MLB to Bundle WBC Rights in 2028 Talks

Broadcast rights for the next World Baseball Classic will be negotiated as part of Major League Baseball’s broader media rights discussions in 2028, marking a strategic shift in how the tournament is packaged and sold.

Historically, WBC rights have been negotiated separately. However, following record-breaking viewership in the United States, MLB is now expected to integrate the international tournament into a wider bundle that includes its national, local and global media rights.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently hinted at the move, noting that existing broadcast partners showed strong interest during the latest tournament. Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Manfred suggested the WBC could become a permanent component of MLB’s national media agreements — provided the event adopts a consistent schedule.

Since its launch in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has been held every three to four years, though it remains unclear whether the next edition will take place in 2029 or 2030.

The most recent WBC rights cycle was finalized relatively late, with Fox Sports securing U.S. broadcast rights just months before the tournament. The event ultimately delivered viewership figures comparable to World Series games.

In international markets, Netflix acquired rights in Japan, underlining the growing appeal of the tournament among streaming platforms.

Both Fox and Netflix are expected to be part of the 2028 negotiations, alongside existing MLB partners including NBCUniversal, TNT Sports, Apple and ESPN. The latter was the original English-language broadcaster for the WBC in 2006 and 2009.

MLB also maintains a relationship with TelevisaUnivision, which has aired World Series games in Spanish-language markets and shared WBC rights in Mexico with Disney.

As part of its long-term strategy, MLB is also exploring the possibility of centralizing its currently fragmented local media rights into a single package — a move that could attract new streaming entrants and further reshape the sports media landscape.