ESPN has an “opt-out” option after the 2025 season as part of its current MLB media rights deal, but it’s “still early for a decision to be made,” according to sources cited by Andrew NY POST merchant. Still, it’s “quite unimaginable that ESPN executives aren’t asking whether it would be wiser to use more than half a billion in MLB money for the NBA or for expanded playoffs.” of college football.” Marchand writes that ESPN “may just want to save the dough.” ESPN is in the middle of a seven-year deal that extends through the 2028 season and the current deal “reduces what ESPN pays MLB” to $550 million per season. It’s about $100 million for the “playoffs and the rest for Sunday Night Baseball, some exclusive games (like Opening Day), the Home Run Derby and a daily ESPN+ game that is locally masked.” . Marchand writes that something to watch out for is the idea that “ESPN wants to be the solution to MLB’s local television problem.” Diamond Sports’ bankruptcy “could eventually lead MLB to find a new landing spot for its teams that lack strong regional sports networks.” ESPN wants ESPN+ “to have a tier where a team’s fans can pay extra for its local games.” The ESPN+ tier “could become even more attractive to MLB in 2025,” while ESPN “will most likely have its full offering as a direct-to-consumer product” (NY POST, 10/23).
ESPN is in the middle of a seven-year contract that extends through Season 28.Getty Images
