ESPN’s current contract includes 30 regular-season games, mostly on Sunday nights, and the wild-card postseason series. ESPN also hosts All-Star weekend’s Home Run Derby and 10 spring training games.
The eight-year deal beforehand, from 2014 through 2021, aired up to 90 regular-season games and the “Baseball Tonight” news and highlights show, which ESPN dropped in 2017.
“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,” MLB said in a statement. “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.”
MLB also has an annual $729 million deal with Fox and a $470 million yearly deal with Turner Sports. Those contracts run through the 2028 season.
