Sports Media

[andyb]

Mostly what they announced a few months ago. Phillies in the Field of Dreams game on Netflix. Also the MLB app will continue for another year so people can watch games in both places. I assume the T-Mobile deal through 2028 is unchanged. It does NOT look like MLB games will show up on YouTube TV as part of their recent ESPN deal.

All this seems a prelude to all 30 teams being offered through ESPN in some way after 2028 though that is another deal to be cut. I assume other teams might start offering their rights through ESPN too in the next 3 years for an additional fee in market.

That NBCSN announcement is probably related to this. Since NBA playoffs go through May and football starts in September there are really only 12-14 Sunday nights for baseball. Having the NBCSN channel means non-Peacock viewers can watch those games too.

[Philsmania]

My question is will people only be able to see games on streaming after 2028? Will ESPN sell games to local outlets, cable (for example, NBCSNP) or over-the-air? In other words, I guess I am asking how will this work for the end-user?

[andyb]

All over the air games are also streamed today. I doubt much will change. Local games will still be over the air occasionally but all games are already streamed. The Phillies do a handful of games over the air if I recall. Here in DC there are no Nationals or Orioles games over the air unless they are a national telecast.

After 2028 things will be different but imagine there will still be a price for all out of market games and then another price for in market games. More games will be tied to exclusive national deals like the NBA just did. Note the 30 midweek games ESPN will get in 2026 are apparently exclusive like the Sunday games were (which have the advantage of being the only game on at the time usually). Remember ESPN used to have an exclusive Wednesday night game. Their new games are apparently like that.

[zambonir]

It's still gonna be really expensive for ESPN (and/or MLB) to clear up those 24 other teams' local streaming rights (and for the big-market teams, Phillies included, and their existing RSNs to be made hole.

MLB really got played here, they lost $1.65 million from ESPN's original deal, and then merely got that same amount back by selling them MLB.TV and making this three-year deal. The extra they are getting from all the other companies still doesn't close the gap, and they no longer get the annual revenue from owning MLB.TV.

What's not clear to me is did ESPN buy the six teams' local rights or is that just part of this three-year term? But whatever happens in 2029 there will still be streaming, and ideally no more blackouts or local limits.

After near-billion-dollar blunder, MLB’s Rob Manfred puts on rally cap with new...

[andyb]

More details from ESPN here:
https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/11/espn-major-league-baseball-reach-innovative-new-agreement-featuring-significant-collection-of-national-and-local-rights/

Looks like they did get a decent collection of rights. There will be a free game of the day on the ESPN app like MLB.TV does with their website which will be more convenient for non subscribers. Radio rights also part of their package. MLB Network will show up on the ESPN app too. One interesting multiview that might be possible if they host the minor league games too would be to see all 4 Phillies minor league affiliates at once.

Noticed also that Peacock is picking up the early Sunday Roku games as well in their deal so that is at least one less place to watch games (and likely a more professional broadcast).

[Philsmania]

It's still gonna be really expensive for ESPN (and/or MLB) to clear up those 24 other teams' local streaming rights (and for the big-market teams, Phillies included, and their existing RSNs to be made hole.

MLB really got played here, they lost $1.65 million from ESPN's original deal, and then merely got that same amount back by selling them MLB.TV and making this three-year deal. The extra they are getting from all the other companies still doesn't close the gap, and they no longer get the annual revenue from owning MLB.TV.

What's not clear to me is did ESPN buy the six teams' local rights or is that just part of this three-year term? But whatever happens in 2029 there will still be streaming, and ideally no more blackouts or local limits.

After near-billion-dollar blunder, MLB’s Rob Manfred puts on rally cap with new...

More evidence that Manfred is a bozo and bad at trying to be a mob boss.

[zambonir]

Meanwhile Apple just raised their prices and T Mobile isn't going to cover the extra, unlike with Hulu recently.

[andyb]

I may live in DC, but it is hard to defend the Washington Post on anything these days::

The Washington Post snubbed Philly on list of America’s best sports cities. Here...

[EastFallowfield]

The AI summary of the comments on the Post article:

The conversation explores the passionate reactions of readers to the omission of Philadelphia from a list of top sports cities in the opinion piece. Many participants express disbelief and frustration, emphasizing Philadelphia's fervent sports culture and dedicated fan base. They highlight the city's strong connection to its teams, such as the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, and 76ers, and argue that Philadelphia's sports identity is deeply ingrained in its residents' lives. Some comments also mention Pittsburgh as another city that should have been included, citing its rich sports history and loyal fan base. Overall, the discussion is dominated by the sentiment that Philadelphia's exclusion undermines the credibility of the piece.

The Post seems to have become so clickbaity lately, this was a good reminder to cancel the subscription (someone gifted me one a couple years ago and I renewed at the bargain rate for a few years when it was about .50 a week)

[zambonir]

Yeah we got rid of ours a while ago, I keep hearing about the AI thing. I pay for the Times/Athletic as well as the Inquirer and PHLY. You get what you pay for with all the garbage sites and AI. But in the Post's case you don't even get what you pay for. They still has some good arts coverage and real journalism, but dwindling every day with buyouts and departures under the current management team.

[andyb]

What is worse is the AI comment moderation. Way too hard to say something negative (without profanity of course). Don't even try to insinuate that Bezos is sucking up to Trump. The opinion pages are now like the Wall Street Journal but with thoughtful conservatives replaced largely with hacks (many from the conservative tabloids in Britain).

News is still pretty good though. Not as good as it has been, but they don't seem to be encroaching too much there.

I am grandfathered into a $4 a month plan and it is just hard to cancel that. Just wish Bezos would sell it. Between the Trumpy politics and the desire to be profitable (clicks > news) it is a shell of what it once was. Even the sports guys are leaving (the Athletic took 2 of the best sports writers in recent months, Sally Jenkins went to the Atlantic also).

[EastFallowfield]

I am grandfathered into a $4 a month plan and it is just hard to cancel that.

When I cancelled I was offered the same plan as last year, $29 a year (which adds up to about .56 a week, 2.42 a month). Maybe you should try cancelling and at least end up having to give Bezos a few less dollars each year!

[zambonir]

I cancel or threaten to cancel most things every year. The Times always gives me back the promo rate. Sirius XM too. The Inquirer is a pain about it and only does 3-4 month increments. I think the best Post offer would be $1 a month for 12 months right now

[andyb]

Just cancelled and renewed my NY Times $1 a week again. Something like 4 years in a row with that price. They really need a price in the $10-$15 a month range. I am happy to pay $4 a month but the regular $25 a month rate is just too much.

[zambonir]

They just really have the Wordle, Wirecutter and Food people on the hook. There used to be a cheaper rate w/o that stuff. But I was paying whatever it was ($50-60 a year) for the Athletic so I still feel way ahead of the game now.

[BostonRoss]

I may live in DC, but it is hard to defend the Washington Post on anything these days::

The Washington Post snubbed Philly on list of America’s best sports cities. Here...

The WaPo article is pretty useless. What does it mean to be a great sports town anyway? What is a "Philly sports fan, or an LA sports fan? What do fans from one area know about those in other areas?

The Inquirer article isn't much better even if it is more interesting to us. Some things are better off left without responses.

[Philsmania]

FWIW, Netflix wins the bidding for Warner Brothers which still plans to spin off the cable companies--including TNT which broadcasts MLB games--into Discovery Global. Paramount wanted the whole package which would have made TNT and CBS a part of the same company. Could be a tough sell for Federal regulators, especially with the Paramount-owning Ellisons being Trump allies though I'm personally glad that the Ellisons won't, for now, be getting their dirty fingers on CNN.

[bkox]

Paramount says not so fast

Breaking: Paramount launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, days after the company announced a $72 billion deal with Netflix https://t.co/3BXqUNlpRj

— The Wall Street Journal ( @WSJ ) December 8, 2025

[andyb]

Shorter All Star break for the Phillies. There is now a standalone TV game on Thursday of All Star week on ESPN and it is Phillies-Mets.

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/12/espn-unveils-more-mlb-game-selections-for-key-dates-in-2026/

[zambonir]

I've always found the break to be one day too long. Are we at home for that one (seeing as how the ASG is)?