Overview

• ESPN revived negotiations in mid-July after opting out of its $550 million-per-year contract in February
• Rob Manfred says talks have made “real progress” but a final deal will slip past the All-Star Game
• Offers from Apple TV+ and NBCUniversal to fill the ESPN package remain below the network’s previous valuation
• MLB is aligning all its primary national TV deals to conclude in 2028 and is structuring rights for 2026–28
• The league has launched direct production of local broadcasts for Arizona, Cleveland, Colorado, Minnesota and San Diego as an interim measure