What Remains Unclear: Still, discoverability remains a “huge” issue for fans according to Manfred. He’s counting on the MLB app and a “more streamlined lineup” to help fans find games. Local rights are still in flux, too, though the 14 clubs under MLB’s in-market umbrella saw an 8% audience bump this season. Whether that group grows before 2028 remains an open question.
What It Means: NBC’s bet on reach paid off for MLB in 2026. As a result, rising numbers across NBC, FOX Sports and even ESPN’s slimmed-down package give the league leverage entering 2028 rights talks. Netflix’s youth-skewing audience adds another selling point beyond actual viewership and ratings. Expect MLB to lean further into this multi-partner model rather than consolidate around one network.
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