Netflix certainly has a type, and the MLB Home Run Derby is a seemingly perfect fit.
So it is no surprise that Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw is reporting that the streamer is “exploring a bid” to broadcast Major League Baseball’s midseason carnival game. The Derby is available starting in 2026 after ESPN and MLB exercised a mutual opt-out earlier this year for the final three years of their $550 million annual broadcast rights partnership.
Per Bloomberg:
The streaming company has been talking to the MLB about airing the annual home run competition and may be interested in additional baseball programming as well, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information.
Previously, a report from CNBC indicated that Netflix was more interested in ESPN’s Wild Card postseason games. The recently expanded round of baseball’s playoffs includes a maximum of 12 games, played between the lowest-seeded teams in the American League and National League brackets.
ESPN was paying an estimated $550 million per year for a package including the Derby, the Wild Card round, and a weekly Sunday Night Baseball national window. MLB could look to split that package starting next year as it patches together deals through 2028, when its entire broadcast rights slate will come to market.
The Home Run Derby would seem to fit Netflix’s preference for sports mega-events over recurring game rights. Netflix already has Christmas Day NFL games, several high-profile boxing matches, and WWE Raw on its calendar.
Still, as Bloomberg notes, it could be difficult for Netflix to draw an audience for the Derby without other MLB rights. These days, viewers can have a difficult time finding live sports. A one-off broadcast of the Derby could be difficult for Netflix to market when fans are used to going to Fox, TBS and their local networks for games.
Previous negotiations show Netflix is not going to be overly aggressive for sports. But if there is a strategic opportunity to grow their sports portfolio, the streamer will pounce.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.