Netflix Secures MLB Broadcasting Rights... Enters U.S. Professional Baseball Broadcasting Market with ESPN and NBC

The American online video service (OTT) company Netflix has officially entered the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) broadcasting market. The MLB office announced on the 20th (Korean time) that it has signed a broadcasting rights contract with Netflix, ESPN, and NBC for MLB in the U.S.

Secured Major Big Event Broadcasting Rights

Through this contract, Netflix will pay an average of $50 million (approximately 73.4 billion won) annually for the next 3 years and will broadcast some MLB games and special events.

The major broadcasting rights secured by Netflix are as follows:

• The regular season opening game for the 2026 season between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees on March 26 next year

• All-Star Game Home Run Derby

• The 'Field of Dreams' game held at a special baseball field in a cornfield

Netflix has been aggressively investing in sports broadcasting recently, expanding its content area. In August, it also purchased the broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Japan to be held next March.

Bella Bajaria, Netflix's Chief Content Officer (CCO), expressed her ambition through MLB.com, stating, "Netflix will solidify its position as the best platform to enjoy sports like baseball."

Contract Scale with Existing Broadcasters

MLB maintains a strategy of selling broadcasting rights divided by team, region, and event.

In this contract, the existing broadcaster ESPN agreed to pay an average of $550 million (approximately 807.6 billion won) in exchange for the MLBTV broadcasting rights. NBC will pay an average of $200 million (approximately 293.7 billion won), establishing itself as a major player in the U.S. MLB broadcasting market alongside Netflix.