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Update on MLB Media Rights in 2026.

Not surprising really. I couldn’t imagine anyone tuning into Apple broadcast on Friday nights. ESPN gradually distanced itself from baseball over the years anyway. Good for NBC. I hope Jason Bennetti is their lead announcer like he was when Peacock/NBC tested baseball games on air in 2021
 
Loverofradio said:
I hope Jason Bennetti is their lead announcer like he was when Peacock/NBC tested baseball games on air in 2021
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Outside of his work with the Detroit Tigers, Bennetti works for Fox calling MLB and college sports. I don't know how long his contract is.

EDIT: He's also doing play-by-play for Detroit Lions preseason games on WJBK/2, the Detroit Fox affiliate, and its statewide network.
 
Loverofradio said:
They want to be the new regional sports network. I’m surprised they haven’t gone after NBA TV
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The NBA is trying to get their regional sports network situation resolve in time for the 2027-28 season based on past press conferences held by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. I would guess ESPN would be involved since they have the A Package.
 
www.nytimes.com

MLB, ESPN have agreement for network to sell all out-of-market and some in-market games: Sources

ESPN would continue to broadcast around 30 regular-season games, but not “Sunday Night Baseball.”
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
Major League Baseball and ESPN have a framework agreement that would give the network the exclusive rights to sell all out-of-market regular-season games digitally and in-market games for five clubs over the next three years, sources briefed on the discussions told The Athletic.

ESPN would continue to broadcast around 30 regular-season games, but not “Sunday Night Baseball.” ESPN would move to a different night during the week. The games on the network would remain exclusive, meaning viewers would only be able to watch these matchups through ESPN. The agreement would begin next season.
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MLB needed ESPN more why they came to an agreement with them, NBC now programs sports for Sun night with SNF, NBA once SNF is over in Feb will be March since the Olympics will air in Feb, and now MLB Sunday Night Baseball.
 
Megatron said:
MLB needed ESPN more why they came to an agreement with them, NBC now programs sports for Sun night with SNF, NBA once SNF is over in Feb will be March since the Olympics will air in Feb, and now MLB Sunday Night Baseball.
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On the contrary, ESPN needed MLB more than the other way around.
 
Summer without MLB would be a disaster for ESPN, cable or online. It's already lost UFC's mixed martial arts. ESPN ended its long-running (as in since the early '80s) deal with Top Rank Boxing at the end of July; the other major promotions in the US are aligned either with Amazon or Saudi-backed DAZN. Formula 1 racing will go elsewhere next year. That leaves golf, Little League, a couple of tennis tournaments and ... what else? Well, ESPN's major acquisitions until reaching this new MLB deal were farcical mock baseball (Savannah Bananas) and farcical mock fighting (WWE). Can you imagine an ESPN with a July prime time lineup of Bananas vs. Party Animals and Smackdown? The Worldwide Leader in WHAT? Certainly not sports!
 


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