MLB is still seeking a new media partner as ESPN enters its final year broadcasting Sunday Night Baseball, the Home Run Derby, and the wild card playoffs.
According to Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp, Apple, which streams Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+, is a frontrunner to secure at least part of ESPN’s package, though no final decision has been made. NBC has also submitted a bid, but its interests may differ from Apple’s.
ESPN, paying MLB $550 million annually, opted to end its 35-year run after MLB declined to renegotiate terms, especially as Roku pays just $10 million yearly for Sunday morning games. MLB faces a challenge: Apple can afford a lucrative deal, but its subscription platform’s viewership is uncertain.
Partnering with a broadcaster could expand reach but reduce revenue. MLB aims to finalize a deal to carry it through 2028, when its agreements with TNT Sports and Fox Sports expire.
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