MLB\u2019s short-term national media rights deals with ESPN, NBC and Netflix are expected to be announced this afternoon, sources told SBJ, and the newest elements revolve around ESPN\u2019s national games and its streaming deals with the league.<\/p>\n
ESPN is expected to retain around 30 national games as part of its new deal with MLB through the 2028 season, complementing the addition of the MLB.tv out-of-market package<\/a> and the rights of local streaming rights for six clubs, sources tell SBJ. A formal announcement is expected later today. The MLB.tv package will be available to consumers on both the ESPN app and MLB platforms to start, and the delivery of local streaming for the six clubs also will be on MLB platforms to start, sources said. The Mariners are the latest team to enter the stable<\/a>, joining the D-backs, Twins, Guardians, Padres and Rockies, and ESPN would also get rights to any team that joined the MLB stable.<\/p>\n In terms of ESPN national windows, a key one is a high-profile Thursday night window coming out of the All-Star break. The full schedule of other national games on ESPN is still TBD, sources said, but it will also include the annual Little League Classic game. On the talent side, mainstays like Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian are expected to stay with the network. While ESPN has retained rights to produce \u201cBaseball Tonight,\u201d an exact schedule remains in flux. ESPN Radio will continue to air \u201cSunday Night Baseball,\u201d the full postseason and All-Star weekend and more under the new deal.<\/p>\n ESPN declined comment.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, NBC\u2019s MLB deal for \u201cSunday Night Baseball\u201d<\/a> will round out its Sunday night strategy complementing NBA and NFL programming. The network also will get the Wild Card round that aired on ESPN networks under the previous deal. SBJ also previously reported that Peacock will take over the Sunday morning streaming package that had been held by Roku<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sources tell SBJ that NBC will open its deal on March 26 with a D-backs-Dodgers game in primetime, which will see the Dodgers raise their World Series banner.<\/p>\n Netflix\u2019s MLB deal will include the Home Run Derby<\/a> and opening night of the MLB season<\/a>, per sources.<\/p>\n