MLB Inks Historic Media Deals with NBC and Netflix, Reshaping Baseball Broadcasts

Major League Baseball has announced groundbreaking new media rights agreements with NBCUniversal, Netflix, and ESPN. The three-year deals fundamentally reshape where and how fans watch games. This move comes after MLB‘s long-standing relationship with ESPN was renegotiated earlier this year.

The agreements bring baseball back to NBC Sports for the first time in over two decades. They also mark Netflix‘s first major foray into live sports streaming. According to Reuters, the league aims to expand its reach through these powerful new partnerships.

New Broadcast Partners for a New Era

NBC Sports will become the new home for “Sunday Night Baseball,” taking over the coveted slot from ESPN. The package also includes 18 early Sunday games under the “MLB Sunday Leadoff” banner. Most of these will stream on Peacock and air on the revived NBCSN cable channel.

Peacock will also feature a live whip-around show on Sunday afternoons. This show will offer highlights and live look-ins at other games, similar to the popular NFL RedZone. NBC will additionally broadcast exclusive primetime games on Opening Day and Labor Day each season.

Netflix’s deal is particularly significant for the streaming giant. It will exclusively broadcast the 2025 Home Run Derby, the season’s Opening Night game, and a revived Field of Dreams game. This move signals a major strategic shift for Netflix into live sports entertainment.

ESPN’s Evolving Role and Streaming Expansion

While losing its Sunday night slot, ESPN remains a key partner. Its new agreement includes producing 30 regular-season games, primarily on weeknights. More importantly, ESPN will absorb the out-of-market streaming service MLB.TV into its flagship app.

This gives ESPN a massive boost in live sports streaming. Subscribers will have access to every out-of-market game. The deal also grants ESPN exclusive local streaming rights for several teams, including the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.

The existing rights held by Fox Sports, TBS, and Apple TV+ remain unchanged. All of MLB’s national media rights are now set to expire together after the 2028 season. This creates a potential for another massive bidding war in the near future.

These new MLB media rights deals mark a pivotal moment for sports broadcasting, blending traditional networks with streaming giants to secure baseball’s future audience.

Info at your fingertips

When do these new MLB broadcasting changes start?

The new three-year agreements with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN begin with the 2025 MLB season. Fans will see the new schedule and broadcast locations starting next spring.

Where can I watch Sunday Night Baseball now?

Sunday Night Baseball will move from ESPN to NBC Sports. The games will be broadcast on the NBC network and likely streamed on Peacock.

What live sports is Netflix getting with this deal?

Netflix will exclusively stream the 2025 Home Run Derby, the season’s first Opening Night game, and a special Field of Dreams game. This is its first major live sports commitment.

What happens to my MLB.TV subscription?

The MLB.TV service will be integrated directly into the ESPN app. This means ESPN subscribers will get access to all out-of-market games through their existing platform.

Will games still be on Fox and TBS?

Yes. The new deals do not affect existing agreements with Fox Sports and TNT Sports (TBS). They will continue to broadcast regular-season and most postseason games.