MLB Secures Multi‑Year Media Rights Deals With NBC, Netflix and ESPN Through 2028

Major League Baseball confirmed new multi‑year media rights agreements with NBC, Netflix and ESPN that will run through the 2028 season, the league said in an announcement reported by CNBC. The deals underscore MLB’s continued move to blend traditional broadcast coverage with streaming distribution, aiming to reach broader and more diverse audiences across linear and digital platforms.

While MLB did not disclose detailed financial terms in the initial announcement, the partnerships align with broader sports‑media trends: rights holders and leagues are negotiating combinations of national windows on broadcast networks and expanded streaming rights to capture cord‑cutters and younger viewers. NBC’s established broadcast reach, ESPN’s long‑standing sports footprint and Netflix’s global streaming scale each offer distinct advantages for showcasing games, highlights and ancillary programming.

For fans, the arrangements could mean a mix of live game availability on linear TV and on‑demand or live streaming choices through subscription services. For advertisers and sponsors, the broadened distribution may create new inventory across platforms and audience segments, enabling more targeted partnerships and cross‑platform campaigns. Media buyers will likely analyze viewing windows, exclusivity windows and audience measurement approaches as networks implement the new schedules.

The deals also reflect how leagues are diversifying revenue channels amid shifting consumption habits. By partnering simultaneously with a major broadcast network, a legacy sports broadcaster and a leading streaming service, MLB is positioning itself to maintain national visibility while experimenting with new formats, original content and longer‑form storytelling that streaming services often favor.

Operational details, such as blackout policies, local broadcast rights and the precise split between exclusive and non‑exclusive windows, were not specified in the brief announcement. Stakeholders across clubs, local broadcasters and regional sports networks will be watching closely as the new agreements are rolled out and integrated with existing local rights structures.

MLB, its media partners and advertisers are expected to refine programming and monetization plans in the months ahead, with the stability of multi‑year deals providing a runway for content innovation and distribution experiments through 2028.