MLB seeks multi-platform rights deal after ending ESPN contract

Major League Baseball is negotiating a new set of broadcast and streaming agreements with several outlets, following the mutual departure from its long-standing ESPN rights deal. With ESPN’s current package set to expire after 2025, the league is weighing a multi-pronged approach that could see Sunday Night Baseball and early-round playoff games carried by NBC’s Peacock and Apple TV, while the Home Run Derby could land with Netflix. The talks are ongoing, and no final agreements have been announced, but people familiar with the process say the league intends to pursue three-year deals that may be split across platforms rather than a single, all-encompassing package.

The shakeup comes after MLB and ESPN terminated their contract earlier this year, a move prompted by a disagreement over rights fees and coverage. ESPN had been the primary home for Sunday Night Baseball for more than three decades, and the decision to part ways left the league seeking new partners to deliver a steady revenue stream and broad exposure. League officials have stressed a desire to maximize value while pursuing a streaming-first strategy that could reduce regional blackout limitations and broaden...