ESPN and MLB End Longstanding Partnership Ahead of 2026 Season
ESPN opts out of its MLB contract, concluding a decades-long partnership at the end of the 2025 season due to reduced coverage and rights fee disagreements.
Overview
ESPN has decided to end its contract with Major League Baseball (MLB) after the 2025 season, citing reduced coverage and unresolved issues over rights fees. MLB expressed disappointment over ESPN's scaling back of baseball content and its inability to meet the league's promotional needs. Instead, MLB aims to explore new broadcast and streaming partnerships to capitalize on increasing interest and participation in the sport. ESPN remains open to potential future collaborations but faces competition from other sports programming options. Both organizations confirm that this split is mutually agreed upon, despite differing perspectives on the negotiations.
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CNBC·4M·FAQ
ESPN opted out of its MLB contract due to disagreements over rights fees and a desire to maintain fiscal discipline, as it has scaled back its baseball coverage in recent years.
MLB plans to explore new broadcast and streaming partnerships to optimize its rights, aiming for a more national approach rather than relying heavily on regional sports networks.
Yes, ESPN remains open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across its platforms beyond 2025, although no specific agreements have been announced.
There is significant interest from both traditional media companies and streaming services, such as Apple and Roku, which already have smaller deals with MLB.
History
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