In a move that signals a seismic shift in sports broadcasting, Major League Baseball has officially unveiled a new trio of three-year media rights agreements with ESPN, NBCUniversal, and, for the first time with live games, Netflix. The deals, set to run from the 2026 through 2028 seasons, represent a strategic pivot for the league, reshuffling its broadcast deck to embrace a future where streaming platforms and traditional networks coexist in a reconfigured landscape.
This restructuring was catalysed by ESPN's decision to opt out of the final three years of its existing contract, forcing MLB to reimagine its media partnerships. The result is a complex but interesting web of deals that carve up marquee games, streaming rights, and special events among new and old partners, all while legacy partners like FOX, TBS, and Apple TV+ maintain their existing packages.
The Big Moves: Who Gets What?
The most significant change for fans will be the new home for primetime Sunday baseball.
NBCUniversal Steps Up to the Plate
After a 26-year hiatus from regularly broadcasting America's pastime, NBC is making a grand re-entrance. The network has secured the coveted rights to "Sunday Night Baseball," moving the league's premier weekly showcase from its longtime home at ESPN. The games will air on the NBC broadcast network and stream on Peacock.
Beyond the primetime slot, NBCUniversal's package also includes:
The "Sunday Leadoff" package: A slate of 18 early games on Sunday mornings, which will stream on Peacock and air on the relaunched NBCSN cable network.
The entire Wild Card round: All four Wild Card Series will be broadcast across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN, giving the network a significant postseason footprint.
The financial terms see NBC paying nearly $200 million per year for this package, re-establishing a historic partnership that dates back to the 1940s.
Netflix Enters the Batter's Box
While Netflix has previously collaborated with MLB on documentaries, this deal marks its official entry into broadcasting live MLB games. For a reported $50 million per season, the streaming behemoth has acquired a package of high-profile, exclusive events:
Opening Night Exclusive: Netflix will stream a single, standalone game on the eve of the traditional Opening Day. The 2026 inaugural broadcast will feature the New York Yankees visiting the San Francisco Giants.
T-Mobile Home Run Derby: The popular All-Star week event moves exclusively to Netflix.
Special Event Games: Netflix will also be the home for the revived "MLB at Field of Dreams" game in 2026 and will carry the World Baseball Classic in Japan.
ESPN's New Role: The Streaming Powerhouse
Though it relinquished "Sunday Night Baseball," ESPN has doubled down on its digital future by acquiring the crown jewel of baseball streaming: MLB.TV. For the same $550 million per year it was previously paying, ESPN's reworked deal includes:
MLB.TV Distribution: Fans will now be able to purchase and access the league's out-of-market streaming package through ESPN's platforms. This is a massive strategic win, integrating a dedicated fanbase directly into the ESPN ecosystem.
In-Market Streaming: The deal also grants ESPN the rights to stream in-market games for six teams: the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Seattle Mariners, with the potential to add more.
National Game Package: ESPN will retain a package of 30 exclusive national midweek games.
The Bottom Line: A Modernized Approach
Financially, the new structure brings in a total of roughly $800 million per year for the league from these three partners. While this is a reduction from the $1.65 billion ESPN would have paid over three years under the old deal, MLB has successfully diversified its partners, expanded its digital reach, and aligned all its major media deals to expire in 2028. This sets the stage for a monumental negotiation cycle where the entire portfolio, from the World Series on FOX to Friday nights on Apple TV+, will be on the table.
For fans, the message is clear: the way we watch baseball is becoming more fragmented and more digital. The league is betting that by placing its product on the world's biggest streaming service (Netflix), a broadcast network with a legendary sports history (NBC), and the undisputed leader in sports media (ESPN), it can capture the next generation of viewers wherever they are. It's a bold play in a rapidly changing media game, and the next three years will serve as a fascinating test case for the future of sports broadcasting.