Major League Baseball and ESPN each opted out of their broadcasting contract covering the 2026-28 seasons. Barring a renegotiation, the upcoming season will be the final year of their partnership. Evan Drellich and Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported the news before either MLB or ESPN announced it.
MLB released a statement reading in part:
“We have had a long and mutually beneficial partnership with ESPN that dates back to its first MLB game in 1990. Unfortunately in recent years, we have seen ESPN scale back their baseball coverage and investment in a way that is not consistent with the sport’s appeal or performance on their platform.
Given that MLB provides strong viewership, valuable demographics, and the exclusive right to cover unique events like the Home Run Derby, ESPN’s demand to reduce rights fees is simply unacceptable. As a result, we have mutually agreed to terminate our agreement. … The positive energy around the sport has also led to significant interest from both traditional media companies and streaming services who would like to obtain rights to MLB games. We will be exploring those opportunities for a new agreement which would start in the 2026 season following the conclusion of ESPN’s agreement at the end of this year.”
ESPN said in a statement of its own that it “applied the same discipline and fiscal responsibility that has built ESPN’s industry-leading live events portfolio. … As we have been throughout the process, we remain open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across our platforms beyond 2025.”
Clearly, the contract’s collapse stems from a disagreement on rights fees. Drellich and Marchand write that ESPN would have paid roughly $550MM annually had it not triggered an opt-out by March 1. The broadcast company sought to renegotiate, pointing to the much lower fees paid by Apple and Roku on its own deals. Apple pays $85MM annually for a pair of Friday night games that are carried on Apple TV+. Roku is paying $10MM per season for the right to broadcast one game on Sunday mornings.
ESPN’s television package was much more robust. The network carried the Sunday night game each week of the regular season (the only game in that time slot), the Home Run Derby, and the Wild Card round of the playoffs. That’s far more valuable than Apple’s pair of non-exclusive Friday night games or Roku’s Sunday morning slot. It’s not clear how far ESPN wanted to cut fees on a new deal, but that wasn’t of interest to the league.
Drellich and Marchand relay a memo that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred sent to the league’s owners explaining the decision. In addition to differentiating between ESPN’s package and those of Apple and Roku, Manfred wrote that MLB has “not been pleased with the minimal coverage that MLB has received on ESPN’s platforms over the past several years outside of the actual live game coverage.” The commissioner wrote that he did “not think it’s beneficial for us to accept a smaller deal to remain on a shrinking platform.”
Manfred indicated that MLB has begun discussions with other platforms. ESPN had carried Sunday Night Baseball since 1990 and the Home Run Derby since ’93. The current contract was negotiated in 2021.
As someone that hates espn I’m very happy to see this hello Netflix or Amazon. ESPN has been treating baseball like red headed step children.
I’d imagine ESPN isn’t fond of competing with MLB Network. Why make programming for a league that’s competing to pull your viewers away from it?
Sports fans watch espn
Insane people that check this site 20 times a day and have 3 fantasy baseball teams watch mlb network
Competition isn’t the problem it’s money and viewership
It’s alarming how accurate this post is.
I check this site repeatedly each day and run exactly 3 fantasy teams every year.
Actually, ESPN started covering different sports proportionally based on their contracts and lost their space as the center for all sports, which wasn’t a smart business move. Sports fans no longer view ESPN as a place for all sports. It’s ESPNBA and ESPNFL. (but primarily ESPNBA)
I don’t play fantasy at all and I have this site saved as my homepage.
ESPN is also close to dropping Formula One, leaving the family of networks without any motorsports content.
I get MLB because my favorite team stems from my hometown and youth. I’m 63. I live in a different part of the country and for like $16 a month, I watch my childhood team almost every game.
You have to admit though ESPN barely gave attention to MLB. It felt as if the sport was an afterthought.
Great, now I have to check myself into rehab – MLBTRA
You say three fantasy teams as if that’s a lot.
@sad I don’t think this is so much which network fans watch. This is the impact of how consumers receive their media. For a few decades cable had a monopoly on premium viewing, those days are past.
Reading MLBs response I was a but surprised. I get they re bolstering their stance for negotiating a new deal. Seems to read as tho they don’t even acknowledge the absolute paradigm shift in the media market as a whole.
Personally I’ve gotten rid of cable(F@$# Xfinity) but when I had cable I watched both ESPN and MLB Network regularly. Espn was fine for watching games, but other than that their MLB content was always pretty limited.
Me too. Well, four teams.
I hate ESPN because their announcing crews in recent years have sucked. That said, who pays for Apple+ for the few games? I can’t see another network like USA or TBS paying so I guess it’s more to Netflix or Amazon. Sad for those that can’t afford. I choose not to subscribe to Netflix who raises the price almost as often as I order in…
100% and also they’ve done the same thing too hockey both of which used to be on there a lot back in a good ol days heck the only time you would see them now is in the top plays of the day maybe
sadsack, I am a huge sports fan with season tickets to 2 different pro sports and 2 college sports and I never watch ESPN unless a baseball game or my college team is playing on it.
My college is now part of a huge conference with its own channel, so I will never have to tune to ESPN again after 2025.
ESPN is now part of Disney and like everything else they have touched, they are killing ESPN.
ESPN is more or less just for basketball and football. I remember when the network started. Their 11 pm sportscast had competition from CNN with Nick Charles and others. Me and my friends preferred CNN.
Tigers, MLB literally invented live sports streaming. For many years MLBAM was the streaming service for multiple other sports including the NHL, WWE, and the PGA Tour.
Agreed ESPN doesn’t promote leagues other than NBA, WNBA & NFL
Very interesting time in history though, where their safe stock “golden goose” NBA ratings are in the toilet in 2025
(NBA currently only 1 million more avg viewers than the 2024 UFL season despite literally 30,000x the investment)
Will we see if NHL second half is covered a little more now that people remember how great hockey actually is (USA vs Canada)
Espn says more Kelce, Taylor Swift & LeBron James,
the world is saying more hockey, more Skenes, & Ohtani
me too
Agreed… I also get MLB network to watch every game of my home town team. Live in a different part of the country and thus no blackout issues.
Totally agree
You haven’t heard bad announcing until you’ve watched the Nationals on MASN. The Orioles on MASN aren’t much better but at least they have Palmer.
Krukker I really take your comments offensive and demeaning. I am a BB fan and check both BSPN and MLB regularly. I can’t miss an episode of World Championship Pillow Fighting. You have to be a fan of Pro Tag. Who can forget the whiskey drinking cornhole champs. The thing with 2 players on a team and 2 teams when they bounce a volleyball on a net and try to hit it back. We have the drink 3 pitchers of Michaloeb Light because it isn’t alcohol. ( you should get that reference and laugh or you need to watch more paramount +).
You get my drift. BSPN is not a sports station it is a let’s cover weird events charge the same for advertising but pay virtually nothing to the events sponsors. What a way to make a profit.
NFL Network exists
david – Netflix is popular and will probably put in a strong bid, but will people who don’t already have it spend $8/month just to see 3 games a week? That’s what ESPN had been doing until a few years ago, Sunday/Monday/Wednesday Night Baseball.
I just hope Peacock or Apple TV doesn’t take on more exclusive rights games, I will not be paying for either of them.
Especially not Apple TV I (somehow) hated losing some mariners games
I’m ok if mlb sticked to the largest streaming services like Netflix
@sad
I was right there with you, until you said “sticked to”. lol.
A for intent. D for execution.
Much like my tennis and golf game.
where the hell are you that your Netflix is $8/month?, it hasn’t been that price in like 8 or 10 years
@ifcredsox
I think he means if Netflix gets the rights ESPN currently has, it will mean current Netflix subscribers can pay something like $8 more a month on top of their existing subscription fee to watch a weekly grab bag of baseball games.
I’ve got the option to add both Netflix and HBO for a combined $10/mo, so, I’d imagine $8 options for just one could be out there if you want to prorate that package I’m offered to be like $6 Netflix and $4 HBO…
I wouldn’t spend more. I already pay MLB.TV for out of market games from my favorite team. I would hate when ESPN games were blocked on that package.
I’m so glad ESPN is out they make it so hard to watch. Next need to get rid of Apple
Agreed. ESPN baseball broadcasts are horrible. They show the announcers in the booth for long periods instead of what is happening on the field. I don’t care to ever see the announcers. They will split the screen and play an interview next to the game. This sends a bad message to potential new fans that nothing important is going on in the game so we are watching this interview. Also, some of the announcers have been horrible. Jessica Mendoza explained to the audience one time that “It was a double because of where he hit it.” No kidding! Mute improves ESPN broadcasts.
Mute improves all national broadcasts of sporting events.
In a perfect world MLB would be able to convince the likes of fox/abc/nbc/cbs pick up some more ofnthe regular season games throughout the year.
The way to grow the sport is to get some games out from behind the pay walls. There’s a huge chunk of thus country that isn’t as fortunate as the rest of us with disposable income to subscribe to a bunch of services.
The “perfect world” that fan speaks of existed 30, 40, 50 years ago. Broadcast TV is in terminal decline with only the NFL keeping it from total collapse.
Chucky, You would be surprised at the number of households reverting to antenna TV only, who dont have the money for streaming platforms or cable.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people are ignorant of the real struggles a significant portion of the country faces these days.
In the 21st century, using an antenna for TV screams “Dork!”
Take away the NFL and the Big 4 networks would no longer exist.
I’m glad you and all those you know are fortunate enough to have the luxury to have that mentality Chucky.
As for me, every year I plant about half an acre in vegetable crops we don’t need. About 1/3 I distribute in the neighborhood. The rest I bring out to 3 local churches and a community food bank when they have their food pick-ups on a rotating basis, one per week. There’s a lot of hard working people having tough times in this country, and I consider it a privilege to have met and talked to more than a few now and then in the process.
Hopefully you find a way to use your good fortune to help others someday, and, can learn a little in the process beyond calling people ‘dork’ for doing the best they can in trying times.
You are a good human being. There are way too few of those these days.
GA, thanks for sharing. Beautiful is the one word that describes what you do.
Chucky, are you a teenager?
Receiving content you can get FOR FREE and in BETTER QUALITY means you’re smart, not a dork.
@gasoxfan
Back when I was doing tv repair, I know a lot of people that were well off and still went to antenna because they were tired of the bills, and with digital you get a lot of channels.
I agree not everyone in the states just has extra money to spend on entertainment or if they do it’s limited to what they can spend on. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if we come full circle back to cable because of the rising prices of streaming services and needing multiple services I can see people going back to cable for just have 1 bill
GaSox – Some streaming services such as Roku are free, all you need is access to the internet.
Dont look to Netflix to overpay for these rights. Probably Amazon? Apple has so few total viewers.
Who watches baseball on ESPN?
In my opinion, the worst network broadcasting MLB games
No one. That’s the problem. ESPN doesn’t market the sport at all, beyond their own games. Soon as NFL training camps open, baseball doesn’t even lead Sportscenter when it’s the only sport in season. I’ve seen rando golf stories lead. Like everyone else in media, they’re chasing football and some basketball fans, because they are more lucrative demographics and watch more TV. Baseball and football fans don’t overlap very much anymore.
seam – That’s very true, ESPN has become way too political and catering to NFL/NBA is an example of it. They’ve had a lot of really controversial personalities, and baseball fans just don’t care for loudmouths like Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith.
I watch MLB Network, that’s the best.
Stephen A is fine in small doses. I’m still trying to figure out what Pat Mc does to get paid so well.
Listening to Stephen A Smith is proven to reduce IQ in adults by up to 30%
I like Stephen A. He is at least open minded.
If by “open minded” you mean his sucks Trump’s c@*k. Then yeah, he is open minded.
TDS is proven to reduce IQ in adults by up to 99%
Goku doing his Stephen A. Impersonation
It’s fine I had to
😉
Correct its like the old NHL when ESPN didn’t have viewership rights. No mention of hockey at all, and their website barely listed NHL info. All of a sudden there is much more focus on it. I remember the good ol days of ESPN when they would cover sports. Now that they are in bed with leagues they pick and choose.
Baseball fans watch far more TV sports. We have to because our team plays 162 games per year. You can combine NFL and NBA and barely watch half the TV sports per year.
Who watches ESPN?
I watch it when my team is playing on it, but not any other time.
Ditto. I have watched some UFC on ESPN+
UFC is literally the only reason I have ESPN+
Would be much better if Netflix got UFC and made all the PPVs free.
I’ve heard ESPN is still trying to work out a way to keep PPV rights,
So ultimately I think we’ll see Netflix pick up “UFC Fight Nights”, and host some “Premium” UFC title cards (6-12 cards per year)
While ESPN would still hold normal PPV sales rights for the “PPV-only” (6-12 additional cards)
I’d sometimes watch the last few innings of Sunday night baseball if it’s a close game but that’s it besides the playoffs
Being like me is not profitable to keep broadcasting baseball games
bucs – Whenever they had exclusive rights, like Sunday nights and ASG events and postseason, I did.
Nobody is gonna not watch a game just because they don’t like ESPN.
Not true Fever. I simply would rather not watch a typical game than it up with their announcing crews. I haven’t watched consistently since Jon Miller and Joe Morgan did the game!
dewey – I guess it’s personal preference, but to me not watching a game because of the announcers is like throwing away the baby with the bath water. I’m pretty good at tuning out the announcer banter though, so maybe that’s why they never bothered me.
And I do sometimes enjoy the unique perspective of any nationally televised game, compared to the team’s home network which is always slanted for obvious reasons.
ESPN does also have some interesting features at times, like who can forget the Casas Father’s Day interview?
“Who watches baseball on ESPN”…MLB.TV is nice and I’ve had it for 12+ years now. But, as bad as ESPN is in general, they still own the rights to a usually very attractive(and exclusive)game every Sunday.
I find the baseball fan in me won’t allow me to miss certain games. Especially high profile games. I usually watch (any) ESPN game with the sound down and or try to locate a radio broadcast of any ESPN game I’m watching.
I agree with your sentiment, because in my opinion ESPN is the worst. But I’ve resigned myself to having to use ESPN on occasion.
@mlb Its always seemed to me as ESPN has viewed MLB as almost a 2nd class sport. Never got the same attention or investment as NFL or NBA. Broadcasters and analysts for MLB were never the premium types that they’d get for the other sports. Whereas MLB Network gets the big names and can be seen and heard regularly on their network.
My only complaint on MLB Network is offseason content. It’s almost overkill with repetition of a few baseball movies. I can’t watch it and have those movies killed like the repetition of certain cartoons killed cartoons as a whole for me when my kids were younger.
All you need to know about espn’s priorities is to look at the length and depth of reporting spent on this:
espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43694056/atlanta-falcons-n…
Clearly that time could’ve been spent on actual athletic based coverage, but… nope.
for the first time I agree with the mediocre commissioner ESPN MLB coverage is putrid it wasn’t that way in the 90s
Chris berman stop covering only football and come backbackbackbackbackbackback OVER to baseball
I’m pretty sure Berman was in semi retirement at that point. Football was his true passion so that was the rare bit he was still working.
I miss the peak ESPN days with Berman, Patrick, Scott, Oberman, etc. Maybe it’s a nostalgic biased but just seems it was exponentially better.
I thought baseball was Bergman’s passion. I could be wrong, though.
Berman
The 90’s were the heyday of MLB on ESPN. Sunday night baseball, Wednesday night baseball, Tuesday and Friday night double headers. Opening day triple headers. And Baseball tonight nightly beginning in spring training with Peter Gammons team previews every day in March. Those were the days.
Disney took over and dove head first into politics and the NBA and NFL are the professional sports forefront of the political spectrum, hence why ESPN bends over backwards for them. Worst part is you can find better NFL coverage on NFL Network as well as Fox and NBC on game days and TNT’s NBA (and NHL for that matter) is superior to ESPM’s. ESPN’s death knell is playing, it’s only a matter of “when” at this point
Rsox – Well said! And the end of cable is coming quickly as well.
It’s crazy how cable companies like Xfinity try to make up for lost revenue by jacking up prices with their remaining customers, apparently they don’t realize the higher rates will only lead to even more customers cutting the cord. I got rid of cable 5 years ago and I’m happy I did.
Can’t wait for Starlink’s prices to start coming down, then I’ll be ending my internet service with Xfinity too.
MLB may be surprised what someone else may offer. ESPN didn’t opt out of their end for no reason.
then again ESPN is overpaying for the crappy NBA product so there’s that
“Overpaying for the crappy NBA product. They sure are. And covering their nut(over losses) with company wide layoffs.
ESPN is giving the NBA so much yearly money they’re giving it to players like candy. Even NBA role players are commanding $120M+ contracts.
And With declining NBA viewership(particularly in U.S)ESPN is set to hemorrhage cash on their outsized, overpriced, ill conceived deal with the NBA.
ESPN will actually have fewer games in its next NBA contract, though it was able to retain the NBA Finals for airing on ABC.
I have a feeling NBA is in for a rude awakening when their deal expires. From everything I’ve read they re #s aren’t trending in the right direction whatsoever. I loved basketball in 80s/early 90s, the lack of defense and dribbling has so drastically changed the sport I find it unwatchable.
Yeah, the Magic/Bird/Jordan days was, arguably, the golden age of the NBA.
ESPN has seen profit decline, a hemorrhage of subscribers to ESPN+ (reportedly $65 million in losses in early 2024), layoffs to network regulars and if they weren’t backround tv at many Gyms or sports bars/restaurants would probably be seeing CNN level ratings.
ESPN opted out of their end because ratings are already bad across the network. Even their NBA messiahs aren’t saving them
It’s all going to streaming services and the non-large market teams want equal sharing of the revenues.
The 2026 MLB season may not be played. The inequity of teams revenue streams and associated payrolls cannot continue. All the reforms put in 15 years ago yet this off-season teams in LA, and Boston were back to where we were years ago…..so much for the reforms. This cannot continue.
LA, NYC, and Boston.
SOS
MLB’s structure is simply a joke. Most owners are fed up…because they hear it from their fans.
The arrogance of MLB thinking someone will pay them more for a sport declining in popularity outside of three or four cities is astounding.
@This one I was shocked by their response and agree with the word “arrogance” to describe it. I hope it’s just backing their stance for negotiating a new deal, I found it to sound as tho they re with either oblivious or just refused to show any regard to the paradigm shift in consumer media market.
Boston really doesn’t fit on that list again yet. They finally gave out one big contract, and, their actual paid payroll is probably in the 220m range.
I believe that is for the ‘27 season as the current bargaining agreement runs through the ‘26 season.
2026 is definitely played outside of an environmental disaster or such. 2027, well, we’ll see.
Perksy and toptim are both correct; baseball’s labor contract with the MLBPA expires after the 2026 World Series. ESPN doesn’t want to be stuck with a national TV contract for a sport that’s shut down by a lockout.
It may expire after the 2026 season, but the players could walk out before the playoffs to gain leverage. Waiting until the owners lock them out in the spring, when attendance is low at the start, provides little motivation to the owners to compromise. Put prime games and playoff revenue at risk, and the watch how fast they come to the table.
Savage move!
Players union could expose themselves to a suit if they walked out on a valid contract. The past means nothing in today’s litigious society.
Baseball will survive and thrive as it always has, Samuel.
For a couple years now, I’ve been listening to games via the radio. It’s free with revenue collected the old fashion way through advertisers. Watching games through all these subscription outlets and via cable is way out of my budget. I’m getting used to it.
Maybe the replacement won’t have the right to change Sunday day games to night games after fans have already purchased tickets? Nah, probably wishful thinking.
@Bill That’s not the players switching those games. Sunday Night baseball is a premier game. MLB selects the most enticing games to appeal to a national audience. It’s a scaled back version of Monday Night Football.
I can see Fox grabbing Sunday night Baseball though i could also see where they would want tweaks to be made to accommodate their prime time lineup in the early part of the season. Flip side to that is they could run their full seasons of sunday night programming from October through March and not have to have the “winter break” to stretch the shows into May
@Rsox – FOX would have to end (or move) the longest-running show on TV: The Simpsons that still has that Sunday night time slot, along with Family Guy. I don’t see them doing that, and also running Sat games, as well. If there’s any interest, it’d be for an arm, like FX.
They wouldn’t have to move per se, they could air a complete season from October through March. The last couple of seasons it’s taken them 32 weeks to run 18 episode or less seasons.
The other compromise of course would be to cater to the east coast audience (which the majority of the time is what happens anyway) and have a hard 4:00pm est start to all “sunday night games” which would theoretically be over before the shows begin, or keep the old 8:00pm est start time and air the episodes before the game
ESPN can stick to their preferred sports, NFL and NBA, and both suck nowadays in my opinion.
Yeah the only thing espn has that people watch is Monday night football
Sunday night baseball isn’t popular anymore (the Mets dodgers Red Sox and Yankees are always on it) and who even watches the nba on a Wednesday
sad – The numbers indicate SNB is still popular, and moving the start time up an hour definitely helped.
espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/09/most-w…
Double-Digit Growth in Key Demographics
ESPN generated its most-watched season of Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One in five years – since 2019 – according to Nielsen. The 2024 campaign averaged 1,505,000 viewers across 25 games, up six percent from 2023.
The Sunday Night Baseball franchise also experienced growth in several key demographics, including Adults 18-24 (26 percent), Women 18-34 (16 percent), and Adults 18-34 (12 percent).
Next, Apple+ and their joke exclusive broadcasts. Sunday Night Baseball™ is nothing without Jon Miller/Joe Morgan (RIP)
That theme lives forever in my heart.
I’d watch Sunday night baseball again if Joe buck and someone better than John smoltz was there
Why is Eduardo Perez there all he does is talk about his HOF dad that 99% of the country never heard of
You’re tormented all right..
Buck is calling the Yankee game on Opening Day for ESPN but other than that he’s strictly NFL now.
Jon Miller is great still. Joe Morgan, well he was imo the greatest 2B of all time but didn’t appeal as a broadcaster. RIP
Absolutely. His voice fills a small void in my soul like only few like Vin Scully could. One of the great things about MLB.tv’s package forcing you to watch other broadcasts when they won’t let you watch the one you want (in-market).
Yeah, I’m a Dodger fan so I had many years with Vin but have always really enjoyed Jon Miller. Even though I didn’t like Morgan’s commentary it was still an enjoyable Sunday evening with them.
I loved Joe who could have done cartoons as Huckleberry Hound. Listen to him and Huck. Tell me they don’t sound alike.
The thing I like about Morgan is he would point out small details that the viewer could miss. I always felt like I was more informed about baseball after listening to his broadcast.
That’s what I appreciate about Mets broadcasts with Cohen, Darling, Hernandez.
Definitely. Especially Darling. He is great.
Mets have a great broadcast crew!
I really miss Gary Thorne doing pbp on ESPN not just for baseball but also hockey. Man had some legendary commentary.
Having him full time on the Orioles’ broadcast team was truly a pleasure. I miss those days.
“GOODBYE! HOME RUN!”
I read this in his voice and it felt like home.
I want Gary Thorne to read me a bedtime story
And “ADIOS PELOTA!” when a Spanish-speaking player smashed a HR.
The once mighty ESPN has became one of the least relevant broadcast companies out there. It’s crazy how great companies of the 80’s and 90’s like ESPN and CNN lost their way and became non relevant.
The answer is they are both horribly run
I go to news channels to see events not to see a show that looks like my family arguing about if the potus is good
I go to sports to escape the news and then I see free Gaza etc etc
ESPN has placed almost all of their focus on the NBA ever since they signed that contract. They way that they don’t cover or respect baseball seems like an intentional move that they hope will help drive an increase in NBA interest and viewership. (A smarter business move would have been to retain their space as the center for all sports)
ESPN has bastardized sports. MLB will most likely be better off without them.
Will mlb be better on a random streaming service?
MLB killed the Golden Goose by signing deals with streaming services for a fraction of what ESPN is paying. Now ESPN wants a similar deal and I don’t blame them
The collapse of the regional sports networks is what killed the golden goose. Streaming is trying to pick up the pieces.
Now to move on from Apple TV. That broadcast is so stupid.
That’s what they get for not letting baseball have a few of the top stories on SportsCenter every week and doing away with Baseball Tonight. Boring soccer goals get the #1 play of the day when baseball web gems are robbed. As much as I hate Manfraud and his cheap ways, I’m glad ESPN is getting what they deserve.
Must not have ever witnessed a golazo, live or on TV.
I’ve probably seen a goal in between naps at some point. I really tried to give soccer a chance during the 2010 World Cup, and it was just sheer torture, even with the TV muted to silence the stupid vuvuzelas. Makes hockey feel fast paced and high scoring. If they could somehow eliminate the flopping, eliminate the flamboyance after actually scoring, and make most games 10-7 or something like that, you may just keep my attention.
Hehe soccer jokes. you’re old
Born in 1983 to be exact. Proud soccer hater.
My brother in law and I made a song called ‘Soccer is Death’. Look up ‘The Younger Griffin’ and prepare to be amazed.
Good riddance, Hopefully apple tv will step up and purchase more rights. The fidelity of their broadcasts are unmatched
I would agree if they borrowed the home announcers for whatever game they are covering. The Apple commentators are not great.
This is about the only thing that Manfred has done that I agree with. I guess even a blind squirrel does eventually find a nut.
OK…what’s their plan?
The worst thing a demographically dying sport could do is trade money for being siloed as niche programming for the already converted, but…
That’s almost certainly what MLB is about to do.
I remember my 9th grade teacher telling me baseball was dying, that was 1972. The death of baseball has been greatly exaggerated for decades. More people watch games in person than ever before.
And baseball is consumed differently than it used to be. Fans watch several games at once. Few people sit down and watch three hours of one baseball game.
Actually, they were right.
Baseball’s popularity relative to other sports, etc. has declined since that time.
Football has crushed it.
Basketball passed it.
Hockey has gotten closer.
Boxing and horseracing have all but died, baseball will follow them into decline.
Good riddance. ESPN only cares about football anyway.
Woke = Broke
You’re really into the anti-woke stuff, aren’t you? Do you even know what it means?
I know this isn’t baseball related but most sane people are against it.
It means easily offended & out of touch with the majority of the country. We see evidence of this from this past November.
Oh, sillywab. You fell for those tv commercial. Bless your heart.
Wack = Crack
MLB, itself, is quite “woke”.
And quite “wack”, if memory serves me correctly.
Modern ESPN is pure cringe.
MLB is better off without their stink rubbing off on the product.
I can’t upvote this enough.
I’ll help you out.
Just add more games on fs1
Time for Prime to shine.
Prime Video is getting NASCAR this spring and the NBA next fall. Don’t think it’ll kick the tires on baseball.
ESPN is too woke for baseball. Baseball is Americana, ESPN would rather broadcast Euro-soccer and women’s underwater basket weaving. Yuk.
ESPN has been the home of UFC for like 7 years
And all the main UFC cards are pay-per-view thru ESPN.
Define woke. Something you don’t understand? Or when the genial host of Black Jeopardy approaches you to shake your hand?
None of these rocket surgeons could define woke, even if they had a gun pointed at their heads.
But it’s apparent that the ‘anti-woke’ are aggrieved (mostly old) white guys that aren’t doing as well as their parents, which is why they’re so angry.
What’s a rocket surgeon?
Exactly.
I know what a rocket scientist is, and I know what woke is.
Woke is tampons in a 3rd grade boys bathroom. Woke is thinking there are more than two genders.
The only people who don’t understand woke are the people who are woke.
That’s a gotcha question. A Supreme Court Justice can’t define what a Woman is and you expect us to define woke?
Oh the irony.
Woke is a social political point of view that lacks common sense.
Such as….what is a Woman?
Sounds like you might need to put your phone away and spend some time with one. Namaste.
Non sequitur, ad hominem attack.
Color me surprised. It’s a very common tactic of people with no common sense.
Indubitably!
Regardless. One of you claims I’m an old white guy who isn’t doing better than my parents, your comments imply I’m some loser living in my parents basement.
Well, ESPN seems to take similar positions, so why would someone tune in who disagrees with their positions.
I like it when sports isn’t political. And most people feel the same way.
Apparently, I’ve struck a nerve. Hopefully, I haven’t ruined your weekend.
Full of yourself, aren’t you?
The ignorance of the left is a constant. I’m use to it.
People like you don’t bother me.
Archie Bunker, is that you?!?!
Meh, ESPN wasn’t the right network to cover mlb for some time. they still think the Red Sox/yankees rivalry is tops over all other mlb competition.
Id rather see dodgers/giants or mets / braves or Phillies/braves or cubs / brewers or orioles /yankees on a Sunday night than that.
ESPwho?
The 80’s called and it wants it’s leading edge cable company back…..
Like Egypt, Byzantine, Roman and the British, all empires fall eventually.
USA isn’t far behind!
America is the largest economy in the world with the hardest currency, the most inventions, the largest military and the largest culture influence. It will remain the envy of the world for the rest of all of our lives.
Even if nobody watches ESPN
Ron
Yes, some of those things are true, however if you think the USA is the envy of the rest of the world, then you need to get out more. Sidling up to Russian interests and insulting the entire European union is not a good look for the USA right now. You push hard enough, people eventually pivot to new things. Those things may or may not be better, but they will be available and functional without being bullied into accepting non-negotiable terms. And that will be the last political post I ever make on this site, sorry about that fellow MLB fans
“Envy of the world”?
Half of the world hates us no matter who’s running our government. This is hardly a new phenomenon either.
What’s alarming is that most of our allies are disgusted or laugh at us with the re-election of our current POTUS.
I’ve been a proud American for most of my near 70-year lifetime regardless of which party was in office. I’m ashamed at what we’ve recently become, even more so of those who allowed it to happen.
Somebody’s having a bad day, and could use a hug.
Finally. After Miller, it was all downhill. Pretty much like everything else they’ve done the past 20 years.
Jon Miller is a one-trick pony. Dan Shulman is great on baseball — calls the Toronto Blue Jays for their Sportsnet in Canada — and he’s still with ESPN for college basketball.
As much as I loathe the AppleTV broadcasts, at least they offer free trials so you wouldn’t have to miss ALL of the games that they got the rights to. Screw ESPN.
The free trials aren’t unlimited, unless you want to have 1000 email addresses at your disposal. Fubo/Sling and other streamers that carry ESPN also offer free trials.
Super Bowl was broadcasted for free via Tubi (as well as others)….and was one of the most watched games in years, but don’t tell MLB how to run their show.
Didn’t Disney just buy FUBO.
Welp, I guess so, if/when DOJ approves it.
Yay! More axe throwing and darts!
Cornhole, bro….
Pickleball
Moar splelling beez!
They’re bringing back full contact karate matches and Australian rules football.
ESPN is trash and has been for years. As the network has leaned hard into politics it’s cut back on Baseball for the simple fact that other than the odd political stance here and there MLB has mostly stayed out of the fray
Can someone please explain the Netflix/Apple TV possibility? Thanks.
Are they just renegotiating the national rights or local as well? Can I still watch my team on local cable? Will I have to pay-per-view to watch national broadcasts?
If 1 A’s game a year is shown on Apple or whatever and I can’t watch it without paying that’s fine but I don’t want to pay like $19.99/month to watch the A’s.
Apple TV+ already has an exclusive package of baseball on Friday nights.
@letsgooakland123
Sad, tormented A’s fan, have you met Sad, tormented Mariner’s fan? I think you 2 may be brothers separated at birth.
Both the MLB & ESPN were pretty decent in the 90s but have both have seen a decline in quality since then.
I don’t know all the inside baseball as they say, but probably better. ESPN coverage during the week is terrible if non-existent. It is all NFL/NBA.
Someone will take this and make it a go….baseball is a great game – televised & marketed poorly.
Finally. ESPN is the worst. They know next to nothing about baseball. The announcers don’t know anything about any teams. They might be able to name a Yankee or Dodger here or there. The only thing worse than ESPN calling games is Bob Costas. Next fix needs to get rid of Ken “I hate the Padres” Rosenthal.
Fantastic!
I was told NY and LA having super teams was going to good for MLB….
I like ESPN baseball but all they want to show is SEC sports and NBA basketball which is overkill
I have ESPN and I dread when the games are on ESPN. Their broadcast seems to have done everything possible to take the focus off of the game. Like they sound annoyed to have to talk about the current game half of the time.. And the only thing worse is interviews during the inning.. I have to mute that. I’m trying to watch a game.
The only time I watch ESPN is for the LLWS, and I have to pay extra for more than half of those games.
That’s really the only thing on there worth watching.
I haven’t watched a baseball game on ESPN since Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, and Steve Phillips called games. We would have to go back to Barry Bonds Mark McGwire days. I used to do the baseball package on Direct TV sat
Oh and that ESPN guy ruined the Home Run Derby. Back Back Back Back
The homerun derby is a glorified batting practice. Would be more fun if pitchers were throwing heat and the guy hits a bomb. If I want to watch BP I’ll go to the game a bit earlier.
ESPN has been leaning into things like X Games for a while now. They want the younger crowd that craves the action of competitive skateboarding.
Good. Most fans I know can’t stand ESPN. They mostly broadcast Red Sox vs Yankees and NBA. That’s a very small, select demographic.
Whoever gets the Sunday night games, I hope they are more equalizing in the teams that play that game. It may not see like it, but it does make a difference when some teams have to play day games on Sunday all year long while others get night games 4-6 times a year. That can be a significant advantage or disadvantage depending on whether teams play better during the day or night.
I agree. I would make Sunday night baseball like the NFL has done with Thursday night football; every team has to play at least one game. This way every team gets a nationally televised prime time game and a chance to showcase star players that don’t play for the Yankees or Dodgers.
I guess it was a matter of time. They only had Sunday night baseball anymore anyway.
Goodbye to the douchey Sunday night coverage. If only baseball could launch the Fox Papi-Arod gabfest as well.
ESPN has been going down for 10 years or more. It’s 70% NBA. It probably wouldn’t hurt them to stop pushing the woke agenda.
ESPN has gone downhill with its baseball coverage since they fired Jon Miller. Some of their subsequent Sunday night crews, especially any with A-Rod, have been atrocious.
Still. It doesn’t bode well for MLB that ESPN was willing to walk away.
MLB needs to take whatever steps necessary to offer home and away games for every team on MLB.TV and find other networks for the marquee games and postseason.
MLB might have to endure a few tight years in reduced TV revenue but this approach will cement the loyalty of fans who are increasingly cord cutters and having difficulty following their team live on video broadcasts.
This might be the best news I’ve heard in a long time with regards to MLB’s media strategy. ESPN has become obsessed with pro and college basketball and football at the expense of all other sports.
Baseball moving to a platform that prioritizes the sport is good for its growth.
Remember when ESPN cared about baseball? I used to be able to not wait for Sunday Night Baseball. But now it’s a joke. ESPN barely casts games and there Sunday night crew is a joke. ESPN literally only cares about the NFL, College Football, the NFL draft that they beat to death for 11 months a year and the NBA with LeBron. Good Riddance ESPN.
Amazon prime is going to be the next carrier of MLB games. that is my prediction.
Early to mid 90s (and thru late 90s for hockey) ESPN was great for providing sports coverage and highlights for sports fans. Then it ruined NHL, then MLB, and I barely watch their NFL. It wandered into the cesspool of politics and hot takes to get hits and clicks. Its not for sports fans now, its for social people who have some interest in sports. Same track as MTV took when it stopped showing music plus Beavis & Butthead (who are apparently ESPN anchors now, if tbey even still do sportscenter).
Find a Sunday Night baseball game on youtube now from early 90s, the focus on the game is really refreshing!
I actually preferred it when they ran out of stuff and showed Australian rules football late nights and early mornings in the late 80s.
What is Jeff Passan going to do? He’s great. Would like to hear his input on this..
i assume he will continue as a sports writer for espn and will continue to be enjoyed by folks who can read
To show you how serious ESPN is about dropping this contract, the official announcement came during the first period of the USA-Canada “4 Nations” hockey game — which ESPN aired in the States.
How about just putting more games on your very own MLB Network? Wouldn’t that be a simple solution that would keep costs in-house?!
With the glut of freely available high-quality sports streams, news like these shouldn’t really bother anyone.
And there’s still the ‘mute’ button to deal with annoying announcing.
Huge fan of Jon Miller & Joe Morgan on Sunday night baseball
i enjoyed them also. unfortunately espn replaced them 15 years ago and morgan has been dead 5 years. Miller is play by play man for the Giants and is still great. One of the best
The Mlb doesn’t fit into ESPN’s target audience obviously
Sunday Night Baseball is unwatchable.
agree. I stopped watching it regularly in about 2018 after Dan Shulman left. He was a great play by play announcer , maybe not as good as Jon Miller but miles ahead of everyone calling games for espn since. I still don’t understand how they ever figured AROD as an analyst (or in any capacity) would improve their ratings.
ESPN BLOWS