NBC Bids for MLB Rights as ESPN Exits in 2025

NBCUniversal has formally submitted a bid to acquire Major League Baseball’s Sunday Night Baseball, early postseason rounds, and the Home Run Derby broadcast package, as ESPN will end its 35-year partnership after the 2025 season. NBC’s offer, reported to be much lower than ESPN’s $550 million annual deal, would place games on NBC and Peacock, signaling an expansion of NBC’s sports coverage. ESPN is exiting the deal due to dissatisfaction with MLB’s streaming arrangements and declining cable subscribers, and MLB rejected ESPN’s proposal to renew at around $200 million annually. NBC’s cable division Versant has also shown independent interest in a baseball package. Meanwhile, existing MLB broadcast contracts with Fox and TNT will continue through 2028. If completed, the deal would mark NBC’s return to regular MLB broadcasting after a 25-year hiatus.