US Baseball League renews deal with ESPN for 39th straight season and ensures NBC’s return after 25 years
(Major League Baseball) signed broadcast rights agreements with , NBCUniversal and to show games and events starting in 2026. The agreements, lasting 3 years, were announced on Wednesday (19.Nov.2025), after the league recorded its most watched postseason in the last 8 years in 2025.
The partnership marks the first time that Netflix will broadcast live MLB sporting events, while NBC returns to broadcasting the league after a 25-year absence. ESPN, in turn, will maintain its relationship with American baseball, which will reach its 39th consecutive season.
The streaming service, which recorded 19.4 billion minutes watched in 2025, will have its sales rights transferred to ESPN as part of the deal.
“Our new media rights agreements with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix provide us with a great opportunity to expand our reach to fans through 3 powerful destinations for live sports, entertainment and marquee events”Commissioner Robert Manfred said of the new contracts.
Transmission changes
The distribution of MLB events between the 3 media companies will bring significant changes for viewers. Sunday Night Baseball, which has aired on ESPN since 1990, will move to NBC starting in 2026. The network will also show Wild Card playoff games and the Sunday Leadoff on both NBC and the Peacock streaming service.
ESPN will focus its broadcasts on midweek games and will take over marketing MLB.TV, the league’s streaming service for markets outside the United States.
Netflix, a newcomer to live MLB sports broadcasts, will be responsible for special events such as the Home Run Derby, the MLB Opening Night and the 2026 Field of Dreams Game. The platform will also broadcast the World Baseball Classic in Japan.
The financial values of the contracts were not disclosed by the league or the companies involved.
BRAZIL
Brazilian fans will also be able to watch MLB games live on Netflix for the first time from 2026. The platform will show the opening game of the season (MLB Opening Night), the Home Run Derby and the MLB at Field of Dreams Game.
Brazilian baseball fans will be able to watch MLB live on Netflix for the first time in history.
Starting in 2026, you can watch the broadcast of the opening game at MLB Opening Night, the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game LIVE only on Netflix.
— netflixbrasil (@NetflixBrasil)
