8-28-2012
ESPN and Major League Baseball have reached an eight-year, multiplatform rights extension that affects ESPN?s TV, digital, radio, and International MLB rights. On the radio side, the agreement includes, "increased ESPN Radio rights, including the additional right to co-exist during two Saturday windows per team, per year."
ESPN?s expanded MLB package will include the following additional rights:
- The addition of an annual Wild Card game presented by Budweiser, which will alternate between the AL and NL each year;
- The rights to produce a significant amount of additional Baseball Tonight hours;
- The rights to all regular-season tie-breaker games, if necessary;
- In-progress highlights during SportsCenter on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNEWS;
- 10 additional regular-season games per season, including four pennant chase games in late September and up to six holiday games across Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day;
- New and increased co-exist rights on Monday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball;
- The rights to produce a new, daily baseball studio show.
The new deal will also include several enhancements to existing rights:
- Increased rights for Sunday Night Baseball exclusive team appearances;
- More selection flexibility throughout ESPN?s 25-game Sunday Night Baseball slate;
- Increased highlight rights for ESPN websites and applications, additional digital rights for ESPN programs, and increased interactive television rights;
- Increased ESPN Radio rights, including the additional right to co-exist during two Saturday windows per team, per year;
- All MLB-related television content, including games and studio shows, to be available on WatchESPN;
- Continued State Farm Home Run Derby coverage during MLB All-Star, including renewed 3D Derby rights;
- Renewal and expansion of international rights across territories, including Wild Card games and the rights to additional Baseball Tonight hours.
