MLB Announced New Three-Year Media Rights Agreements With Netflix, NBCUniversal and ESPN

Over the years the way we take in sports has certainly changed. Now you always need to check where something is airing before being able to access it and enjoy it. Nonetheless, Major League Baseball took a moment to help make it clear where and how fans will be able to watch their favorite teams and players moving forward. On Wednesday, the MLB announced their new three-year media rights agreements with Netflix, NBCUniversal, and ESPN.

So what did the league say? How will Netflix, NBC and ESPN be involved? Well, Major League Baseball revealed,

“MLB has formed new three-year media rights agreements with Netflix, NBCUniversal, and ESPN.

The agreements, which cover rights for the 2026-2028 MLB seasons, mark the return of NBC to regularly airing MLB games on its broadcast network for the first time in 26 years, will expand Netflix’s engagement with MLB from documentaries to live baseball event coverage for the first time, and will extend MLB and ESPN’s long-term relationship to 39 consecutive seasons.”

Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr also had this to add about these new developments:

“Our new media rights agreements with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix provide us with a great opportunity to expand our reach to fans through three powerful destinations for live sports, entertainment, and marquee events.

Following our last World Series game that averaged more than 51 million viewers globally, these partnerships build on MLB’s growing momentum that includes generational stars setting new standards for excellence, new rules which have improved the game on the field, and increases in important fan engagement metrics like viewership, attendance, participation and social media consumption.

We’re looking forward to tapping into the unique areas of expertise that ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix each bring to the sport for the benefit of our fans.”

MLB Announced New Three-Year Media Rights Agreements With Netflix, NBCUniversal and ESPN

Confused? Not sure where to find what games and when? Here’s a quick breakdown:

FOX Network 

FOX/FS1 will continue as the home of the World Series, LCS and DS games, All-Star Game, 2026 World Baseball Classic as well as select regular season and special event games.

TBS

TBS will continue as the home of the League Championship Series and Division Series Games, plus regular season games on Tuesday nights.

APPLE TV

Apple TV will continue to stream “Friday Night Baseball” doubleheaders throughout the regular season.

MLB NETWORK

MLB Network will continue to air live games and its Emmy award-winning studio shows.

NBC

NBC will become the new home of the first round of the playoffs and Sunday Night Baseball. The first game on NBC will be on Opening Day for the Dodgers as they host the DBacks.

Hopefully the above makes it a little easier to know where to navigate to starting next year in 2026. And we hope everyone enjoys tuning in to watch America’s Favorite Pastime next season.

**Want Even More Sports, News, Hot Takes, Stats as well as Athlete Celebrity Sighting Updates; Insights as well as Trends? Well, be sure to join all of us Sports Feens over on Youtube to get an additional sports fix; and also don’t forget to check out all of our new Podcast topics and episodes. Plus, get fast highlights and trivia daily by following us on TikTok. Just Click HERE**