The Major League Baseball (MLB) is in talks with NBC and Apple TV+ to stream games. Although a deal is not finalized with either of the streaming platforms, it is expected to materialize this year.
Previously, it was reported that Apple is in talks with NFL to obtain rights to its broadcast its Sunday Ticket games on Apple TV+. To compete with rival platforms like Amazon and Disney, moving into streaming live sports seems like the most logical next step for Apple TV+. Therefore it is willing to invest heavily.
Apple TV+ willing to pay major cut of the up to $150 million to payout to stream MLB games
New York Post reports that MLB is also in talks with NBC Sports to broadcast games this season on its streaming service, Peacock. But that does not mean, its deal with Apple TV+ has gone soar. Both platforms, Apple and NBC are expected to be involved this year. But Apple is willing to pay the majority of the total payout for this season’s games.
MLB has been looking for a $100 million to $150 million total payout for these games, according to sources. The amount NBC and Apple could pay is not yet known, but Apple is expected to pay the majority of it.
However, the unsettled relationship between the MLB management and the players creates uncertainty if there will be actual games. If the negotiations of a new labor contract are successful, it is expected that MLB Network will take care of production for Apple TV+.
For MLB, it furthers relationships with Comcast, NBC’s parent company and an owner of regional sports networks, and Apple, which has partnered with MLB since the beginning of the app store.
Last year, Comcast announced a deal with Apple to offer Apple TV+ video streaming service on Comcast platforms. Comcast Corporation is an American multinational telecommunication company and the second-largest broadcasting and cable television company in the world.
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