Major League Baseball could be reshaping its national broadcast landscape as it negotiates new packages with Netflix, ESPN, NBC, and Apple, according to a report by The Athletic.
Multiple officials briefed on the ongoing discussions indicate NBC/Peacock and Apple TV+ are the leading contenders for Sunday Night Baseball and first-round playoff games. ESPN, meanwhile, is exploring a weekday slate and a more prominent daily digital footprint. Netflix has surfaced as a strong candidate to take over the Home Run Derby.
No agreements have been finalized and no networks have confirmed the findings of the report. However, the activity has created an opening for other platforms to enter the fray. Each potential contract would run three seasons according to The Athletic.
The primary rights at stake stem from ESPN and MLB’s mutual decision to opt out of its current package following the conclusion of the 2025 season include Sunday Night Baseball, the Home Run Derby, and eight to 12 first-round playoff games annually. That deal had been paying MLB an average of $550 million per year, with three years remaining. ESPN is now pursuing a revamped set of rights after walking away from the original terms of their current deal.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had initially targeted the All-Star break for a resolution to the matter. The league is now working to carve out additional inventory to reach the $570 million owed for the upcoming season — a figure slightly higher than the annual average ESPN was paying.
While Manfred publicly labeled ESPN a “shrinking platform” after the split, the two sides appear ready to keep doing business. A weekday package could maintain ESPN’s MLB presence, and the network is reportedly eyeing MLB.TV, the league’s flagship out-of-market streaming service.
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro has expressed interest in local games, particularly as the network launches its direct-to-consumer product next week called ESPN.
Netflix’s interest in the Home Run Derby aligns with its push into live, event-driven programming. Bloomberg recently reported the streaming giant’s pursuit of the Derby, while Puck noted Netflix could also acquire World Baseball Classic rights in Japan.
Apple and NBC/Peacock remain locked in for Sunday Night Baseball and playoff games. Apple currently pays $85 million annually for its exclusive Friday doubleheaders, and NBC/Peacock has built a steady Sunday morning presence.
MLB could ultimately split Sunday night and playoff rights between them. Roku’s national Sunday late-morning package, worth $10 million per season, remains a separate piece of the puzzle.
The three-year term under discussion is strategic. MLB wants all national rights — including the World Series — available for bidding ahead of the 2029 season, when FOX Sports and TNT Sports’ current deals expire. By aligning end dates, the league hopes to reset its national rights market in one sweeping negotiation.
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