MLB reaches new 3-year media deal with ESPN, NBC and Netflix running through the 2028 season

1 hour ago7 min read

Alright, folks, grab your popcorn because MLB just dropped a media deal that's more stacked than a playoff roster in the ninth inning. In a move that feels like a blockbuster trade deadline shake-up, the league announced a new three-year media rights agreement with ESPN, NBC, and Netflix, locking them in through the 2028 season.This isn't just some minor contract extension; this is a full-scale redistribution of baseball's prime-time real estate, and it all started when ESPN decided to opt out of the final three years of its previous deal, which was set to pay out a cool $1. 65 billion.The restructuring keeps the total money in the same ballpark, but the players on the field have changed dramatically. NBC and its streaming sibling Peacock are stepping up to the plate as the new home for Sunday Night Baseball and the wild card round of the playoffs, effectively snagging a couple of the most electric pieces of the broadcast calendar.Meanwhile, Netflix, the streaming giant that's been dipping its toes into live sports with shows like 'Quarterback,' is going all-in by securing the rights to the Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams game, and a standalone Opening Day primetime game featuring the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants—a matchup with more star power than a Hollywood premiere. Over at ESPN, the Worldwide Leader is not just walking away; it's consolidating power by acquiring MLB.tv, giving it the rights to all out-of-market games and, crucially, the in-market rights for six clubs: the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and Arizona Diamondbacks. At an expected price of $150 a year, it's the same cost to fans, but now it's under the ESPN umbrella, and the deal includes a clause that could let them add more in-market teams if they become available, like a fantasy team manager waiting for a waiver wire gem.The financials, as reported by The Athletic, are as fascinating as a no-hitter in progress: NBC is ponying up nearly $200 million a year, while Netflix is in for a reported $50 million per season. Let's not forget the other players still in the game; Fox continues its long-standing relationship airing regular season games, the All-Star Game, and the crown jewel, the World Series, while AppleTV+ keeps its two Friday night games.This entire deal is a masterclass in modern media strategy, a direct response to the fragmenting viewership landscape and the insatiable appetite for live sports that can still command a massive, communal audience. As Commissioner Rob Manfred stated, this is about 'expanding our reach to fans through three powerful destinations,' and he's not wrong.This isn't your grandfather's baseball broadcast anymore. It's a multi-platform, on-demand, primetime spectacle designed to capture the attention of every possible demographic, from the cord-cutting Gen Z fan watching the Field of Dreams game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins on their phone to the traditionalist settling in for a Sunday night game on NBC.The implications are huge. For NBC, it's a triumphant return to broadcasting regular-season MLB games after a long absence.For Netflix, it's a bold declaration that it's ready to compete in the live sports arena, using baseball's most iconic and shareable events as its entry point. And for ESPN, it's a strategic pivot, focusing on owning the digital distribution of the game while maintaining a significant linear presence.This deal reflects the new reality of sports media: no single network can own it all. The future is a collaborative, yet fiercely competitive, ecosystem where legacy broadcasters, cable giants, and streaming behemoths all fight for a piece of the action, and for the next three years, baseball fans will be the ultimate winners of that high-stakes game.

#MLB

#ESPN

#NBC

#Netflix

#media rights

#Sunday Night Baseball

#Home Run Derby

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