ESPN's coverage of Major League Baseball games will conclude at the end of the 2025 season, it was announced on Thursday. The decision comes after a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract, which was agreed to in 2021 and averaged $550 million per season. The network has carried MLB games since 1990, but has cut back its coverage in recent years, currently airing 30 regular-season games, mostly on Sunday night, and the wild-card postseason series.
The MLB and ESPN have "mutually agreed" to end their national television deal after the upcoming 2025 season. The league has not been pleased with the minimal coverage that MLB has received on ESPN's platforms over the past several years, outside of the actual live game coverage. ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, its wild-card round playoff broadcasts, and the rest of the partnership will remain in place through the 2025 season. The network was due to pay the league an estimated $550 million each of the next three years, which it deemed way above the current market value.
A list of current MLB broadcast partners and their respective deals includes:
- Apple: $85 million per season for a Friday night package
- Roku: $10 million per year for Sunday afternoon games
- Fox: $729 million per year under a deal that expires after the 2028 season
- Turner Sports: $470 million per year under a deal that expires after the 2028 season
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network has approached MLB with a desire to reduce the amount they pay for MLB content over the remainder of the term, citing lower rights fees paid by Apple and Roku in their deals with MLB. However, the league believes that the inventory involved in the Apple and Roku deals is very different from the ESPN inventory, and that a reduction in fees is not warranted given the strength of the MLB product.
MLB is open to exploring new ways to serve fans across various platforms beyond 2025, and is expected to have at least two potential options for consideration over the next few weeks. The league believes it is riding a wave of momentum and interest that should improve upon the current ESPN deal, with increases in attendance, viewership, streaming, international growth, and overall fan engagement. The league will be exploring opportunities for a new agreement which would start in the 2026 season, following the conclusion of ESPN's agreement at the end of this year.
The end of the ESPN and MLB partnership is a significant development in the world of sports broadcasting, and it will be interesting to see how the league navigates its future broadcast deals. With the growing popularity of streaming services and the increasing value of live sports content, MLB is well-positioned to secure a lucrative new deal. The league's ability to attract new investment and secure a strong broadcast partner will be crucial in maintaining its momentum and continuing to grow its fan base.
