NEW YORK — NBC Sports is contemplating a bid for the newly available MLB rights for the 2026 to 2028 seasons, as announced by Jon Miller, President of Acquisitions & Partnerships, at the SportsPro conference in New York City. This comes after ESPN and MLB recently ended their deal three seasons early due to apparent hard feelings. NBC has not broadcast Major League Baseball on linear television since 2000; however, Peacock recently aired a selection of early Sunday games from 2022-2023.
Miller shared, “We lost Major League Baseball in 1990, got it back five years later, lost it again in 2001 when Fox made a preemptive bid. We’ve had our nose pressed against the glass for a long time. They’re currently going through an interesting process where many are exploring Major League Baseball opportunities, including us. Baseball knows how to adapt and seize opportunities. There’s an abundance of great talent, compelling stories, and strong markets in the sport, which makes me optimistic about its future.”
The ESPN package includes Sunday Night Baseball, the wild card round, and the Home Run Derby. Before discussing MLB, Miller noted that many top sports on NBC and Peacock have returned after a hiatus, highlighting the NFL, golf, and the NBA. “Many properties we currently air were once lost to us, such as the USGA, which we regained after a twenty-year relationship. We also brought back the NBA after a 22-year absence and the NFL after losing it for eight years,” he remarked.
Other insights from Miller include:
* NBC Sports is set for what is likely the busiest stretch of major sports programming in history in February 2026, featuring the Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics, and the NBA All-Star game within three weeks. This significant lineup should create an advertising bonanza for NBC. “Advertisers can find comfort in knowing that their messaging will be effectively integrated across these various properties,” he added.
* Regarding their approach to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, Miller compared it to NBC’s treatment of SNL’s 50th anniversary, which included a three-hour special, a concert, and a documentary. He noted the massive viewership that event garnered, stating, “220 million people touched some part of that SNL 50th anniversary.” Specific plans for the Super Bowl were not detailed, but Miller emphasized that such broadcasts are large corporate-wide initiatives.
* Two successful sports programs on NBC and Peacock—the English Premier League and the Ryder Cup—have unique origin stories. Miller recounted that his then 18-year-old son introduced him to the EPL in 2011, igniting the idea. The Ryder Cup first aired on NBC in 1991, shortly after Operation Desert Storm commenced, resulting in the withdrawal of the main sponsors of the broadcast. Despite initial setbacks and losses, Miller’s conviction led NBC to retain the broadcasting rights. “We lost a ton of money on it, and I was pressed to drop the deal, but I insisted we keep it,” he shared.
During the Ryder Cup, a delay pushed the competition into the evening news. Miller anticipated criticism from his boss Dick Ebersol but received an unexpected call on the following Sunday morning.
To his surprise, Ebersol was thrilled, having received praise from General Electric CEO Jack Welch, who was impressed by the events of the previous day. Welch’s enthusiasm led to a commitment to retain the Ryder Cup, ensuring its continued presence on NBC, with the current contract extending to 2031.
