NBCUniversal Makes Lowball Offer for ESPN’s Old MLB Package

Can NBC and Peacock grab another major sports package? The Wall Street Journal reports NBCUniversal made an offer for the MLB rights ESPN gave up. The report cites sources who say the offer is far less than what ESPN previously paid.

In February, ESPN used its opt-out clause to escape the final three years of its $550 million/year MLB deal. ESPN offered MLB $200 million/year to continue, but the league turned them down.

ESPN’s decision enraged baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who then described channel as a “shrinking” platform. ESPN leaders have said they’re willing to renegotiate, but that bridge may be burned.

NBCUniversal is reportedly interested in MLB games for NBC on Sunday nights. Games would also air on Peacock. NBC is said to be eyeing rights to the first round of the postseason and the Home Run Derby.

Read: Peacock Offering Annual Plan for $24.99 (63% Off)

What Other Outlets Might Grab MLB Rights?

The group of channels formerly owned by NBCUniversal (now part of a separate company called Versant) may make a play for the MLB. That would put games on USA Network.

Prime Video is another likely landing spot. Amazon’s deep pockets make it a contender for nearly any sport.

Warner Bros. Discovery could try to grab the MLB package, but it already has a lineup of baseball games. Their rights package ends in 2028.

Paramount Global is an unlikely contender. That company has been in chaos in recent years as primary shareholder Shari Redstone bends over backwards to sell the company to Skydance Media.

Fox could look to upgrade its MLB package to make FOX One a more attractive streaming platform, but they already hold a strong MLB lineup that expires in 2028.

It’s very unlikely Netflix or The Roku Channel would be willing to pay more than $200 million for the package.

There is a possibility MLB comes crawling back to ESPN, but we’ll see.

Peacock’s Sports Lineup Looks Strong Even if MLB Falls Through

This fall, Peacock will get rights to the old NBA package previously broadcast on TNT.

Peacock is also home to the Olympics, English Premier League soccer, Sunday Night Football, and WWE events including WrestleMania. There’s also Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball, golf, SuperMotocross, figure skating, IndyCar, Notre Dame Hockey, track & field, IMSA, and snow sports