After decades of broadcasting Major League Baseball (MLB) games, ESPN and MLB announced their long-time contract would expire at the end of the 2025 season. The action marks a seismic shift in baseball television rights, as ESPN has been a mainstay broadcaster of MLB games since the late 1980s.
End of an Era: ESPN and MLB End Partnership
ESPN has been a leading MLB broadcaster for more than 35 years, broadcasting:
- Sunday Night Baseball is the weekly primetime flagship game on Sundays.
- Games of the MLB Playoffs, like wild-card games in some recent seasons.
- Exclusive baseball coverage, like specials, analysis, and highlights.
The break-up is an opening chapter to a new direction for both ESPN and MLB, with online streaming sites and other rival channels now vying for baseball television rights.
Why Is ESPN Ending Its MLB Partnership?
ESPN’s decision to move away from MLB broadcasting is primarily driven by:
- A focus shifted towards the NFL and NBA, which have greater viewership and revenue.
- Budget reduction and restructuring measures at ESPN’s parent company, Disney.
- The growth of streaming services which are changing the way live sports are viewed.
An ESPN spokesperson said:
“We cherish our long history with Major League Baseball, but we’re making strategic choices to fit with the changing media environment.”
What’s Next for MLB Broadcasting?
With ESPN walking away, MLB will likely reform its TV rights agreements, perhaps signing with:
- Fox Sports, NBC, or CBS might increase their baseball coverage.
- Streaming behemoths like Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime, which are already investing in live sports.
- A new, league-owned digital platform, with the league in direct control of broadcasts.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred promised fans that baseball would maintain robust media relationships, saying:
“Though our deal with ESPN will expire, we look forward to new possibilities for MLB’s reach on multiple platforms.”
Effect on Baseball Fans
For fans, the expiration of ESPN’s MLB deal means:
- No more Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN after 2025.
- Possible new broadcast partners with alternative formats and styles of coverage.
- Greater dependence on streaming services for live games.
MLB will look for a new broadcast partner to replace ESPN, guaranteeing fans to continue to have weekly primetime baseball games on a big network or streaming service.
What’s Next?
- ESPN will finish its last MLB season in 2025 by broadcasting its final set of games.
- MLB will make new media deals, with prospective streaming partnerships underway.
- The television landscape of baseball will keep transforming, with more digital platforms on the horizon.
The end of an era in sports broadcasting came with ESPN and MLB bringing to a close their long-standing relationship, which spanned decades. While MLB looks for new avenues, the future of baseball consumption can be expected to see a shift, with streaming services being a larger part of it.
