August 12, 2025Aug 12 So says ESPN's President: https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/jimmy-pitaro-mlb-rights-deal-update.html
August 12, 2025Aug 12 Maybe try not to have the worst national broadcast going and perhaps someone might care.
August 12, 2025Aug 12 Sounds like they want to buy up local rights and out it on espn+ or whatever they're renaming their 5th iteration of their digital platform.
August 12, 2025Aug 12 I have several reasons to dislike that network, but I kept watching. When they fired Ditka, I was on my way out.
August 13, 2025Aug 13 There was an article recently on how they've let $1 billion worth of podcasts leave in recent years...Simmons, Cowherd, Le Batard, Ryan Russilo, etc. https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/business/ex-espn-star-believes-over-a-billion-dollars-walked-out-the-door McAfee and Smith are so polarizing...ofc by intent.
August 13, 2025Aug 13 38 minutes ago, caulfield12 said: they've let $1 billion worth of podcasts leave in recent years... you don't say
August 15, 2025Aug 15 Author From the Athletic newsletter today: MLB has suitors Major League Baseball is in negotiations with four separate entities — Netflix, ESPN, NBC and Apple — on a new broadcast rights deal, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports, and all four could win a share of games. NBC (and by extension Peacock) and Apple TV+ could get “Sunday Night Baseball” and even some playoff series. More details inside.
August 15, 2025Aug 15 1 hour ago, Lip Man 1 said: From the Athletic newsletter today: MLB has suitors Major League Baseball is in negotiations with four separate entities — Netflix, ESPN, NBC and Apple — on a new broadcast rights deal, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports, and all four could win a share of games. NBC (and by extension Peacock) and Apple TV+ could get “Sunday Night Baseball” and even some playoff series. More details inside. Burying Sunday Night Baseball on a streaming service that most people don't have. That would be such a Manfred move. And I realize that not everyone has ESPN, but until cord-cutting took off, a vast majority of households did.
August 15, 2025Aug 15 41 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said: Burying Sunday Night Baseball on a streaming service that most people don't have. That would be such a Manfred move. And I realize that not everyone has ESPN, but until cord-cutting took off, a vast majority of households did. Doubt they get anywhere near the existing $550 million cutting it up into tranches but we shall see...
August 21, 2025Aug 21 Author This just came to my e-mail from the Athletic: MLB, ESPN have framework agreement for media deal ESPN would continue to broadcast around 30 regular-season games, but “Sunday Night Baseball” 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.
August 21, 2025Aug 21 Author 30 minutes ago, Tnetennba said: Can’t wait to discover just how much ESPN fucks up MLB.tv… All Yankees...all Red Sox... all the time.
August 21, 2025Aug 21 On 8/12/2025 at 1:22 PM, Tnetennba said: Maybe try not to have the worst national broadcast going and perhaps someone might care. This is how everything is on ESPN. Their basketball broadcast is atrocious.
August 21, 2025Aug 21 3 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said: All Yankees...all Red Sox... all the time. Dodgers? Cubs? Mets?
August 22, 2025Aug 22 My understanding is that MLB also sold the TV rights of 5 teams to ESPN. Those fans will now have to pay $60/month to watch their team. Wouldn't be surprised to see more come of that. And here we bitched about free OTA. Praying CHSN isnt next there.
August 22, 2025Aug 22 3 hours ago, caulfield12 said: Price tag? $550 million last time...let's see how much lower it goes. Much lower! SNB goes to NBC for less than 200 million/year. Disaster for MLB i would think. They will try and sell a win here but they're selling so much more content now to get there. I can't imagine Manfred keeps his job but I feel like I've said this 100 times now.
August 22, 2025Aug 22 "The in-market rights ESPN is set to acquire — to the Guardians, Padres, Twins, Diamondbacks and Rockies — are also expected to be distributed through the new app." 2026-2028, 3 years. Looks like the new deals combined will end up being more than $550 million previously from ESPN alone...but the "average" rights fees coming down overall. Home Run Derby to Netflix, Sunday Night Baseball to NBC/Universal, wild card games still up for grabs. https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/08/mlb-media-rights-fee-expected-increase-combined-nbc-netflix-espn/ ESPN's direct-to-consumer service features an unlimited plan for $29.99 per month or $299 per year, or a select plan for $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Twins fans would then need an MLB.TV subscription that could have a similar price in the region of $29.99 a month, which could put the monthly bill around $40-$60 per month for Minnesota fans. Twins.TV currently costs $19.99 per month or $99.99 per season, so being required to pay for both ESPN new's service and MLB.TV could get quite expensive. It's unclear if fans who subscribe to a TV provider that includes ESPN will be able to simply add Twins games for an additional price. si.com Edited August 22, 2025Aug 22 by caulfield12
August 22, 2025Aug 22 From The Athletic: It is not fully clear yet if out-of-market subscribers who pay for the package through cable or other linear subscription would still be able to receive MLB.TV that way. For digital consumers, fans are likely to need an ESPN direct-to-consumer subscription to go along with MLB.TV. The overall new pricing for MLB.TV is not yet decided. In addition to that, ESPN would obtain the rights to every out-of-network MLB game. That's essentially what MLB.TV already provides to customers, as the service offers out-of-network games to fans. But it would also presumably allow ESPN to sell rights for certain out-of-network games to other networks or subscription services. https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/mlb-espn-reportedly-reach-agreement-for-network-to-obtain-rights-to-sell-out-of-market-games-ability-to-offer-mlbtv-171316101.html Uh-oh. Found a sampling of various comments online. I can't speak to in-market costs but for out-of-market it's going to be way more. So now we'll have to pay $30/month for ESPN just for the right to pay $150/year for MLB.TV. I already sub during the hockey season and it’s got a sweet multi-channel NHL feature. It’s bundled with disney and hulu and would be cheaper than stand alone Padres.tv (assuming they don’t raise rates which i’m sure they will). ESPN has the most downtime of the streamers, lowest quality picture & bitrates, and I personally hate their landing pages as it never accounts for my favorite teams and just pushes content ESPN wants you to watch. Also going to annoy those who rely on T-Mobile or ATT for free access to mlb.tv. Since they will now have to pay additional money to ESPN/Disney. Twins’ fans after this season are going to super-pissed. Teams carried through MLB were down to $15 million per team for local media rights…not sure if this will raise that compensation or not. Edited August 22, 2025Aug 22 by caulfield12
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.