MLB, ESPN Mutually Agree to End Media Deal Which Started 35-Years Ago

End of an Era? MLB and ESPN Part Ways After 35 Years

For more than three decades, Sunday Night Baseball has been synonymous with ESPN. But after the 2025 season, that long-standing relationship may come to an end.

Major League Baseball and ESPN have mutually agreed to terminate their current broadcasting deal after next season, according to a league memo obtained by The Athletic’s Evan Drellich. The contract had been set to run through 2028, but a March 1 opt-out deadline allowed either party to walk away early.

The decision marks a significant shift in the sports media landscape, and at its core, it comes down to two fundamental issues—MLB’s dissatisfaction with ESPN’s diminishing baseball coverage and ESPN’s push to renegotiate the deal at a lower price.

Say what you want about Rob Manfred but he is 100% right for pulling MLB from ESPN. The world wide leader in sports made the editorial decision to minimize its coverage of baseball, and focus more on other sports —that statistically speaking — are much less popular. Every… pic.twitter.com/Pjcx51E9iX

— Phil Sanchez (@PhilSanchezTV) February 21, 2025

A Relationship on the Decline

In the internal memo, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly expressed frustration over what he views as a lack of attention from ESPN beyond live game broadcasts.

“We have not been pleased with the minimal coverage that MLB has received on ESPN’s platforms over the past several years outside of the actual live game coverage,” Manfred wrote.

Meanwhile, ESPN, which pays an average of $550 million annually for MLB rights, was seeking a reduction in fees—something MLB refused to entertain. Instead, Manfred believes the league will have at least two new broadcasting options to explore in the coming weeks.

ESPN and MLB have mutually agreed to end their national TV partnership after this season, per @EvanDrellich pic.twitter.com/eQ7H5tYCJA

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 21, 2025

Official Statements: MLB and ESPN Leave the Door Open

Both MLB and ESPN released public statements acknowledging the split, though neither fully ruled out a future deal.

MLB’s statement pointed directly at ESPN’s dwindling investment in baseball:

“We have had a long and mutually beneficial partnership with ESPN that dates back to its first MLB game in 1990. Unfortunately, in recent years, we have seen ESPN scale back their baseball coverage and investment in a way that is not consistent with the sport’s appeal or performance on their platform. Given that MLB provides strong viewership, valuable demographics, and the exclusive right to cover unique events like the Home Run Derby, ESPN’s demand to reduce rights fees is simply unacceptable. As a result, we have mutually agreed to terminate our agreement.”

ESPN, for its part, emphasized its desire to remain involved in MLB coverage while also pointing to the evolving media landscape and the company’s strategic priorities.

“We are grateful for our longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball and proud of how ESPN’s coverage super-serves fans. In making this decision, we applied the same discipline and fiscal responsibility that has built ESPN’s industry-leading live events portfolio as we continue to grow our audience across linear, digital, and social platforms. As we have been throughout the process, we remain open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across our platforms beyond 2025.”

MLB’s Media Landscape: A League in Transition

The fallout between MLB and ESPN is the latest domino to fall in an evolving media landscape.

For decades, MLB’s television model was built around regional sports networks (RSNs) and national deals with Fox, ESPN, and TBS. But with the decline of cable subscribers, the financial foundation of that system has crumbled.

So let me get this straight…

MLB is the second-most watched league in the U.S. Ratings are up, viewership is up, revenue is up, etc.

And ESPN just drops it so they can continue talk more about the NBA which is currently doing the opposite.

Hilarious 😂

— Angels Baseball Chatter (@ChatterAngels) February 21, 2025

Diamond Sports Group, which operated the Bally Sports RSNs covering more than a dozen teams, filed for bankruptcy, forcing MLB to step in and help teams launch their own direct-to-consumer streaming options. Meanwhile, the league has aggressively pursued deals with streaming platforms, cutting agreements with Apple TV, The Roku Channel, Peacock, and even Amazon Prime, which now carries some New York Yankees games.

What Comes Next?

ESPN, owned by Disney, has been shifting its focus toward streaming, though this particular MLB deal didn’t align with its strategy. That leaves MLB searching for a new media partner—or partners—to fill the gap. With streaming platforms becoming increasingly willing to invest in live sports, the league is likely to find suitors eager to step in, such as Apple TV.

You all are celebrating the end of ESPN’s MLB coverage but not realizing that the next logical step to this is Apple TV taking that slot over for the next decade..

— Justin (@JustinMLB) February 21, 2025

Still, the departure of ESPN as a primary broadcaster would mark the end of an era. Sunday Night Baseball, Baseball Tonight, and marquee events like the Home Run Derby have been ESPN staples for decades. Whether MLB finds a new home for those broadcasts or attempts to reshape its media rights strategy entirely remains to be seen.

But one thing is certain: The way fans consume baseball is changing. And after 2025, ESPN’s role in that experience may never be the same.