The Athletic reports on Thursday that Major League Baseball (MLB) executives are currently negotiating potential new broadcast deals and partnerships with Apple, ESPN, NBC, and Netflix, as confirmed by officials familiar with the talks.
Andrew Marchand for The Athletic:
NBC/Peacock and Apple TV+ are considered the top contenders for “Sunday Night Baseball” and first-round playoff games, while ESPN could add weekday games and a bigger daily digital presence, the officials said. Netflix has emerged as the potential Home Run Derby destination.
No deals have been finalized, and talks are active, creating an opportunity for other platforms to jump in. All the contracts are expected to be for three seasons.
The main rights in play are the ones ESPN opted out of in February, including the Home Run Derby, “Sunday Night Baseball” and eight to 12 first-round playoff games per year. MLB had three seasons remaining on that deal with ESPN, which was paying, on average, $550 million per year. ESPN is now after a new set of rights…
Apple already pays $85 million annually for exclusive Friday doubleheaders.
MacDailyNews Take: Live sports are clearly a winner for Apple or the company wouldn’t continue pursuing such deals.
Cook should consider bidding for and winning NFL Sunday Ticket away from DirecTV, buying rights to Premier League and La Liga games, etc. and making them Apple TV exclusives. Go directly to the sports leagues with boatloads of cash. — MacDailyNews, May 6, 2014
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