ESPN is the New Home of MLB.TV. Learn More
Opening Day marks a new era for the longstanding relationship between MLB and ESPN.
Though ESPN is no longer the home for “Sunday Night Baseball” (now on NBC) or the Home Run Derby (now on Netflix), the sports broadcasting network is actually bringing fans more baseball than ever.
“We have 30 exclusive [national] games that will air across ESPN and ABC, including Jackie Robinson Day, Memorial Day, the second-half opener and, everybody’s favorite, the Little League Classic,” said Ashley O’Connor, ESPN’s vice president of programming and acquisitions. “And then, oh yeah, there’s over 2,000 games available on MLB.TV. So it’s wonderful. The company loves baseball, and I think this season will show that more than ever.”
In the first year of a new media rights agreement, ESPN is now the home of the MLB.TV streaming service. Now fans have more flexibility in how they can consume baseball broadcasts, live or on demand and all in one place.
The MLB App will remain a streaming option for MLB.TV subscribers, just as it always has been, with no additional subscription needed.
The MLB.TV service will be available in the ESPN App. But one doesn’t need to have the ESPN App or purchase an ESPN Unlimited subscription in order to be an MLB.TV subscriber. More info on how it works is below.
MLB.TV was of great interest to ESPN as an enhancement to its own app.
“The tagline in there is ‘All of ESPN, All in One Place,’” O’Connor said. “It is a one-stop shop for sports fans. So being able to include over 2,000 baseball games in there is really a match made in heaven.”
Next season, ESPN will begin offering local, in-market streaming subscriptions, further strengthening the reach of a network previously associated with national broadcasts.
But the national ESPN broadcasts will continue as part of this new deal. The first game on ESPN’s docket is on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, when the Dodgers host the Mets at 10:10 p.m. ET/7:10 local in a matchup of NL heavyweights.
In addition to a Memorial Day (May 25) game between the Yankees and Royals, the second-half opener (July 16) between the Mets and Phillies and the Little League Classic (Aug. 23) between the Braves and Brewers, ESPN’s 30-game package also includes three weekend afternoon games that will air exclusively on ABC: Cubs-Giants on June 14, Yankees-Red Sox on June 27 and Cardinals-Cubs on Aug. 16.
“We have 23 games alone in June, July and August, across ABC and ESPN, which are core baseball months,” O’Connor said. “We’ll really showcase some great matchups and teams when it is very top of mind for fans.”
Here’s how the new MLB.TV arrangement will work for fans in these key categories:
Existing MLB.TV subscribers
These subscribers will be renewed automatically through their MLB.TV account. They can continue to access the streaming content in the MLB App, just as they always have or utilize their MLB.TV subscription within the ESPN App.
Existing ESPN Unlimited subscribers
MLB.TV will be available as an add-on feature. These sports fans will have the opportunity to purchase an MLB.TV subscription for $134.99 per season instead of $149.99. They will have the option to stream MLB.TV through either the MLB or ESPN App.
New MLB.TV customers (w/o an existing ESPN Unlimited subscription)
These customers can subscribe to MLB.TV directly through ESPN platforms. They do not need to additionally purchase an ESPN Unlimited subscription, though they will receive ESPN Unlimited free for one month. Should they choose not to continue their ESPN Unlimited subscription beyond the free trial, it will not impact their MLB.TV subscriptions. They will have the option of streaming MLB.TV through either the MLB or ESPN App.
MLB Extra Innings viewers
Nothing has changed with regard to the MLB Extra Innings package. Consult your provider for pricing.
International viewers
MLB continues to offer MLB.TV outside of the United States.
An MLB.TV subscription includes access to MLB Network, pre- and postgame coverage, Minor League Baseball games and MLB Big Inning, a whiparound show featuring live look-ins and real-time highlights from all 30 clubs.
As always, select regular-season and postseason games that are exclusive to national MLB media partners will be available through the partners’ platforms and not through an MLB.TV subscription.