Overview

• ESPN ended its $550 million-per-year contract in February and has since returned to the negotiating table with MLB
• The early-stage discussions center on dividing select national game windows alongside local broadcasting rights
• MLB is simultaneously courting NBCUniversal, Apple TV+ and Fox as it evaluates splitting its media rights among multiple partners
• Both sides aim to finalize a three-year agreement by October to maintain coverage through the 2028 season and avoid severing their long-standing relationship
• A reported renewal bid of $200 million per year from ESPN contrasts sharply with its current rights fee and helped trigger the original split