August 28, 2012
To tweet this release: https://es.pn/Or768E
MLB Reach Eight-Year Multiplatform Rights Extension
- Expanded coverage includes 125+ regular season games, World Series, Playoffs, All Star Weekend
- Hundreds of MLB games per season on ESPN channels around the world
- Expanded Digital Rights
- Agreement covers US, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands and Cruise Ships
The agreement means that ESPN will continue to be the home of MLB coverage throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Under the expanded agreement, fans will be able to watch Spring Training games, more than 125 regular season MLB games (including ESPN’s Sunday Night, Monday Night and Wednesday Night Baseball games), the MLB All-Star Weekend (including the All-Star Game, State Farm Home Run Derby, Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game), one of the Wild Card presented by Budweiser Playoff games, two of the four Division series, one of the League Championship Series (alternating between the National League and American League each season), and every game of the World Series.
The new agreement also includes:
- Expanded multimedia MLB rights in the United States;
- Rights for ESPN to produce hundreds of additional hours of MLB studio programming – including Baseball Tonight and other new programs – to televise across its global television networks;
- Increased footage and highlights rights across multiple media;
- Syndication rights in throughout Europe and on cruise lines;
- Added rights and content across digital platforms, including video clip and data rights, and the ability for ESPN or its syndication clients to make MLB content available on authenticated multi-platform offerings;
MLB Commissioner Allan H. Selig
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am thrilled that we will continue our long-standing relationship with ESPN far into the future. The level of ESPN’s commitment to baseball – both financially and through its expanded content – is a testament to the strength of our game and its unprecedented popularity among our fans. Through its various networks and other media platforms, ESPN offers baseball fans more avenues to experience the game than ever before, and we’re thankful for their continued support.”
ESPN President John Skipper:
“We’re thrilled to renew our long-standing agreement with Major League Baseball into the next decade. It’s a great property. The enormous scope of what we acquired will provide fans with more live baseball and more ways to access baseball content than ever before.”
The new agreement will guarantee a more than 30 year continuous relationship between ESPN and MLB – dating back to 1990 – which is one of the longest standing relationships between a network and a league.