Major League Baseball (MLB) is finalizing a series of agreements to reallocate media rights relinquished by ESPN in February 2025, reshaping its broadcasting landscape for the 2026–28 seasons.
Front Office Sports outlines the key developments:
NBC Sports and Peacock Secure Sunday Nights and More: NBC Sports is poised to sign a three-year, approximately $600 million deal to take over Sunday night MLB coverage, previously held by ESPN, with games airing on NBC and its streaming platform, Peacock. The agreement may also include postseason inventory, including discussions for NBC to acquire rights to the wild-card playoff round, per Front Office Sports. Sources note the final deal could expand to include additional rights and higher financial terms.
Revamped ESPN Partnership: ESPN, a 35-year MLB partner, is set to maintain its relationship with the league through a restructured agreement, a priority for ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. The new deal centers on licensing MLB.TV, the league’s out-of-market streaming package, and distributing local broadcast rights for five teams under MLB’s production model: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, and Minnesota Twins. Additionally, ESPN will secure a new midweek national game package, moving away from its traditional Sunday night slot, as reported by The Athletic.
Apple’s Friday Night Status Quo: Despite speculation that Apple’s MLB partnership, centered on Friday night games, might end early in favor of NBC, sources indicate Apple is likely to retain its existing rights. This stability comes amid the broader reshuffling of MLB’s media portfolio.
The situation remains dynamic, with potential adjustments as negotiations wrap up in the coming days. These agreements, spanning 2026–28, set the stage for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s vision of a more centralized, nationalized media strategy post-2028. The deals reflect MLB’s push to diversify its broadcast partners while maintaining long-standing relationships, ensuring broad accessibility and enhanced fan engagement across traditional and streaming platforms.