Apple & NBC in Final Stretch for MLB’s Sunday Night Baseball – Breaking News
The race to broadcast Major League Baseball’s premier weekly showcase is down to the wire. Apple and NBCUniversal are the final contenders for the rights to Sunday Night Baseball, and potentially the lucrative post-season Wild Card Series, according to a report from The Atlantic. This is a seismic shift in sports broadcasting, and archyde.com has the latest details on this developing story, plus what it means for the future of how we watch America’s pastime.
ESPN’s Era Ends, a $550 Million Opportunity
For decades, ESPN has been synonymous with Sunday Night Baseball, holding the rights under a hefty $550 million per year contract that included 30 regular season games, the Home Run Derby, and the high-stakes Wild Card Series. However, that era is coming to a close. ESPN and MLB mutually agreed to end their partnership after the 2025 season, opening the door for new players to enter the game. This isn’t a complete exit for ESPN, though. They’re reportedly exploring weekday game packages and securing local broadcast rights for five MLB teams, signaling a strategic pivot rather than a full retreat.
Apple’s Expanding Sports Empire
Apple, already making waves in sports streaming with its $85 million per year deal for Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+, is heavily favored to expand its baseball footprint. Securing Sunday Night Baseball would give Apple a dominant weekend presence, building on its existing momentum. This move is part of a larger, ambitious strategy. Apple has already invested significantly in Major League Soccer (MLS Season Pass) and aggressively pursued rights for the NFL’s Sunday Ticket (though unsuccessfully) and the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup. While Apple’s offer is likely below ESPN’s previous $550 million valuation, the long-term strategic value is undeniable.
NBC’s Peacock Takes Aim at Sports Dominance
NBCUniversal, through its Peacock streaming platform, sees Sunday Night Baseball as a crucial piece in completing its sports programming lineup. Already boasting Sunday Night Football and Sunday Night Basketball, adding baseball would create a powerful trifecta, attracting a broader audience and solidifying Peacock’s position in the competitive streaming landscape. The focus for NBC is likely on the Sunday evening slot, complementing its existing primetime sports offerings.
Netflix Eyes the Home Run Derby & the Future of Baseball Broadcasting
While Apple and NBC are battling for the weekly games, Netflix is reportedly in a strong position to land the rights to the always-popular Home Run Derby. This represents a strategic move for Netflix, which is increasingly experimenting with live sports content to attract and retain subscribers. The MLB’s decision to potentially split the rights – Apple for Sundays, NBC for the main broadcast, Netflix for the Derby – reflects a broader trend in sports broadcasting: fragmentation. Expect more deals like this as leagues seek to maximize revenue and reach different audiences across multiple platforms.
Beyond 2025: A Unified Baseball Broadcasting Future?
The current negotiations are just the first act. All of MLB’s media rights are set to expire in 2028, potentially paving the way for a unified national and regional broadcasting package. Apple’s ultimate goal may be to replicate the success of its MLS Season Pass model – a direct-to-consumer offering that bypasses traditional cable and broadcast networks. However, baseball’s broader appeal and established fanbase present unique challenges. The popularity of baseball, while still significant, isn’t experiencing the same growth trajectory as soccer in the US, making a direct-to-consumer model a more complex proposition.
This unfolding drama highlights the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting. The days of single networks holding exclusive rights are fading, replaced by a more fragmented, multi-platform approach. For fans, this means more choices and potentially lower costs, but it also means navigating a growing number of streaming services. Stay tuned to archyde.com for continued coverage of this breaking story and the latest developments in the world of sports and entertainment.
