- NBCUniversal nears a $600m, three-year deal with MLB to stream and broadcast Sunday games across TV and Peacock.
- The move signals NBC’s push to grow sports rights as rivals like Apple, ESPN and Fox expand in live sports.
What happened: NBC nears $600m MLB rights deal
NBCUniversal is close to finishing a three-year deal with Major League Baseball that is worth about $600 million, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The deal lets NBC show and stream MLB games on its platforms. This includes the Peacock streaming service. The move is part of NBC’s push to get more top sports content. Sources say the deal will include Sunday games. NBC would get exclusive rights, and this would bring both TV viewers and digital users.
The contract would also help NBC grow in the tough sports broadcasting market. Other groups like Fox, ESPN and Apple have already spent a lot on baseball rights. This deal would be one of NBC’s biggest sports rights deals in many years. It shows that NBC still sees live sports as a main way to pull in audiences. It also shows that live games are key for getting more subscribers to its streaming service. Talks are close to being done, and a formal announcement may come soon.
Also Read: Comcast launches World Cup-focused soccer package
Also Read: Comcast launches World Cup-focused soccer package
Why it’s important
Sports are still one of the strongest tools in broadcasting and streaming. NBCUniversal’s plan shows how much networks will pay to get top content. Baseball has some problems with younger fans and it competes with faster sports. Still, it has many loyal fans and it brings in strong ad money. A $600 million deal shows that live shows are very important to keep viewers at a time when most people use on-demand video. For NBCUniversal, showing regular MLB games would help Peacock get more users. It would also fit its plan to make live sports a key part of its digital growth.
The move is part of a bigger trend where tech firms and broadcasters fight for sports rights. Apple has deals for Friday baseball. Amazon is strong in the NFL. YouTube has tried live sports too. These moves show that live events are now at the centre of the streaming fight. For fans, this deal could mean games are spread across more services and people need more than one subscription. For the industry, it shows sport is one of the few things that can still bring huge live audiences, so it has become the main focus for both old broadcasters and new tech players.
