MLB & ESPN parting ways after 35 years (1990-2025)

[Big Boss]

It's over

 

[K-Apps]

Marchand explains it well, ESPN had to opt out after those woefully below market deals with Apple and Roku. Don’t see anybody giving MLB 550 for a 2 year deal.

 

[Ku$h Parker]

Oh, for sure. MLB Network should be airing games at 6:30/7pm and 9:30/10pm every night to be honest. Baseball needs as much eyes on it as possible.

Problem is, MLB Net isnt on every cable system. I know its not on Youtube TV, cause I would be watching if it was.

Its why I now switched to Hulu Live,id love for it to have League Pass & Extra Innings tho

 

[LDC]

Oh, for sure. MLB Network should be airing games at 6:30/7pm and 9:30/10pm every night to be honest. Baseball needs as much eyes on it as possible.

Problem is, MLB Net isnt on every cable system. I know its not on Youtube TV, cause I would be watching if it was.

I left YTTV for DirecTV Stream when they dropped MLBNetwork. Easily the best league network. Like dude above said tho, except for when they playing Bad News Bears, Sandlot, rookie of the year and Brewster's millions over and over (usually when ESPN or Fox is broadcasting a national game).

 

[thelonious21]

I see little reason for MLB to be connected to a Network that only speaks about LeBron, Durant and the Dallas Cowboys regardless of whether they're in season or not.

If they see streaming as the future, so be it.

But since they're so hell bent on broadcasting online, I would just ask that they find some way to update the Live GameCast in the box scores of their apps so that I'm not watching "Nobody on, nobody out, Ball 2" for 3.5 minutes, and then the next update is "Game Over"

ESPN talks about football 80% of the time.. Then Lebron.. then everything else..

 

[thelonious21]

Smart move tbh.

ESPN does nothing for baseball besides air the games…They can find plenty other options for that .

Like where?

Where else.are u going to capture the casual fan?

Now if you love the sport.. you will find it.. but alot of viewing is jus channel surfing and seeing what's on..

I can't see removing your games from ESPN as a positive at all

 

[Dipsey Doo]

You really just need MLB TV and MLB Network if you are a baseball fan at this point. Add on a VPN for MLB TV to get around blackouts.

ESPN MLB broadcasts have been beyond terrible for years.

Some streamer is going to give MLB the bag.

 

[Da_Eggman]

Some of the greatest players ever died last year and ESPN barely mentioned any of them

 

[FAH1223]

 

[calh45]

MLB Network does have a Baseball Tonight style show.

They really don't though. A Baseball Tonight style show would be accessible as hell like BT was. People who didn't even like baseball was watching that show. You trying to vouch for a show we don't know about shouldn't confusion worthy for you.

The MLB had an Inside the NBA level impact show with Karl, Harold, Peter Gammons, and an occasional pop in and ESPN did ESPN shyt to it. They don't have a flagship highlight show that reaches people and they deserve it given the resurgence. The MLB is more fun than the NBA now.

 

[HandyWithTheSteel]

According to a new report from the CNN, the split between MLB and ESPN largely comes as a result of the network making the decision to terminate the deal. The report stands in stark contrast to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s memo to the league’s owners, which placed blame on the network for not doing enough to promote the sport during their deal.

Confirms what I already knew. Manfred coppin pleas

 

[KFBF]

Some streamer is going to give MLB the bag.

Not saying you're wrong but why would they? Deal will only be for two years when these companies prefer longer deals and all reporting says they depressed their own market with roku/Tubi deals.

 

[Spidey Man]

I would be happy if they eliminated blackouts and put every game on a free service like Tubi. That should help bring in new viewers.

Instead, Amazon or Apple will probably purchase the rights at a discount for the next 3 years and MLB games will be like MLS on Apple TV

 

[tremonthustler1]

Like where?

Where else.are u going to capture the casual fan?

Now if you love the sport.. you will find it.. but alot of viewing is jus channel surfing and seeing what's on..

I can't see removing your games from ESPN as a positive at all

Loyal to the brand

for everyone who bytches about ESPN and hates their coverage, MLB leaving them shouldn't be an issue at all. Manfred is an awful commissioner, but he even said they don't talk about baseball much at all, so why even keep them there? If this means MLB Network will be strengthened, great. If this means FS1 and TBS will really take on more coverage, great. Baseball fans don't really care where it's on as long as we're not blacked out (still an issue)


Now, having it on ESPN was familiar and some stuff they did right (like the Home Run Derby and those special location games and I'll give ESPN credit for trying to tinker with stuff that wasn't working. Where Manfred screwed up was taking less money from other spots out of desperation and ESPN wondering why they had a big time deal with a sport they don't really care for.

If you ask MLB fans what they really want is for RSN's everywhere else to get right because if that ain't right, teams won't wanna spend.

 

[tremonthustler1]

I would be happy if they eliminated blackouts and put every game on a free service like Tubi. That should help bring in new viewers.

Instead, Amazon or Apple will probably purchase the rights at a discount for the next 3 years and MLB games will be like MLS on Apple TV

MLS is already reversing course on that. the numbers never came out but they were horrible, which is why FS1/FOX is getting more national games and T-Mobile is giving out the package for free again this season (but for those who have it, dead it before the season ends, otherwise they'll renew you at $99).


MLB on Amazon I don't know how that would work. I say that as a Yankee fan who has to watch those games once a week on there and knows older heads absolutely hate streaming games.