Sports Media with Richard Deitsch What is MLB's media strategy?
Jul 18, 2025
Alex Sherman, a CNBC media and sports reporter, discusses his recent interview with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. The conversation reveals MLB's current media rights strategy amid challenges, including potential shifts in partnerships with ESPN. Sherman delves into the impact of innovations like the pitch clock on viewer engagement and the possibilities of streaming events like the Home Run Derby. He examines the complexities of local broadcast rights and the potential for a centralized streaming service to enhance revenues across teams.
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MLB Media Rights in Flux
- MLB media rights are in flux, unlike NFL and NBA, with uncertain valuation trends.
- Smaller streaming deals have complicated ESPN's willingness to pay high rights fees for MLB games.
MLB's National Streaming Rights Strategy
- MLB aims to nationalize local streaming rights to sell consolidated national packages.
- This approach seeks higher revenue from major buyers despite a cluttered media landscape.
Future of Sunday Night Baseball Deal
- ESPN opted out of Sunday Night Baseball citing overpayment concerns, complicating MLB’s future rights deals.
- MLB likely needs multiple media partners to maximize rights value, not just ESPN alone.