MLB, ESPN $4B Deal Extends, Enhances Multi-Platform Alliance Through 2028
Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 10:01PM By Barry Janoff
May 13, 2021: MLB said today it has signed a seven-year extension with media partner ESPN, to include Opening Night, Sunday Night Baseball, Wild Card Playoff games, the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, MLB Little League Classic and alternate presentations across its platforms.
ESPN and MLB signed their first rights agreement in 1989, which began with the 1990 season.
Sunday Night Baseball, the exclusive national MLB game of the week, also launched in 1990.
MLB’s current agreement with ESPN began in 2014 and runs through 2021.
Financial terms of the new deal were not released but were put at just under $4 billion — about $560 million per year — according to industry analysts.
Fox Sports in 2018 signed an extension deal with MLB rights covering 2022-28 for $5.1 billion.
Turner Sports this past September signed an extension with MLB also covering 2022-28 valued at $3.75 billion, also according to industry analysts.
“ESPN has been one of MLB’s longest and most important partners,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said via the league.
“This extension continues the evolution of our relationship with a focus on utilizing ESPN’s extensive assets to shine a spotlight on key match-ups throughout the year.”
Under the new pact, ESPN will exclusively air 30 regular-season games annually, including 25 Sunday Night Baseball games and the national Opening Night telecast.
ESPN currently airs about 90 games per season.
ESPN will continue to exclusively carry the Home Run Derby as part of its cross-platform MLB All-Star coverage; as well as the MLB Little League Classic.
Starting in 2022, ESPN will exclusively televise the entire MLB Wild Card Series if the event expands. (ESPN carried seven of the eight MLB Wild Card Series following the COVID-19 shortened 2020 seaon.)
MLB said it the current Wild Card format remains consistent, ESPN would continue to exclusively air one of the two MLB Wild Card Games, and will receive eight additional exclusive regular-season game telecasts each year.
For each of its live events, ESPN gets the rights to produce alternate presentations across its platforms, as well as the opportunity to simulcast all ESPN and Disney-owned sibling ABC game telecasts on ESPN+.
In addition, ESPN has gained the rights to create new MLB content for ESPN+, including studio and highlight-driven programming.
ESPN said its streaming service would continue to televise a MLB game almost every day of the regular season (subject to local blackout restrictions) as well as select Spring Training coverage.
“ESPN’s longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball has been a driver of innovation for three decades."
Under the deal, ESPN Radio will continue to nationally broadcast such highest profile events as the World Series, the full MLB post-season, the All-Star Game, Opening Night and Sunday Night Baseball.
ESPN will also continue its Spanish-language telecast rights package for ESPN Deportes.
“ESPN’s longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball has been a driver of innovation for three decades,” James Pitaro, chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, said via the network.
“The impactful collection of exclusive content, including Sunday Night Baseball which has served as the signature MLB series for more than 30 years, will be amplified by the surrounding rights we have to make these live events even bigger.”
According to Manfred, “With reach across broadcast, cable, streaming and social, ESPN is able to deliver MLB action to our broad fan base across multiple platforms.
“As the way in which fans consume baseball continues to change, this partnership provides expanded opportunities for fans to engage with our content and we are excited to present those new opportunities.”
Back to Home Page