ESPN and Major League Baseball have announced a new agreement that includes a range of national rightsalong with local out-of-market rights and also in-market rights. Part of the agreement sees ESPN becoming the exclusive rights holder of MLB.TV. This will lead to thousands of games becoming available each season on the ESPN App, along with MLB platforms in 2026. The new deal is effective from 2026 through 2028. It was announced by Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN, and Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
“This fan-friendly agreement allows us to showcase the great sport of baseball on both a local and national level, while prioritizing our streaming future. MLB.TV is a coveted, must-have companion for passionate MLB fans all over the country, and it will be strongly complemented by our national game package and in-market team rights – all within the ESPN App,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN.
MLB.TV on ESPN App
The ESPN App will be streaming MLB.TV and its thousands of out-of-market games each year. The games will also continue to be available on MLB platforms in 2026. New MLB.TV subscribers will have the ability to purchase and stream the service through the enhanced ESPN App, along with over 50,000 other sports events and content that comes from ESPN’s family of networks. Both new and existing MLB.TV subscribers will have the ability to access the service on the ESPN App and through the MLB platforms.
On top of that, ESPN has acquired exclusive, local in-market streaming deals for several MLB Clubs. This includes the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies. In 2026, the game will be available to purchase and stream on MLB platforms.
ESPN will also have more than 150 out-of-market regular-season games each season, with a special “game of the day” offering for subscribers of the ESPN Unlimited plan.
National Linear Game Package
There will also be a new exclusive national linear game package produced by ESPN. This will include national regular-season MLB games each year for ESPN’s linear networks and direct-to-consumer offering. The 30-game schedule will be made up mostly of weeknight games, with a focus on the core summer months. As part of this package, ESPN will continue to maintain exclusive rights to the MLB Little League Classic presented by New York Life as part of its Little League World Series coverage. ESPN has also added rights to Memorial Day games and second-half opener games.
Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Baseball Commissioner, said of the deal, “This new agreement with ESPN marks a significant evolution in our more than 30-year relationship. Bringing MLB.TV to ESPN’s new app while maintaining a presence on linear television reflects a balanced approach to the shifts taking place in the way that fans watch baseball and gives MLB a meaningful presence on an important destination for fans of all sports.”
Additional Details
There are other details included with this new agreement. They include the following:
- Fans with an MLB.TV subscription also have access to MLB Network and its 24/7 programming;
- ESPN’s MLB studio rights for Baseball Tonight will continue;
- Existing audio package continues as ESPN Radio remains the national audio home of the World Series, the full MLB Postseason, the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, weekly Saturday games and Sunday Night Baseball;
- ESPN retains Spanish-language rights for its new, linear games package;
- Rights for SportsCenter and additional ESPN studio show presence at signature MLB events, including the World Series;
- Throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, the Netherlands, and China (via its hotel channels), ESPN continues to serve fans with a robust game package featuring daily regular season games including Sunday Night Baseball, MLB All-Star Game, and culminating with the MLB Postseason and World Series.
The partnership between ESPN and Major League Baseball dates back to 1990. This has been a partnership that has led to many innovations through the years. More information about the innovative history between ESPN and MLB can be found at ESPNFrontRow.com.
What do you think about this new deal between ESPN and MLB? Are you excited about what it brings to fans? What is your favorite team? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
