Major League Baseball Strikes New TV Deals with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN: What Fans Can Expect
Major League Baseball is on the verge of announcing new TV deals with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN, according to sources familiar with the league's plans. The new agreements will see ESPN gaining rights to out-of-market games for all 30 teams and six in-market clubs. NBC/Peacock will host the first round of the playoffs and Sunday Night Baseball, while Netflix will feature the standalone Opening Day game, the Home Run Derby, and the 'Field of Dreams' game. These three-year deals were a result of ESPN opting out of the final three seasons of its contract earlier this year.
NBC/Peacock is expected to pay nearly $200 million per year, while Netflix will pay $50 million per season. In total, MLB will receive almost $750 million per year over the next three seasons. The new arrangement will allow MLB to be part of NBC's Sunday Night franchise, joining the NFL and NBA. ESPN's deal will include a newly created package and will be worth $1.65 billion over three years, covering out-of-market games, in-market games, and exclusive weeknight games.
Netflix will showcase the Opening Day game between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, as well as the 'Field of Dreams' game featuring the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. NBC's first game will feature the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The playoff games will be split between NBC and Peacock, with Peacock also taking over Roku's late Sunday morning package.
To make up for lost revenue from old assets, MLB had to relinquish its rights to MLB.TV, the league's out-of-market platform for games. ESPN will have in-market rights to six clubs initially, with the potential to add more in the future. ESPN may offer MLB.TV at the same $150 per year price point as before, with T-Mobile continuing to provide the service for free to its customers. ESPN is considering adding a free month for its direct-to-consumer app, which costs $30 per month, allowing MLB.TV subscribers to cancel after the first month.
In conclusion, the new TV deals between Major League Baseball, NBC, Netflix, and ESPN will bring exciting changes to the way fans can watch games and special events. With ESPN, NBC, and Netflix each offering unique coverage, baseball enthusiasts will have more options to enjoy their favorite sport.