NBCU Closing In On A $600M Pact With MLB

Comcast’s NBCUniversal is in advanced negotiations with Major League Baseball (MLB) for a three-year deal valued at approximately $200 million per year to broadcast games on NBC and stream them on the Peacock platform, according to The Wall Street Journal citing sources familiar with the discussions. 

Separately, Netflix is nearing an agreement to stream MLB’s “Home Run Derby” for more than $35 million annually, with the contract extending through 2028, other sources confirmed. Both sets of talks remain ongoing, and the agreements are not yet finalized. Additional elements in the negotiations could significantly increase the overall financial scope of these deals.

MLB expects these new media agreements to generate higher revenue than its previous contract with ESPN, which has been a long-standing broadcast partner, according to another insider. 

If the NBCUniversal deal is completed, the company would air MLB games on its broadcast network, NBC, primarily on Sunday nights during periods when it is not televising NFL football or NBA basketball games, for which it also holds Sunday night rights. Additional MLB games would be streamed on Peacock, further bolstering the platform’s robust sports portfolio, which already includes events like NFL games, Premier League soccer, and the Olympics.  NBCUniversal would also secure rights to select postseason baseball games, adding to the deal’s value.

Netflix, which has recently intensified its pursuit of live sports and event programming, would gain streaming rights to the Home Run Derby, a highlight of MLB’s All-Star Week held annually in July. This move aligns with Netflix’s growing investment in live content, as seen in its recent deals for events like NFL games and WWE programming, positioning the platform as a competitor in the sports streaming market.

In addition, Disney’s ESPN is engaged in advanced talks with MLB, focusing primarily on securing rights to local games. 

As part of these discussions, ESPN is exploring the integration of MLB.TV, the league’s out-of-market streaming service, into its forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming platform, set to launch as a standalone offering. This deal could also encompass some in-market games, allowing ESPN to broadcast local matchups, as well as a limited number of national games, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

The combined impact of these potential agreements signals MLB’s strategy to diversify its media partnerships and maximize revenue through a mix of traditional broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. While the deals with NBCUniversal, Netflix, and ESPN are still being finalized, they reflect the growing competition among media companies to secure premium sports content in a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape.