MLB, ESPN to end their three-decade-long partnership

Major League Baseball (MLB) and ESPN are ending their media rights partnership after the 2025 season. The deal, which spanned nearly 35 years, has gone sour as both sides demand more from each other.

ESPN was set to pay $550 million per year from 2026 to 2028 for 30 games, the Home Run Derby, and the Wild Card round, but it pushed for a lower fee, citing financial discipline and sports audiences shifting to streaming platforms.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred criticized ESPN’s reduced coverage of baseball games and said they pay less for media rights than Apple and Roku.

With MLB experiencing a record attendance of 71.3 million fans in 2024, it is looking into new media deals with streaming services or other networks. The league also operates MLB.tv, its direct-to-consumer streaming service, costing $29.99 monthly.

Meanwhile, ESPN may shift focus to NHL playoffs and the WNBA, which have also grown in viewership in the past few years.