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MLB, ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix Sign New Media Deals Highlighting 2026 World Baseball Classic Coverage

Matt TallariniNov 20, 20255 MIN READ
MLB, ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix Sign New Media Deals Highlighting 2026 World Baseball Classic Coverage

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that it reached new three-year national media rights agreements with ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Netflix beginning with the 2026 season. The collective value of the deals will range around $800 million annually, according to the league.

ESPN will acquire rights to MLB.TV and a new national midweek game package. NBCUniversal will take over Sunday Night Baseball, Sunday Leadoff, and exclusive coverage of the entire Wild Card round across NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. Netflix will televise Opening Night, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams Game, and several special MLB events throughout each season.

ESPN Gains MLB.TV Rights and National Midweek Package

According to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, ESPN will receive “a national midweek game package throughout the season while also acquiring the rights to sell MLB.TV, the league’s out-of-market streaming service that set a record with 19.4 billion minutes watched in 2025.”

ESPN confirmed it will add exclusive local in-market rights to six Major League franchises and a 30-game exclusive package starting in 2026.

MLB stated that fans will be able to subscribe to MLB.TV directly through ESPN’s digital platforms beginning in 2026, with more than 150 out-of-market games streamed through the ESPN app. ESPN also secured the ability to sell and distribute MLB Network and select in-market games for clubs whose broadcasts are produced by the league.

During the 2025 season, ESPN recorded its strongest Sunday Night Baseball performance in 12 years with an average audience of 1.8 million viewers, a 21 percent increase over 2024.

ESPN will no longer carry Sunday Night Baseball beginning in 2026 after holding the franchise since 1990.

Netflix Adds Opening Night, Home Run Derby, Field of Dreams, and 2026 WBC Coverage

Netflix announced it will broadcast Opening Night of the 2026 Major League season when the New York Yankees face the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on March 25. The start time will be announced later.

The platform will also televise the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams Game on August 13 — featuring the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies at 7:15 p.m. EDT — and a variety of special events.

MLB confirmed that Netflix will stream all Japan national team games and every game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic from March 5 through the championship on March 17 at loanDepot Park.

MLB Network’s Emmy Award-winning production team will partner with Netflix to produce Opening Night, the Derby, and the Field of Dreams Game.

Netflix wins Japanese media rights for 2026 World Baseball Classic

NBCUniversal Takes Over Sunday Night Baseball and Expands All-Star Week Coverage

NBC Sports announced that MLB action will return to NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock in 2026.

According to MLB.com, NBCUniversal will air the MLB Draft’s first hour on the Saturday of All-Star Week, followed by the Futures Game on All-Star Sunday. A new former-players-and-celebrities event will stream on Peacock.

Peacock will regain rights to MLB’s Sunday Leadoff package of 18 early-day games, simulstreamed on NBCSN, followed by MLB Network studio coverage leading into Sunday Night Baseball on NBC or NBCSN.

NBC and Peacock will remain key carriers of national games throughout the season, with Peacock also offering a regular “game of the day” for out-of-market viewers.

Other National Partners Remain in Place

FOX and FOX Sports 1 will continue to broadcast the World Series, League Championship Series, Division Series, the All-Star Game, Saturday national games, special events, and the World Baseball Classic.

2026 World Baseball Classic Set To Televise On FOX Sports For Second Consecutive Event

TBS will continue its League Championship Series and Division Series packages and Tuesday night national games. Apple TV remains the home of Friday Night Baseball doubleheaders. MLB Network will continue to air live games, including its Showcase package and daily studio programming.

Context: ESPN and MLB Restructure Their Long-Running Partnership

ESPN and MLB ended their previous deal after the 2025 season, mutually opting out three years early on February 20. As of August, the two sides were in advanced talks for a new three-year agreement worth around $550 million annually.

MLB Cites Strong Viewership Heading Into New Deals

In its press release, MLB reported major increases across domestic and international viewership during the 2025 season:

Most-watched World Series game in 34 years (51 million viewers for Game Seven across the U.S., Canada, and Japan).

Most-viewed World Series in 33 years (34 million cumulative viewers across the seven-game series).

Most-watched Postseason in eight years (6.33 million average viewers per game).

Third consecutive year of attendance growth.

Double-digit increases in national viewership among audiences 17 and under and in the 18-34 demographic.

MLB’s new media deals with ESPN, NBC and Netflix total $800M annually

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