After leaving its television rights deal with Major League Baseball Earlier this year, ESPN had a new package that would provide additional games for streaming customers.
The deal announced Wednesday by the league will also return baseball to NBC and move three MLB events to Netflix for the first time — the opening night game, the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game.
As part of the deal, ESPN will integrate the league's streaming platform MLB.TV into its recently launched direct-to-consumer service, which provides sports channels to consumers with or without a cable subscription.
MLB.TV provides consumers with local television coverage of non-market games. Beginning with the 2026 season, new customers will be able to purchase the service as part of their ESPN subscription. Prices for combined services have not yet been established.
ESPN Unlimited subscribers will receive an additional 150 out-of-market games throughout the season at no additional cost. ESPN will offer local games in six MLB markets that no longer have regional sports networks – San Diego, Cleveland, Seattle, Minnesota, Arizona and Colorado. MLB-produced games will be available for purchase and streaming in those markets through ESPN.
ESPN will no longer air “Sunday Night Baseball,” which has been a network staple for decades, but will offer a package of 30 weeknight games. He will also continue to cover the classic MLB Minor League game and will host the Memorial Day game.
ESPN is paying $550 million for the new three-year package, the same as the previous contract, according to people familiar with the negotiations who were not authorized to comment publicly.
While ESPN and MLB exchanged harsh words when their longtime agreement fell apart earlier this year, both sides praised the end result, which places a greater emphasis on streaming.
“The addition of MLB.TV to the new ESPN app while maintaining a linear television presence reflects a balanced approach to the changes occurring in the way fans watch baseball and gives MLB a meaningful presence in an important location for fans of all sports,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro called the deal a “fan-friendly agreement” that prioritizes the “streaming future” of the Walt Disney Co. unit.
“Sunday Night Baseball” will move to NBC, where 25 primetime games will air on the broadcast network or on NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming platform. Already home to “Sunday Night Football” and “Sunday Night Basketball,” the addition of MLB—at a cost of $200 million per season—means NBC will air live sports in prime time every Sunday for a year.
The network is also continuing the MLB postseason wild card round, which aired on ESPN.
In 2027 and 2028, NBC will air its biggest game on the final Sunday of the season.
NBC Sports also has rights to the late Sunday night game at Peacock, followed by a recap show highlighting that day's league action. Peacock hosted the morning game in 2023 and 2024 before it went to the Rock last season.
MLB games exclusive to Peacock will also air on the newly launched NBC Sports Network, which is offered to cable and satellite providers.
Netflix is paying about $50 million a year to host the 2026 opener between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees on March 25. The annual Home Run Derby, previously aired on ESPN, is also moving to the streamer, as is the Field of Dreams game, which will take place in Dyersville, Iowa, where the Field of Dreams set is located.
The deal continues Netflix's approach to offerings appointment of sporting events to their subscribers rather than investing in a full season package.
The new MLB agreements are only for three years. The league wants them to match its core television rights package, which includes the playoffs, World Series and All-Star Game. TBS Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery will extend these packages until 2028.
