NBC and its associated streaming platform Peacock, along with Apple TV+, have emerged as the “top contenders” for MLB’s Sunday Night Baseball package after ESPN opted to exit its current deal with the league earlier this year, according to a report by Andrew Marchand in The Athletic. The two platforms are also front-runners for the first-round playoff games ESPN held as part of its contract, though it is possible MLB will split its postseason inventory from the Sunday Night Baseball package.
Per Marchand, “No deals have been finalized, and talks are active, creating an opportunity for other platforms to jump in.”
In addition to NBC and Apple leading the way for Sunday Night Baseball, Marchand also reports that ESPN is eyeing a new set of rights that would include weekday games. ESPN is also reportedly interested in acquiring MLB.TV, the league’s out-of-market package that gives fans access to every game broadcast outside their home market. The network has previously expressed its interest in acquiring local MLB rights to complement its soon-to-be-launched direct-to-consumer streaming service.
Marchand also confirms prior reporting that Netflix has emerged as a “strong contender” to obtain the Home Run Derby, a piece of inventory that is also apart of ESPN’s current package.
In divvying up the rights from ESPN’s current deal, and adding national inventory in the case of potential weekday games for ESPN, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred hopes to match the $570 million the league was slated to earn from ESPN next season had it remained in its current contract.
All deals that MLB is considering are for a three-year term, at which point the league’s other national contracts with Fox and TNT Sports will expire and it can bring the entirety of its media rights to market.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.