US EditionESPN Set To Grab MLB.TV, Some Local Games In Latest Big Streaming Deal
ESPN plans to stream all out-of-market MLB games and in-market games for five teams exclusively on its new direct-to-consumer platform for three years, including about 30 national games.
- Thursday, Major League Baseball and ESPN reached a preliminary framework under which ESPN would acquire exclusive digital sales of out-of-market regular-season games and in-market rights for five clubs over three years, folding MLB.TV into the new ESPN DTC app costing $29.99 per month.
- ESPN's February opt-out of the three remaining seasons prompted fresh negotiations amid Commissioner Rob Manfred's push to centralize video rights to aid smaller franchises.
- The framework specifies that ESPN would have in-market rights for the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies and keep about 30 exclusive regular-season games but lose Sunday Night Baseball and the Home Run Derby.
- If completed next month, the agreement would take effect next season for a three-year term and could include MLB Network with a substantial fee, reports say.
- Manfred's centralization push reflects efforts to support five smaller MLB franchises hurt by RSN collapse, while Netflix, NBC / Peacock and Apple vie for marquee events like the Home Run Derby and postseason windows.
18 Articles
18 Articles
MLB working to push Padres games to ESPN platform starting next season
Major League Baseball is working toward a deal that would move Padres games to ESPN for three seasons beginning in 2026, a league source confirmed for the Union-Tribune. The Athletic first reported on negotiations that would shift the full rights that MLB has for five teams— the Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies — to ESPN. The deal could be completed in September. Padres fans can currently wa…
St Louis Post-Dispatch
Report: MLB, ESPN reach deal
Major League Baseball and ESPN have reached a preliminary agreement that would allow the Worldwide Leader in Sports "the exclusive rights to sell all out-of-market regular-season games digitally and in-market games for five clubs over the next three years," The…
ESPN to Land Exclusive Rights to Out-of-Market MLB Games in Reported Framework Deal
Major League Baseball’s digital rights have almost slid home to ESPN, according to a new report from The Athletic. Per the report, MLB and ESPN have outlined an agreement that would make ESPN the exclusive digital seller of out-of-market regular-season games, with the potential to subsume the long-running MLB.TV product into ESPN’s streaming lineup. The […] The post ESPN to Land Exclusive Rights to Out-of-Market MLB Games in Reported Framework D…
Rockdale Citizen & Newton Citizen
Report: MLB, ESPN reach framework media rights deal
ESPN and Major League Baseball have a framework agreement in place that would give ESPN the exclusive rights to sell out-of-market regular-season games over the next three years, according to a report from The Athletic on Thursday.
Report: MLB, ESPN reach agreement to sell out-of-market games
Major League Baseball and ESPN have reached a preliminary agreement that would allow the Worldwide Leader in Sports “the exclusive rights to sell all out-of-market regular-season games digitally and in-market games for five clubs over the next three years,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported.
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