MLB Signs $3.7B, Seven-Year Extension, Expansion With Turner Sports
Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 04:37PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
September 24, 2020: MLB, like the rest of sports and the world, has dealt this year with trials, tribulations and challenges.
Here is something with which they looked forward to dealing.
MLB today unveiled a a seven-year multi-media rights extension with Turner Sports, a division of WarnerMedia, running from 2022-2028.
MLB said the pact builds on its “long-standing relationship with Turner Sports.”
Highlights include TBS as the exclusive home “to the most MLB post-season games of any network,” a new season-long Tuesday night game franchise and expansive digital rights for WarnerMedia platforms.
Financial terms of the extension were not shared, but were put at upward of $3.7 billion, $535 million per year, a 65% increase over their previous deal, according to industry analysts.
The agreement will extend the partnership between Turner Sports and MLB to more than 50 years, dating back to 1973 when MLB games were first televised on WTCG (now TBS).
“We’re delighted to extend our long-standing relationship with Major League Baseball and all of the opportunities this agreement offers us as we broaden our coverage of the game across all of our platforms,” Jeff Zucker, chairman, WarnerMedia News and Sports, said via the network,
“We will continue to further evolve our multi-platform delivery of content with a focus on storytelling and innovation in all forms.”
TBS’s new Tuesday night offering is scheduled to debut during the upcoming MLB post-season, beginning with the American League Division Series.
It includes a studio show hosted by Ernie Johnson with former MLB players and current analysts Pedro Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and Curtis Granderson.
“Our new MLB deal and season-long Tuesday night franchise present us with an opportunity to evolve our vision for the MLB studio show,” Craig Barry, chief content officer for Turner Sports, said via the company.
“This collection of studio talent will allow us to combine expert analysis with storytelling that is dynamic, informative and entertaining for our viewers.”
Under terms of the new pact, beginning with the 2022 MLB season, Turner Sports’ enhanced media rights will include:
• TBS exclusively televising one League Championship Series each year of the agreement, alternating between the ALCS and NLCS each season
• TBS having exclusive rights to televise two of the four MLB Division Series, which will alternate between AL and NL each year (featuring the same league as the network’s LCS coverage)
• TBS will carry one Wild Card Game, which will be consistent with the network’s Division Series and LCS coverage (AL or NL each year)
“Our new MLB deal and season-long Tuesday night franchise present us with an opportunity to evolve our vision for the MLB studio show."
• TBS will have a new season-long Tuesday night package with a national game telecast each week, doubling the amount of live regular-season game telecasts currently airing on the network
The cross-platform agreement includes digital rights across a wide spectrum of screens and platforms including mobile, web, tablets and connected devices. The agreement also includes:
• "TV Everywhere” rights that will allow TBS to make its MLB games and related programming available to authenticated subscribers across Turner Sports platforms
• Increased footage and highlight rights for Turner Sports Web sites and apps
• Rights to create companion and ancillary products related to the TBS broadcast of regular and post-season games.
“As we prepare for another year of exciting October baseball, I am proud Turner Sports will continue to be a part of the post-season as we expand on this long-term partnership,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said via the league.
“This agreement positions both organizations for mutual growth by continuing Postseason coverage on TBS, delivering a new Tuesday night baseball franchise, and expanding baseball’s presence on Turner Sports’ digital platforms.”
Back to Home Page