Major League Baseball is close to its third major deal in a week, as multiple reports say a new deal with NBC and Peacock is imminent.
The Wall Street Journal and Forbes reported this week that Major League Baseball is finalizing a media rights agreement with NBC to carry a package of games primarily on Peacock. News of a possible deal was first reported by the New York Post last month. Per the Journal, the package will consist of 18 early Sunday afternoon games, including some as early as 11:30 AM ET. The NBC broadcast network would simulcast the first game with the subsequent games exclusively on Peacock.
Unlike MLB’s just-announced deal with Apple, in which all games on Apple TV+ will be produced by MLB Network, NBC will reportedly produce the games and shoulder programming.
Per Forbes, the NBC deal will be worth $30 million per year. When combined with Apple’s $85 million/year deal, MLB will be paid $115 million per year on top of its existing deals with Fox, ESPN and Turner. It should be noted that the new deals essentially replace the Monday and Wednesday night rights ESPN relinquished in its new, reduced deal with MLB.
As noted by the Journal, MLB won the right to expand its schedule of morning games in its freshly-minted collective bargaining agreement with the players. There can now be eight such games per year, up from two in the previous CBA.
