The shift (to streaming) is on.
Last week, ESPN and Major League Baseball confirmed that they are set to part ways, ending a relationship that began back in 1990. Their current deal—which was set to pay the league $550 million per year for the likes of Sunday night MLB games, the Home Run Derby, and a wild-card postseason series, among other content—will now end after the 2025 season.
Both sides had a March 1 deadline to opt out of the contract, with ESPN citing “fiscal responsibility” in its decision to leave. Meanwhile, MLB didn’t want to reduce fees, especially at a time when ESPN is paying up for properties such as the National Football League, where it will pony up $2.7