MLB Seeks New Broadcast Horizon with Amazon, Netflix, and NBC

With ESPN stepping away from its national TV contract after the 2025 season, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is actively negotiating the league’s next broadcasting chapter. According to Puck’s John Ourand, MLB is in talks with Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and NBC for a comprehensive rights package set to take effect in 2028, rather than just replacing ESPN’s current deal. Amazon already has a foothold in baseball streaming through partnerships with FanDuel Sports Networks and the YES Network, while Comcast’s NBC Sports properties, like NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports Philadelphia, handle regional team broadcasts. Netflix, though new to baseball, is dipping its toes into live sports with events like the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight and NFL games on Christmas Day, making it an intriguing contender.
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The discussions come as MLB reevaluates its media strategy following a mutual opt-out from its ESPN agreement, originally slated to run through 2028. In a letter to the league’s 30 team owners, Manfred pointed to ESPN’s shrinking subscriber base and limited baseball coverage beyond game broadcasts as key factors in the decision, though ESPN has reportedly contested the “mutual” label of the split. Meanwhile, Fox Sports is eyeing a piece of the pie, expressing interest in the Home Run Derby, an event ESPN has aired since 1998. As Manfred explores these options, MLB aims to secure a dynamic national presence that could reshape how fans experience the sport in the years ahead.