MLB Announces New Media Rights Deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix

Major League Baseball announced new three-year media rights agreements on Wednesday with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix, reshaping national broadcasting for the sport starting with the 2026 season and running through 2028. The deals, valued at an average of nearly $800 million annually, aim to broaden fan access across linear television, streaming platforms and special events while maintaining partnerships with existing rights holders like Fox, Turner Sports and Apple TV.

The agreements stem from ESPN's decision earlier this year to opt out of the final three years of its previous contract, which had been in place since 1990. That move prompted negotiations that preserved ESPN's involvement but redistributed key packages. Under the restructured deal, ESPN will pay approximately $550 million per year and retain a national midweek game slate of 30 contests, primarily on weeknights during the summer. The network gains exclusive rights to MLB.TV, the league's out-of-market streaming service, allowing it to offer over 150 such games daily via the ESPN app. ESPN also secures in-market streaming for six teams: the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland...