With Sinclair’s RSNs in flux, ESPN potentially spun off by Disney and MLB exploring a new direct-to-consumer service allowing for home-market broadcasts, Major League Baseball’s streaming plans could come in for a long-awaited overhaul. (more…)
Tag Archives | espn
Disney, MLB agree to scaled-back ESPN broadcast schedule
Major League Baseball and Disney agreed to a new seven-year ESPN broadcast schedule that sees only 30 exclusive game broadcasts, but with the possibility of more expanded-playoff matches. (more…)
ESPN to begin season with remote announcers
While MLB teams have been mixed in their approaches to announcers in the ballpark during spring training, ESPN will begin the 2021 MLB season with remote announcers, but that decision may be revisited as the season progresses. (more…)
Sports-broadcasting economy takes hits at Disney, Sinclair
With every major league relying heavily on broadcasting rights, two developments indicate some hiccups in that economy, with ESPN layoffs and huge losses at the 21 Sinclair Broadcasting regional sports networks (RSNs). (more…)
How MLB will handle a fan-free broadcast
With the 2020 MLB season launching tonight with marquee matchups in Washington and Los Angeles, we’ll see how MLB and its broadcast teams handle a unique challenge: drumming up enthusiasm for a fan-less experience. (more…)
Live baseball returns tonight to ESPN–from South Korea
Though Major League Baseball is shut down, you’ll be able to watch live baseball action tonight/tomorrow on ESPN, as the broadcaster reaches a deal to televise South Korea’s KBO League games on a daily broadcast. (more…)
Disney Buys Majority Share of BAMTech, Will Launch New Streaming Services
Technology developed by BAMTech will serve as the backbone of new streaming services, including a sports service built around ESPN, as The Walt Disney Company acquires majority ownership in the technology spinoff developed by MLBAM. (more…)
Disney Purchases Stake in BamTech
A move that has looked inevitable for some time is now complete, as Disney has purchased a stake in BamTech, a streaming company launched by Major League Baseball. (more…)
Sugar Land Skeeters, ESPN ink broadcast deal
Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) games will be broadcast on ESPN’s online network, with the potential for games to be broadcast on a cable station. The Skeeters become the first minor-league baseball team to showcase full-season live coverage on ESPN3, ESPN’s online channel. The deal gives ESPN the exclusive rights to place Sugar Land […]
White elephant on Cubs ledgers? Debt service, not Wrigley Field imperfections
ESPN’s Rick Reilly proves why sportswriters should never write about business, penning an utterly insane argument on why Wrigley Field prevents the Chicago Cubs from winning a World Series. You can read Reilly’s screed here. Reilly’s basic argument is that the Cubs’ payroll could be increased by $73 million a year if the team could […]
News Corp. buys 49 percent of YES Network; has option to buy more
News Corp. has closed on an agreement to buy 49 percent of YES Network from the New York Yankees and the team’s equity partners, with the option to increase that stake to 80 percent in coming years. News Corp. and its Fox Sports subsidiaries are already extensive rightsholders in baseball, both for national broadcasts on […]
New MLB TV contracts finalized: $1.5B annually
We have a final tally on the new TV contracts signed between Major League Baseball and broadcast partners ESPN, Fox Sports and TBS: an average of $1.5 billion annually, or $12.4 billion over eight years. The deal between ESPN and MLB was made public earlier — $700 million annually, totaling $5.6 billion over eight years— […]
More bidders emerging for MLB TV rights?
CBS could end up being part of a new package of rightsholders for MLB broadcasts or Fox could use an expanded rights buy to launch a new sports channel, as talks continue. With ESPN doubling its financial commitment to MLB broadcasts, the bar was set for what MLB will expect from other bidders when the […]