Apple TV+ is poised to secure a new streaming package from Major League Baseball, according to Sports Business Journal.
Apple, which already broadcasts Friday Night Baseball, may acquire a Sunday night package previously held by ESPN, the outlet reported, citing sources. NBC, a Comcast division, has been rumored to bid for all of ESPN’s MLB rights after ESPN and MLB agreed to end their partnership post-2025 season. However, Apple could outbid NBC, particularly for Sunday night game rights.
Apple is believed to pay $85 million per season for Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+, a deal announced in 2022 and running through 2028.
Austin Karp for Sports Business Journal:
Reports emerged late last month that NBC is bidding for all of ESPN’s current MLB rights, but the league — like many other properties — is weighing the pros and cons of potentially fewer dollars from a legacy media company with more reach vs. more dollars from a digitally native platform with fewer eyeballs domestically.
A source tells SBJ the offer from Apple would likely be more than what NBC would be eyeing, particularly if that package was focused on simply Sunday night rights.
Any deal would likely be a three-year pact, lining up MLB to have all its national rights (and maybe even a national “local” package) available in 2028, when deals with Fox Sports and TNT Sports also end.
MacDailyNews Take: Clearly, Friday Night Baseball is working for Apple if they want to add more MLB to Apple TV+.
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
