MLB dumps ESPN

Skipscards · 02-20-2025, 09:24 PM

They’re calling it a “mutual” breakup but we know MLB has been unhappy with ESPNs worthless coverage for years.

JohnnyHatesJazz · 02-20-2025, 09:26 PM

ESPN is a shell of itself.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 02-20-2025, 09:28 PM

This is fine with me. Any news on who will be picking up ESPN’s slate of games now?

IronCladLou · 02-20-2025, 09:34 PM

Let me guess...DAZN

Coach Ditka · 02-20-2025, 09:37 PM

When do their rights end & who is/are the recipients? Hopefully not 18 different streaming services like the NFL.

NYRE2PECT · 02-20-2025, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ditka

When do their rights end & who is/are the recipients? Hopefully not 18 different streaming services like the NFL.

End of 2025.

They opted out of 2026-2028.

Skipscards · 02-20-2025, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

This is fine with me. Any news on who will be picking up ESPN’s slate of games now?

Manfred said they have been in touch with several outlets they are considering and will announce two options in the next couple of weeks.

They also have a direct to consumer product coming this summer for $25-30 per month.

scal · 02-20-2025, 09:52 PM

ESPN's coverage of just about everything except women's sports is just horrible. They show NHL games but have such lackluster coverage of the NHL. Nothing of value will be lost for baseball fans.

fabiani12333 · 02-20-2025, 11:14 PM

MLB's statement criticized ESPN for the lack of overall coverage outside of games.

Does anyone else fondly remember Baseball Tonight? It was one of my favorite shows as a kid. Buster Olney does an audio podcast version, which is solid.

Lonewolf · 02-20-2025, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

MLB's statement criticized ESPN for the lack of overall coverage outside of games.

Does anyone else fondly remember Baseball Tonight? It was one of my favorite shows as a kid. Buster Olney does an audio podcast version, which is solid.

Baseball Tonight was ritual every night during baseball season when I was growing up. ESPN is just a hollow shell of what it once was...

Cracktoast · 02-20-2025, 11:37 PM

I'm gonna say they move to either Prime or Apple TV. There is zero chance they stay on a traditional platform. This is what they have been experimenting with the last couple of years. Outside shot Netflix gets a shot with them already airing WWE Raw and seems more live events/programming is what they are moving to.

MotorboatJones · 02-20-2025, 11:37 PM

ESPN sucks

PuddleMonkey · 02-20-2025, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

MLB's statement criticized ESPN for the lack of overall coverage outside of games.

It's hard to cover any baseball with their head so far up the NBA's arse.

YouTheManNick · 02-20-2025, 11:50 PM

Monday night baseball exclusively on Prime™ **
Tuesday night baseball exclusively on Peacock™ **
Wednesday night baseball exclusively on Paramount Plus™ **
Thursday night baseball exclusively on Netflix™ **
Friday night baseball exclusively on Apply TV™ **
Saturday night baseball exclusively on Max™ **
Sunday night baseball exclusively on Disney Plus™ **
MLB TV subscription for all other out of market games.

** Exclusive games not available for local TV or MLBTV broadcast, but also blacked out in local markets because eff you.

scal · 02-21-2025, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

MLB's statement criticized ESPN for the lack of overall coverage outside of games.

Does anyone else fondly remember Baseball Tonight? It was one of my favorite shows as a kid. Buster Olney does an audio podcast version, which is solid.

Baseball Tonight was excellent. John Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday Night Baseball were a staple of summer.

Skipscards · 02-21-2025, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

MLB's statement criticized ESPN for the lack of overall coverage outside of games.

Does anyone else fondly remember Baseball Tonight? It was one of my favorite shows as a kid. Buster Olney does an audio podcast version, which is solid.

Yes. It was must see TV every night. Olney is insufferable but ESPN used to do a great job with MLB. Now, they are the worst. Unwatchable dreck. This is great news.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scal

Baseball Tonight was excellent. John Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday Night Baseball were a staple of summer.

Truth.

Cardsareus84 · 02-21-2025, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

It's hard to cover any baseball with their head so far up the NBA's arse.

And what’s crazy is the NBA ratings are crap. It’s crazy how pathetic ESPN has become.

nickp91 · 02-21-2025, 12:52 AM

The old Baseball Tonight of the 90s was so good

cgjackson222 · 02-21-2025, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scal

Baseball Tonight was excellent. John Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday Night Baseball were a staple of summer.

Call me crazy, but I’d rather listen to David Cone than Joe Morgan any day.

But I thought Cone was about the only good thing about ESPN’s baseball coverage.

Bosoxfan5990 · 02-21-2025, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scal

Baseball Tonight was excellent. John Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday Night Baseball were a staple of summer.

SNB went downhill after they stopped calling games.

Scarlet Knight · 02-21-2025, 10:34 AM

Used to love how they would mention who hit home runs that day on Baseball Tonight.

Scottish Punk · 02-21-2025, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YouTheManNick

Monday night baseball exclusively on Prime™ **
Tuesday night baseball exclusively on Peacock™ **
Wednesday night baseball exclusively on Paramount Plus™ **
Thursday night baseball exclusively on Netflix™ **
Friday night baseball exclusively on Apply TV™ **
Saturday night baseball exclusively on Max™ **
Sunday night baseball exclusively on Disney Plus™ **
MLB TV subscription for all other out of market games.

** Exclusive games not available for local TV or MLBTV broadcast, but also blacked out in local markets because eff you.

I will pile on and say ESPN really isn't anything it used to be. In all coverage. College football games are about the only I watch on it anymore.

Also, the above. This is the future, ha ha. In all sports. These streaming platforms have realized what the cable companies already know. Live sports are the only thing to keep people on a platform. Everything else is binge and churn.

Handsome Wes · 02-21-2025, 10:57 AM

I blast Manfred a ton on here, but this is 100% the right move. The baseball coverage is a shell of itself. Karl Ravech is a fine studio host but is terrible as a play-by-play man. The website itself punted on team beats in favor of generic coverage and then fired its best national writers (like Jayson Stark).

Oh and there was the part where the most visible person on the Worldwide Leader said that the most popular player in the sport can't be its biggest star because he's Asian

sauceboy · 02-21-2025, 11:10 AM

Probably not very "cool" of me to say this, but I enjoy the Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney podcast. I'm guessing that'll also be done after this season? Will Buster, Tim Kurkjian, Karl Ravech, Jeff Passan, Sarah Langs, etc. all be out of work?

gresh87 · 02-21-2025, 11:10 AM

Growing up, Baseball Tonight was everything! Web Gems, daily home run hitters, and stat lines were THE way to keep up with the league's daily happenings.

I am more interested in what happens to Tim Kurkjian and Jeff Passan moving forward.

02-20-2025, 09:24 PM	#1
Skipscards Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: In Tribute To The Great Ryno Posts: 30,149 jlankf2 jmp4	MLB dumps ESPN They’re calling it a “mutual” breakup but we know MLB has been unhappy with ESPNs worthless coverage for years. __________________ Go Royals!! #RoyalsIn2015 <---It Happened!! #TEAMZinck Sometimes it is astounding that we are able to persist in a world so full of morons.

02-20-2025, 09:26 PM	#2
JohnnyHatesJazz Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 7,028	ESPN is a shell of itself. __________________ JohnnyHatesJazz is the unofficial Blowout Forum DJ He is also: *Captain Of The Mayeflower*

02-20-2025, 09:37 PM	#5
Coach Ditka Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 637	When do their rights end & who is/are the recipients? Hopefully not 18 different streaming services like the NFL. __________________ A fan of Bears, Cubs, & the Fighting Illini

02-20-2025, 11:50 PM	#14
YouTheManNick Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 2,597 trapjaw73 YTMN	Monday night baseball exclusively on Prime™ Tuesday night baseball exclusively on Peacock™ Wednesday night baseball exclusively on Paramount Plus™ Thursday night baseball exclusively on Netflix™ Friday night baseball exclusively on Apply TV™ Saturday night baseball exclusively on Max™ Sunday night baseball exclusively on Disney Plus™ MLB TV subscription for all other out of market games. Exclusive games not available for local TV or MLBTV broadcast, but also blacked out in local markets because eff you. __________________ They're = they are. Their = possession. There = "I went there." Two = 2. Too = "Me too." To = "He went to the card show." Your = "your cards." You're = "you're welcome."

02-21-2025, 11:10 AM	#25
gresh87 Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 984 greshcollects	Growing up, Baseball Tonight was everything! Web Gems, daily home run hitters, and stat lines were THE way to keep up with the league's daily happenings. I am more interested in what happens to Tim Kurkjian and Jeff Passan moving forward. __________________ '20 Heritage /571 & /999 - 69% '16-Present Chrome Cardinals Purple/Pink/Refractor - 58.9%

02-20-2025, 09:28 PM	#3
MiamiMarlinsFan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 13,622	This is fine with me. Any news on who will be picking up ESPN’s slate of games now?

02-20-2025, 09:34 PM	#4
IronCladLou Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,615 eightytwopolly	Let me guess...DAZN

02-20-2025, 09:52 PM	#8
scal Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 12 jfscal028 jfd28	ESPN's coverage of just about everything except women's sports is just horrible. They show NHL games but have such lackluster coverage of the NHL. Nothing of value will be lost for baseball fans.

02-20-2025, 11:14 PM	#9
fabiani12333 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 12,121	MLB's statement criticized ESPN for the lack of overall coverage outside of games. Does anyone else fondly remember Baseball Tonight? It was one of my favorite shows as a kid. Buster Olney does an audio podcast version, which is solid.

02-20-2025, 11:37 PM	#11
Cracktoast Member Join Date: May 2024 Posts: 1,727	I'm gonna say they move to either Prime or Apple TV. There is zero chance they stay on a traditional platform. This is what they have been experimenting with the last couple of years. Outside shot Netflix gets a shot with them already airing WWE Raw and seems more live events/programming is what they are moving to.

02-20-2025, 11:37 PM	#12
MotorboatJones Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 3,840	ESPN sucks

02-21-2025, 12:52 AM	#18
nickp91 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 38	The old Baseball Tonight of the 90s was so good

02-21-2025, 10:34 AM	#21
Scarlet Knight Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: New Jersey Posts: 311	Used to love how they would mention who hit home runs that day on Baseball Tonight.

02-21-2025, 10:57 AM	#23
Handsome Wes Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 933	I blast Manfred a ton on here, but this is 100% the right move. The baseball coverage is a shell of itself. Karl Ravech is a fine studio host but is terrible as a play-by-play man. The website itself punted on team beats in favor of generic coverage and then fired its best national writers (like Jayson Stark). Oh and there was the part where the most visible person on the Worldwide Leader said that the most popular player in the sport can't be its biggest star because he's Asian

02-21-2025, 11:10 AM	#24
sauceboy Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 522 sauceboy	Probably not very "cool" of me to say this, but I enjoy the Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney podcast. I'm guessing that'll also be done after this season? Will Buster, Tim Kurkjian, Karl Ravech, Jeff Passan, Sarah Langs, etc. all be out of work?