Overview

• Major League Baseball is close to finalizing a multiyear agreement with Apple TV+ for its 2026–28 rights package previously held by ESPN
• ESPN’s decision to exit the partnership three years early has cost MLB roughly $1.5 billion in lost annual rights fees
• NBC is also competing for the national package and could match or exceed the former $550 million per season valuation
• Moving marquee events like the Wild Card playoff round to a streaming platform with about 45 million subscribers may limit the league’s overall reach
• Commissioner Rob Manfred has publicly acknowledged regret over opting out of the ESPN deal ahead of schedule