Media Rights Deals - Major League Baseball (MLB) is nearing deals for linear and streaming rights through 2028 with ESPN, NBC Universal, and Netflix [1] - The deals are still in progress and may not close or may not close with those terms [4] ESPN Deal - MLB is nearing a finalized agreement with ESPN for a package of rights for $550 million [1] - ESPN's old set of MLB rights was worth the same amount of money, but these are different rights [2] - About $450 million is to license MLB TV for streaming out of market games [2] - The remainder of the ESPN deal would cover in-market games for five local teams and a new midweek package of national games [2] NBC Universal Deal - NBC Universal will acquire all Sunday night games and wildcard games for about $200 million per year for a three-year period [3] Netflix Deal - Netflix is set to secure the rights for the Home Run Derby for as much as about $50 million a year for three years [3]

Core View - Major League Baseball (MLB) is nearing a finalized agreement with ESPN, NBC Sports, and Netflix for new three-year media rights deals for live game packages [2][5]. Group 1: Media Rights Agreements - ESPN opted out of its previous $550 million-per-year deal for Sunday Night Baseball, which will be split into two parts for the 2026-2028 seasons if a deal is finalized [1]. - NBC is expected to acquire all of MLB's Sunday games and Wild Card playoff games for approximately $200 million per year [3]. - Netflix will secure the rights to the Home Run Derby for about $50 million annually [3]. - ESPN is set to receive a new package of rights valued at $550 million, which includes approximately $450 million for MLB TV, the league's digital out-of-market package [4]. Group 2: Future of Media Rights - The new agreements will allow MLB to reorganize its media rights after the 2028 season [5]. - MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that ESPN requested a reduction in payment for MLB content, suggesting that a smaller deal would not be beneficial for the league [5].