ESPN and Major League Baseball are deepening one of the longest-running relationships in sports media. The two sides have struck a new rights agreement that hands the network exclusive control of MLB.TV and expands both national and local game coverage across ESPN platforms.
The companies announced the deal today, confirming it’ll run from 2026 through 2028.
The agreement positions ESPN as the exclusive rights holder to MLB.TV, the league’s out-of-market streaming service. Beginning in 2026, thousands of live and on-demand games available through MLB.TV will be accessible directly in the ESPN App. They will also remain available on MLB digital platforms. New MLB.TV subscribers will be able to purchase the service through ESPN’s redesigned app, placing baseball alongside more than 50,000 annual events from ESPN’s broader ecosystem.
ESPN also secured exclusive local in-market streaming rights for six clubs. Those teams include the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Their local broadcasts will be available to purchase and stream on MLB platforms beginning in 2026.
For ESPN Unlimited subscribers, the company will also roll out a “game of the day” slate. It will feature more than 150 out-of-market matchups per season.
In addition, the deal includes a new 30-game national package for ESPN’s linear networks and direct-to-consumer offerings. The schedule will lean heavily on weeknight broadcasts during the heart of the summer and continue ESPN’s exclusive presentation of the MLB Little League Classic. ESPN also picked up rights to Memorial Day baseball and second-half season openers.
“This fan-friendly agreement allows us to showcase the great sport of baseball on both a local and national level, while prioritizing our streaming future,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “MLB.TV is a coveted, must-have companion for passionate MLB fans all over the country.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the expanded presence on ESPN’s app reflects the changing habits of modern fans.
“This new agreement with ESPN marks a significant evolution in our more than 30-year relationship,” he said. “Bringing MLB.TV to ESPN’s new app while maintaining a presence on linear television reflects a balanced approach to the shifts taking place in the way that fans watch baseball.”
The deal also preserves a wide range of existing rights. ESPN Radio will remain the national audio home of the World Series, the full postseason, the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby and weekly national games. Baseball Tonight studio programming will also continue. So too will the network’s Spanish-language rights for its new linear package.
Internationally, ESPN will maintain distribution of daily regular-season games, the All-Star Game, playoff matchups and the World Series across multiple regions, including Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, the Netherlands and China.
The agreement extends a partnership dating back to 1990. It reinforces ESPN’s position as one of baseball’s most significant media partners heading into a streaming-heavy future.
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