Representatives for Major League Baseball and ESPN have renewed talks to keep the sports network involved in the game after a contentious break-up earlier this year, sources briefed on the conversation told The Athletic.<\/p>\n
The discussions were described to be in their early stages and, if they were to progress, would center around local rights and pieces of ESPN\u2019s former package.<\/p>\n
In February, ESPN opted out of the final three seasons of its $550 million contract that gave it the right to broadcast \u201cSunday Night Baseball,\u201d the Home Run Derby and eight-to-12 playoff games. ESPN and MLB have been in business together for 35 years. If no new agreement is struck, their relationship would end in October.<\/p>\n
MLB and ESPN declined comment.<\/p>\n
Since the opt-out, NBC, Apple and Fox have been linked to parts or all of ESPN\u2019s current package. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he hopes to have a deal in place by mid-July\u2019s All-Star Game for those rights.<\/p>\n
News of ESPN\u2019s potential return is significant because after ESPN opt-outed, MLB did as well. The league expressed disdain for its longtime partner.<\/p>\n
In a memo obtained by The Athletic\u2019s Evan Drellich in February, Manfred informed the owners of the decision for MLB to counter ESPN\u2019s opt-out by also opting-out of ESPN\u2019s $550 million a year deal. While a symbolic gesture, Manfred also went on to describe the network as a \u201cshrinking platform\u201d and said the league was \u201cnot pleased with the minimal coverage that MLB has received on ESPN\u2019s platforms over the past several years outside of the actual live game coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s chairman Jimmy Pitaro has previously stated that he would like his network and his new direct-to-consumer app to be part of the local rights solution. MLB has struggled as the reduction of households with cable television and significantly reduced the viability of regional sports networks.<\/p>\n
MLB is not alone in dealing with this issue, as it has hit the NBA and NHL.<\/p>\n
MLB has seen an increase in national viewership, with Sunday Night Baseball up eight percent, as one example. Attendance is also up, as of Memorial Day, the league had seen a two percent increase compared to last year. If it they were to keep up the pace, it would be the third straight year of increased attendance, which would mark the first time it\u2019s accomplished that in nearly two decades.<\/p>\n
In mid-May, Pitaro, during an announcement for ESPN\u2019s forthcoming new app, said his network remained interested in MLB, but had not had any conversations with the league at that point.<\/p>\n
Manfred said earlier in June that he would prefer not to be in the current negotiations with other programs since he liked the $550 million per year deal it had with ESPN.<\/p>\n
ESPN felt it was paying too much, so it exercised its option. MLB has made deals with Apple TV for Friday night exclusive doubleheaders for around $85 million and with Roku for late Sunday morning games for $10 million a year.<\/p>\n
The Athletic previously reported that Manfred and his lieutenants have held talks regarding MLB.TV, the league\u2019s out-of-market local rights package. ESPN, as well as streamers, like YouTube and Amazon, would be prime contenders for the programming.<\/p>\n
If an MLB.TV agreement came to fruition, it would be expected that it would only be for three years as MLB wants to line-up all of its rights agreements for after the 2028 season. At that point, Fox\u2019s World Series\/playoff and TNT Sports\u2019 playoff rights conclude. MLB\u2019s international packages are also due at that point.<\/p>\n
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