Sports Media

Philsmania 2025-11-17 21:28:14 UTC #982

USA and Golf are a part of Versant now, although Versant isn't entirely spun off from the Comcast Universal empire...the Robertses own 33% of the stock. It's wierd...MSNBC rebranded into MSNow but CNBC and Golf Channel have essentially kept their NBC branding.

andyb 2025-11-17 21:51:03 UTC #983

I assume this new NBCSN is there so future negotiations will not rely on Versant (though they could still do some joint negotiations). This channel will likely get to other systems. It seems a way for Comcast to make more money without giving away Peacock subscriptions. Future sports might also be steered here instead of USA (though Golf probably survives as its own little market)..

zambonir 2025-11-19 18:09:05 UTC #984

MLB.TV expected to be basically the same under ESPN, it will just be on their platforms, whether standalone or add-on. T Mobile deal is still expected to be good. And MLB.TV or local package customers (the six teams) will probably get free one-month ESPN Unlimited trial.

andyb 2025-11-19 18:19:17 UTC #985

Mostly what they announced a few months ago. Phillies in the Field of Dreams game on Netflix. Also the MLB app will continue for another year so people can watch games in both places. I assume the T-Mobile deal through 2028 is unchanged. It does NOT look like MLB games will show up on YouTube TV as part of their recent ESPN deal.

All this seems a prelude to all 30 teams being offered through ESPN in some way after 2028 though that is another deal to be cut. I assume other teams might start offering their rights through ESPN too in the next 3 years for an additional fee in market.

That NBCSN announcement is probably related to this. Since NBA playoffs go through May and football starts in September there are really only 12-14 Sunday nights for baseball. Having the NBCSN channel means non-Peacock viewers can watch those games too.

Philsmania 2025-11-19 21:27:35 UTC #986

My question is will people only be able to see games on streaming after 2028? Will ESPN sell games to local outlets, cable (for example, NBCSNP) or over-the-air? In other words, I guess I am asking how will this work for the end-user?

andyb 2025-11-19 21:47:53 UTC #987

All over the air games are also streamed today. I doubt much will change. Local games will still be over the air occasionally but all games are already streamed. The Phillies do a handful of games over the air if I recall. Here in DC there are no Nationals or Orioles games over the air unless they are a national telecast.

After 2028 things will be different but imagine there will still be a price for all out of market games and then another price for in market games. More games will be tied to exclusive national deals like the NBA just did. Note the 30 midweek games ESPN will get in 2026 are apparently exclusive like the Sunday games were (which have the advantage of being the only game on at the time usually). Remember ESPN used to have an exclusive Wednesday night game. Their new games are apparently like that.

zambonir 2025-11-19 22:40:07 UTC #988

It's still gonna be really expensive for ESPN (and/or MLB) to clear up those 24 other teams' local streaming rights (and for the big-market teams, Phillies included, and their existing RSNs to be made hole.

MLB really got played here, they lost $1.65 million from ESPN's original deal, and then merely got that same amount back by selling them MLB.TV and making this three-year deal. The extra they are getting from all the other companies still doesn't close the gap, and they no longer get the annual revenue from owning MLB.TV.

What's not clear to me is did ESPN buy the six teams' local rights or is that just part of this three-year term? But whatever happens in 2029 there will still be streaming, and ideally no more blackouts or local limits.

andyb 2025-11-20 15:24:36 UTC #989

More details from ESPN here:
https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/11/espn-major-league-baseball-reach-innovative-new-agreement-featuring-significant-collection-of-national-and-local-rights/

Looks like they did get a decent collection of rights. There will be a free game of the day on the ESPN app like MLB.TV does with their website which will be more convenient for non subscribers. Radio rights also part of their package. MLB Network will show up on the ESPN app too. One interesting multiview that might be possible if they host the minor league games too would be to see all 4 Phillies minor league affiliates at once.

Noticed also that Peacock is picking up the early Sunday Roku games as well in their deal so that is at least one less place to watch games (and likely a more professional broadcast).

Philsmania 2025-11-20 15:33:05 UTC #990

zambonir:

It's still gonna be really expensive for ESPN (and/or MLB) to clear up those 24 other teams' local streaming rights (and for the big-market teams, Phillies included, and their existing RSNs to be made hole.

MLB really got played here, they lost $1.65 million from ESPN's original deal, and then merely got that same amount back by selling them MLB.TV and making this three-year deal. The extra they are getting from all the other companies still doesn't close the gap, and they no longer get the annual revenue from owning MLB.TV.

What's not clear to me is did ESPN buy the six teams' local rights or is that just part of this three-year term? But whatever happens in 2029 there will still be streaming, and ideally no more blackouts or local limits.

nytimes.com

After near-billion-dollar blunder, MLB’s Rob Manfred puts on rally cap with new...

MLB rallied from its spring snafu with its TV rights into a solid foundation for the next three years and beyond.

More evidence that Manfred is a bozo and bad at trying to be a mob boss.

zambonir 2025-11-20 16:11:13 UTC #991

Meanwhile Apple just raised their prices and T Mobile isn't going to cover the extra, unlike with Hulu recently.