Major League Baseball reports success with new media distribution deals

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed satisfaction with the first year of the league’s new media distribution model as the postseason approaches. The 2026 season tested a strategy of moving major events across broadcast television, cable, and streaming services to increase reach and audience diversity.

Key components of the new arrangement included the return of NBC to the national television lineup, the addition of Netflix as a major streaming partner, and a restructured role for ESPN. Manfred noted that NBC has been particularly effective in expanding reach, with Sunday Night Baseball games averaging 2.7 million viewers—the highest average since 2007. Several broadcasts during the season exceeded 3 million viewers.