Major League Baseball could be returning to NBC as part of a broader deal with Peacock and Apple. Plus: Apple and Amazon are said to be outbidding Disney for NFL Sunday Ticket; ESPN reportedly wants Derek Jeter; U.S. soccer rights are heading to Turner and HBO.
MLB could be returning to NBC
NBC Sports is in talks with Major League Baseball on a media rights deal that would include a select number of games on the NBC broadcast network, the New York Post reported Monday. The NBC games would be a small part of a larger package split between NBC and Apple in which most games would air on the Peacock and Apple TV+ streaming service. Apple would pay most of the $100-150 million rights fee and MLB Network would produce the games.
The package will replace the Monday and Wednesday night games ESPN is relinquishing in its new, reduced deal with Major League Baseball. MLB has had a difficult time finding takers for the inventory and has spent the better part of two years shopping around the rights to a series of contenders that at one point included Barstool Sports.
Peacock, it should be noted, exclusively carried a three-game Phillies-Giants series last season (NBC owns local rights to both teams via its regional sports networks).
NBC has not aired Major League Baseball since 2000. It would join ABC, which as carried a handful of games the past two seasons, in returning to the MLB fold. [NYP 2.28]
Apple, Amazon, reportedly outbidding Disney for Sunday Ticket
Apple and Amazon are the frontrunners to acquire the NFL Sunday Ticket package, according to Sports Business Journal, though Disney remains in negotiations. Per the report, the NFL is expecting to generate more than $2 billion per year for the out-of-market package, with Disney’s bid said to trail those of Apple and Amazon. Incumbent DirecTV is reportedly negotiating for a commercial license to sell Sunday Ticket to restaurants and bars. [Sports Business Journal 2.28]
ESPN interested in Jeter, per report
ESPN is interested in the services of former New York Yankees SS Derek Jeter, who on Monday exited his role with the Miami Marlins, Front Office Sports reported. A source within ESPN told the publication that the network could launch a Sunday Night Baseball “Jetercast” as just one of several possibilities. There are no indications yet that Jeter would have any interest in a TV role.
ESPN has already announced plans to launch a Sunday Night Baseball alternate presentation featuring Alex Rodriguez and Michael Kay this season. [Front Office Sports 2.28]
Turner, HBO, said to acquire USMNT, USWNT rights
The Athletic and soccer reporter Grant Wahl reported Monday that the United States Soccer Federation has reached a media rights deal with WarnerMedia to carry men’s and women’s national team games on Turner Sports and HBO, replacing incumbents ESPN and Fox. The deal would not have any impact on FIFA World Cup rights, which are owned by Fox Sports through 2026. [The Athletic 2.28]
