While MLB and the Players Association squabble over money and the 2020 season, the league has consummated a new billion-dollar deal with Turner Sports to keep a playoff package that includes one of the league championship series on the network, The Post has learned.
The exact new contract terms are not yet known, but a substantial increase from the $350 million per season that Turner had been paying is expected, according to sources. There had been talks in the $500 million per year range, according to sources. The length of the new contract is not yet known. Turner’s current deal ends after the 2021 season.
MLB and Turner Sports declined comment.
Besides Turner, ESPN/ABC had interest in adding MLB playoffs to its calendar. With baseball potentially expanding its postseason, ESPN/ABC might still have a chance to get in the door there. The deal is the first major rights agreement under president Jeff Zucker and shows Turner’s continued commitment to premium live sports.
Turner’s current deal includes a regular-season package on Sundays, but the money is made in the postseason, where the national viewership is substantially higher. MLB has already inked a long-term contract with Fox for the other LCS and the World Series.
After The Post broke the story, players reacted on social media. During the discussions of how to play baseball during the pandemic, the players have been in a stalemate with owners over their salaries for the 2020 season. The players are steadfast about receiving their prorated salaries, while the owners continually offer less than that.
Though the new Turner deal does not impact this season directly, it does demonstrate the financial strength of the game. Some players went to Twitter to make their feelings known.
“But baseball is dying!” Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen tweeted sarcastically.
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford added in a similar tone, “The industry isn’t that profitable,” just a few days after Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. said as much.
Combined with Fox’s long term deal and now Turners, the league has multiple billions committed to it long-term.
The head of MLBPA Tony Clark also chimed in as part of a statement.
“It’s now become apparent that these efforts have fallen upon deaf ears,” Clark said. “In recent days, owners have decried the supposed unprofitability of owning a baseball team and the Commissioner has repeatedly threatened to schedule a dramatically shortened season unless players agree to hundreds of millions in further concessions. Our response has been consistent that such concessions are unwarranted, would be fundamentally unfair to players, and that our sport deserves the fullest 2020 season possible. These remain our positions today, particularly in light of new reports regarding MLB’s national television rights – information we requested from the league weeks ago but were never provided.
As a result, it unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile. It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where.”
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June 14, 2020 at 04:45AM
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MLB lands billion-dollar deal with Turner Sports to broadcast playoffs - New York Post
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