Cupertino, CA – Apple is in talks with Major League Baseball (MLB) to acquire the rights to stream Sunday night baseball games, according to sources cited by Sportsbusinessjournal. The move signals Apple’s continued ambition to bolster its sports content offerings and compete more aggressively in the lucrative live sports streaming market.
The negotiations come after ESPN declined to renew its broadcast contract for the Sunday night package beyond the 2025 season. This opened the door for a bidding war, attracting interest from major players like Apple and NBC. However, MLB is reportedly considering splitting the package into smaller segments to cater to both modern streaming audiences and traditional television viewers.
While no agreement has been reached, the discussions build upon an existing partnership between Apple and MLB. Since 2022, Apple TV+ has exclusively streamed Friday Night Baseball games nationwide, a deal reportedly worth $85 million annually over seven years.
Given the perceived success of Friday Night Baseball, expanding the partnership to include Sunday night games appears to be a natural progression. However, unlike the free access offered to Apple TV+ subscribers for Friday games, securing the Sunday night package, previously valued at around $550 million annually by ESPN, would likely entail an additional fee for viewers.
Apple’s Growing Appetite for Sports Streaming
Acquiring the Sunday night rights would significantly enhance Apple’s sports streaming portfolio, which currently includes only Friday Night Baseball and the MLS Season Pass. The company has previously expressed interest in acquiring other major sports properties, including the NFL Sunday Ticket and the broadcast rights for the Pac-12 conference, but ultimately withdrew from negotiations in both cases.
The Future of Sports Broadcasting
Apple’s pursuit of MLB’s Sunday night games underscores the ongoing shift in sports broadcasting, with streaming services increasingly challenging traditional television networks for valuable live sports rights. As audiences continue to migrate online, tech giants like Apple are investing heavily in sports content to attract and retain subscribers.
The outcome of the negotiations between Apple and MLB will be closely watched by industry observers, as it could have significant implications for the future of sports broadcasting and the accessibility of live games for fans. Whether Apple can successfully leverage its existing relationship with MLB and its deep pockets to secure the Sunday night package remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for sports streaming supremacy is heating up.
Conclusion
Apple’s potential acquisition of MLB’s Sunday night baseball streaming rights highlights the growing importance of live sports in the streaming landscape. This move could significantly boost Apple’s sports content offerings and further solidify its position as a major player in the media industry. As the negotiations progress, the outcome will undoubtedly shape the future of sports broadcasting and how fans access their favorite games. Future research could explore the impact of streaming services on traditional television viewership and the evolving strategies of sports leagues in maximizing their broadcast revenue.
References
- Sportsbusinessjournal. (2024, June 3). Apple in talks with MLB for Sunday night baseball rights.
- IT之家. (2024, June 3). 消息称苹果与 MLB 洽谈周日晚棒球赛事转播权，增强体育内容竞争力. https://www.ithome.com/0/816/070.htm
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