After ESPN stunned the sports media world by opting out of its long-held MLB rights earlier this year, we finally have a clearer picture of what’s brewing behind the scenes. And let me tell you, it’s not just about Sunday night baseball anymore. It’s about strategy, survival, and a serious game of media musical chairs.
NBC and ESPN Could Split the Baseball Schedule
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred just told CNBC’s Alex Sherman that not only has ESPN crawled back into the conversation, but they’re now one of three bidders for the league’s exclusive Sunday night package — alongside NBC and Apple. Yep, Apple’s still hanging around, likely looking to expand on its low-key Friday night games on Apple TV+. But the twist? The package may not be sent to just one network.
Manfred floated the idea of splitting Sunday Night Baseball between two bidders. Why? Well, think about NBC. They’ve got Sunday Night Football in the fall and NBA playoff basketball in the spring. That leaves a summer-sized hole in their programming schedule that MLB could easily fill. Meanwhile, ESPN — despite its dramatic opt-out — could still be the opening and closing act of the season, handling early spring and late fall games. Clever, right?
Local Broadcast Rights Add Another Layer
It gets more interesting. Manfred hinted that if ESPN does get back in, the deal might also involve local broadcasting rights for five MLB clubs currently under league control: the Diamondbacks, Guardians, Rockies, Twins, and Padres. That’s a big deal. ESPN’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro, has made it very clear: he wants local rights, and he wants them now. Especially with ESPN’s standalone streaming service launching this fall, those local markets could provide a much-needed boost in subscriber energy.
2028 Looms Over Every Negotiation
According to Sherman, ESPN folks are suddenly feeling way more optimistic than they were just a few weeks ago. The door’s not just open — it’s swinging.
But let’s not forget the clock. Any deal, whether with ESPN, NBC, or another party, would serve as a bridge to 2028. That’s when MLB’s full media rights slate — including major deals with Fox and TNT — comes up for renegotiation. That’s when the big picture comes into play.
For now, it’s a short-term scramble with long-term implications. And Sunday nights might never look the same again.
