Apple’s MLB Sunday Night Baseball Bid Signals Big Streaming Ambitions
Apple is taking another swing at live sports streaming, and this time it’s aiming for Sunday Night Baseball. The tech giant has officially joined NBC and ESPN in bidding for the exclusive media rights to Major League Baseball’s marquee primetime games from 2026 through 2028. With ESPN exiting its previous $550 million deal early, the opportunity opens the door for Apple to deepen its presence in sports broadcasting. The move raises a key question many fans and analysts are asking: is Apple TV+ becoming the future home for major league sports?
This bold bid aligns with Apple’s ongoing sports content strategy. Apple TV+ already streams Friday Night Baseball, and acquiring Sunday Night Baseball would position the platform as a key destination for MLB fans. For Apple, it’s not just about baseball—it's about building a comprehensive sports streaming portfolio that competes with traditional broadcasters and rivals like Amazon Prime Video. This latest development could reshape how we watch America’s pastime in the next three years.
Why Apple Wants MLB’s Sunday Night Baseball on Apple TV+
Apple's push for the Sunday Night Baseball rights is more than a one-off acquisition—it’s a calculated move in its broader effort to dominate the sports streaming space. With cord-cutting on the rise and younger audiences flocking to digital platforms, Apple is looking to meet fans where they are. Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ was the company’s entry point, but Sunday Night Baseball brings a higher-profile primetime audience and more advertiser appeal.
In addition to increasing its reach and visibility, Apple’s potential control of both Friday and Sunday games would allow it to build a weekend MLB streaming hub. This gives fans two marquee games per week on the same platform—a move that mirrors Apple’s success with the MLS Season Pass. While Major League Soccer is a growing sport, MLB comes with a much larger fan base, making the business upside even more significant. With this bid, Apple is clearly setting the stage for a bigger sports strategy that includes securing rights for multiple leagues and offering them via a seamless in-app experience.
Apple’s Long-Term Vision: From Weekend Games to Full MLB Streaming Rights
Looking beyond 2028, all of MLB’s regional and national broadcast contracts are set to expire. This opens the door to a major shakeup in how the league handles its media rights—and Apple is already positioning itself as a front-runner. Insiders speculate that the tech giant could pursue a comprehensive, all-in-one package similar to what it did with Major League Soccer. An MLB pass integrated into Apple TV+ could allow fans nationwide to access every game, every team, on-demand and live, without cable.
However, convincing MLB to go all-in on one digital provider like Apple won’t be easy. Baseball’s media rights are far more lucrative and complex than those of soccer. Multiple regional sports networks (RSNs) are still part of the current ecosystem. Still, as RSNs continue to lose viewers and revenue, Apple could pitch itself as a long-term, tech-powered solution for the future of baseball broadcasting. Such a deal would give Apple unprecedented control over how MLB games are produced, monetized, and delivered worldwide.
Apple’s Growing Sports Portfolio: Formula 1, MLS, and What’s Next
Apple’s sports ambitions extend far beyond baseball. Reports suggest that the company is close to securing streaming rights for Formula 1, further signaling its global intentions. In recent years, Apple has also explored deals with the NFL for Sunday Ticket and made a bid for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, although it lost out on those opportunities. What’s clear, however, is that Apple is committed to becoming a serious player in sports media.
This strategy aligns with Apple’s broader vision for Apple TV+—shifting from a boutique content platform to a full-fledged entertainment hub. Sports are one of the last bastions of appointment viewing, and owning premium live content gives Apple a unique edge against competitors like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon. Whether it’s through exclusive broadcasts or bundled streaming passes, Apple’s efforts could revolutionize how fans experience live sports—starting with the crack of a bat on Sunday nights.
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