ESPN Ends 35-Year Partnership With MLB Over Cost and Viewership Concerns

The network opted out of its $550 million annual deal, citing diminishing returns, as MLB explores new broadcasting options.

ESPN has decided to end its long-standing partnership with Major League Baseball, opting out of the final two years of its $550 million annual broadcasting deal.
The decision was driven by ESPN's assessment that MLB content was not generating sufficient advertising revenue, accounting for just 2.2% of its total ad sales in 2024.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred criticized ESPN for minimal coverage of baseball outside of live games and expressed dissatisfaction with its reduced cable audience reach.
Fans have expressed mixed reactions, with many celebrating the split and criticizing ESPN’s perceived lack of commitment to promoting baseball.
MLB is now exploring potential new broadcasting partners, including streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, as it seeks to replace ESPN’s coverage.