MLB and ESPN are at a crossroads after the two not-so-mutually agreed to nix their broadcasting deal that was set to run through 2028.
The Worldwide Leader is reportedly open to negotiating a new deal once the current one expires after the 2025 season, although baseball appears to have had enough of Disney.
In a behind-the-scenes look at the struggle-filled negotiations between ESPN and MLB, Puck’s John Ourand reports that the MLB rejected ESPN’s request to bring back midweek baseball instead of just the “Sunday Night Baseball” they are currently broadcasting on their deal.
ESPN then attempted to renegotiate the $550 million-per-season deal at a lower price, which MLB rejected. ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro later informed Major League Baseball that the Worldwide Leader would be opting out of the current deal.
MLB, which recently entered deals with Apple and Roku, is seemingly looking to create as many rights partnerships as possible, with an eye toward 2028 — when the league’s full national rights will be up for grabs.
Among potential distributors are the obvious streaming giants Netflix and Amazon — which MLB has already had discussions with — and Skydance, which is completing its purchase of CBS and Paramount+. NBC is reportedly in the mix, as well.
The strategy could mean getting a lower rate for the “Sunday Night Baseball” package in the name of bigger revenue streams.
ESPN, while still interested in keeping MLB on its airwaves, may not get the chance to.
“MLB is hellbent on drawing more companies into the ’28 auction,” Ourand wrote.
Baseball will likely never be a fully national sport broadcast for every game throughout the country like the NFL, thanks to teams having their own network distribution, like the Yankees with YES Network and the Mets with SNY.
