Peacock Adding Major League Baseball Games in $30 Million Deal: Report

By Jon Lafayette
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

Agreement follows Apple agreement with MLB

NBCUniversal Peacock
(Image credit: NBCUniversal)

Comcast’s NBC Sports reportedly has made a deal to televise Major League Baseball games, mostly on its Peacock streaming service.

According to Forbes, the $30-million deal covers the Monday and Wednesday night games that ESPN aired under its previous deal with MLB. A handful of games might appear on NBC.

Comcast NBCU has seen sports as a way to jump start Peacock, which has gotten off sluggishly in the competition among streaming services to grab subscribers. Peacock streamed the Olympics and the Super Bowl.

Also: NBC Reportedly in Talks To Put MLB Games on Peacock

The Peacock deal follows Tuesday's announcement that Apple TV Plus will air Friday night baseball doubleheaders. 

Forbes said that deal called for Apple to pay a $55-million rights fee and buy $30 million worth of advertising.

The lucrative new television deals come as the Major League Baseball team owners negotiate with the MLB Players Association, whose members have been locked out by management, possibly delaying the start of the season. 

The new deals will kick in when and if the 2022 season starts. ■

Baseball Rights Deals

(Image credit: Forbes)
Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.