The way Major League Baseball is consumed has drastically changed over the years and will only continue evolving going forward.
The 2025 season is set to be the last of a longstanding relationship between MLB and ESPN after both sides mutually agreed to opt out of their TV rights contract.
While the TV contract won’t continue beyond this year, ESPN “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcasts will air like normal in 2025, along with the Home Run Derby. The network is still going to carry Wild Card Series games this fall as well.
As for the future of those events, Fox president and chief operating officer John Nallen said the network is looking into acquiring ESPN’s expiring package, via Investing.com:
“I think what will come to market in some form will be some baseball product, particularly after baseball and ESPN announced that after the season their relationship would change. So, baseball has been a great product for us and we’ll probably look at that and look at it in the context of how it makes sense to us overall.”
Fox already pays roughly $729 million to MLB each year for a TV rights package that includes the regular season, annual All-Star Game, playoffs and the World Series.
While the network could look to expand its baseball offerings, reports have indicated that NBC, Amazon and Netflix are possibilities to pick up some of ESPN’s rights.
MLB may very well try to split up the expiring package among multiple networks and streaming services rather than sell it all to one partner.
However that unfolds, Fox is expected to remain the exclusive home of the World Series for the time being.
Dodgers selected for five ESPN Sunday Night Baseball games
The Los Angeles Dodgers were selected for five “Sunday Night Baseball” telecasts through June. ESPN plans to announce additional selections for teams at a later date.
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