The longstanding media rights partnership between ESPN and Major League Baseball (MLB) will end after the 2025 season, according to an announcement by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. The decision was communicated to league owners through a letter in which Manfred expressed dissatisfaction with the minimal coverage that MLB has received on ESPN's platforms in recent years, aside from live game coverage.
ESPN, which was due to pay the league roughly $550 million annually for the next three years, agreed with the decision. The deal was perceived by ESPN as being above current market value. Both parties had the option to back out of the final three years of the contract by March 1, and chose to do so.
Manfred also noted in his letter that MLB should optimize its rights going into the next deal cycle instead of devaluing them with an existing partner. This includes showcasing regular season games, the Home Run Derby, and Wild Card playoff round on a new broadcast and/or streaming platform. He disclosed that MLB has been in discussions with several interested parties around these rights over the past several months.
Despite the termination of the existing partnership, ESPN will continue to broadcast "Sunday Night Baseball," wild-card postseason games, and maintain other partnership details with MLB through the 2025 season. The relationship between MLB and ESPN dates back to 1990 and both parties are open to negotiating a new deal.
ESPN has proposed national and regional programming ideas for MLB's consideration. Manfred revealed that ESPN suggested a reduction in the annual $550 million total, comparing it to Apple's $85 million per year for rights to games, and Roku's $10 million. However, Manfred argued that the scope of content provided to ESPN is significantly larger than that provided to Apple and Roku.
As for who MLB could partner with if a revised deal with ESPN is not reached, this remains uncertain.