Major League Baseball has confirmed three bidders—NBC, Apple, and ESPN—for a revamped “Sunday Night Baseball” TV package, including “Baseball Tonight.” Commissioner Rob Manfred told CNBC a decision is expected within a month, potentially splitting the package between two networks or streamers.
The announcement follows the MLB All-Star Game, which drew 7.2 million viewers on Fox, down 3% from last year.
ESPN, currently paying $550 million annually under a 2021 seven-year deal, opted out of the package in February, citing profitability concerns, making its bid surprising. NBC is a strong contender, aiming to bolster its Sunday night sports lineup, including “Sunday Night Football” and an upcoming NBA deal.
This season, Fox’s “Saturday Baseball Night in America” viewership rose 4% to 2.1 million, while ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” increased 11% to 1.8 million through June. However, MLB’s national TV ad revenue across Fox, ESPN, TBS, and Fox Sports 1 dropped 5% to $211.5 million, with Fox earning $131.7 million.