MLB confirms new media rights agreements with ESPN, NBCU, Netflix

Yesterday, Major League Baseball confirmed it has formed new three-year media rights agreements with ESPN (DIS), NBCUniversal (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX). The agreements, which will cover rights for the 2026-2028 MLB seasons, will extend MLB and ESPN’s long-term relationship to 39 consecutive seasons, mark the return of NBC to regularly airing MLB games on its broadcast network for the first time in 26 years, and expand Netflix’s partnership with MLB from original programming to live baseball event coverage for the first time. ESPN has secured the rights to sell and distribute MLB.TV, the league’s out of market streaming service, across ESPN’s industry leading digital and streaming platforms. Starting with the 2026 season, fans will now be able to purchase and watch their favorite teams’ games outside of their home territory on MLB.TV through ESPN. NBCUniversal has secured a package of rights that includes Sunday Night Baseball, Sunday Leadoff, and all four Wild Card Series of the Postseason. This partnership marks the first media rights agreement between MLB, NBC and Peacock to bring a slate of regular season and Postseason games to NBC’s broadcast channel, NBCSN, and Peacock’s streaming service since the network last carried games in 2000. Following a successful series of baseball documentaries, Netflix will air live events and games for both Major League Baseball globally and, as previously announced, the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan. Netflix will open the MLB season the next three years with a singular game on Opening Night, the evening prior to a full slate of traditional Opening Day games. In 2026, Netflix will open the season with the New York Yankees and seven-time All-Star, three-time A.L. MVP and Northern California native Aaron Judge visiting Rafael Devers and the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, March 25. Netflix will air the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, the most-watched skills competition in sports, the day before the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. In 2026, Netflix will air MLB at Field of Dreams live from Dyersville, Iowa on August 13. FOX/FS1 (FOXA) will continue to be the home of the World Series, League Championship and Division Series, All-Star, regular season games primarily on Saturdays, World Baseball Classic, and special event games. TBS (WBD) will continue to be the home of League Championship and Division Series telecasts, plus regular season games on Tuesday nights. Apple TV (AAPL) will continue to stream “Friday Night Baseball” doubleheaders throughout the regular season. MLB Network will also continue to air live games.