NBC Sports has had serious talks with Major League Baseball about broadcasting games this season in a deal that could range between $100 million and $150 million, according to the New York Post.
If a deal is reached between the two entities, most games are expected to air on NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock. The service — available for $4.99 or $9.99 per month — reached 24.5 million monthly active users and 9 million paying users at the end of 2021.
MLB presents a unique opportunity for NBC.
- NBC hasn’t broadcasted baseball since 2000.
- The MLB Network is expected to produce the broadcasts.
- Broadcasts could include Bob Costas, who is the MLB Network’s lead play-by-player.
There is an expectation that Apple will also acquire rights to broadcast games. The tech giant and MLB held substantial talks in January 2022, but a deal has yet to be finalized.
Let’s Play Ball
MLB and its players union have yet to reach a deal regarding the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Earlier this week, the league reportedly told its players union that it is willing to cancel a month’s worth of games in order to reach a deal.
A new deadline has been set for 5 p.m. ET Tuesday — with a full, 162-game regular season at stake for each franchise. Any deal requires approval by 23 of the 30 MLB owners.
