Investing.com -- NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ), has submitted a bid to Major League Baseball (MLB) to acquire the package of regular-season and postseason games that ESPN recently dropped. The offer is reportedly less than what ESPN used to pay, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the matter.
ESPN, earlier in February, chose to utilize a clause to exit the last three years of its $550 million-per-year contract, which was due to expire after the 2025 season. This decision marked the end of a 35-year alliance with MLB, making the rights available for other interested parties.
NBCUniversal’s bid is for a sum lower than ESPN’s annual $550 million deal. The offer from NBC was made earlier this month, though discussions between MLB and NBC had been ongoing for several weeks prior, according to an individual involved in the process.
If NBCUniversal’s bid is successful, NBC plans to broadcast games on Sunday nights, a slot that ESPN has held since 1990. The games would also be available on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. Furthermore, NBC has expressed interest in obtaining ESPN’s rights to the first round of the postseason and the annual Home Run Derby.
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