By Frank Macek
Major League Baseball’s new media agreement with NBC marks one of the most significant shifts in the sport’s national broadcast landscape in years, restoring a legacy partnership while reshaping how fans will watch many of baseball’s biggest moments. Beginning with the 2026 season, NBC returns to MLB coverage with a package that blends historic broadcast presence and modern streaming strategy, placing select games on both the NBC broadcast network and Peacock.
Major League Baseball’s new media agreement with NBC marks one of the most significant shifts in the sport’s national broadcast landscape in years, restoring a legacy partnership while reshaping how fans will watch many of baseball’s biggest moments. Beginning with the 2026 season, NBC returns to MLB coverage with a package that blends historic broadcast presence and modern streaming strategy, placing select games on both the NBC broadcast network and Peacock.
For longtime fans who remember NBC’s iconic baseball coverage through the 1990s, the move represents both a nostalgic return and a strategic adjustment for today’s multiplatform audience. Here in Northeast Ohio, all NBC-network MLB broadcasts will air locally on WKYC, Cleveland’s NBC affiliate.
Under the agreement, NBC regains rights to several high-profile MLB events. Among the most notable additions is Sunday Night Baseball, which NBC will air during weeks without network conflicts. ESPN still retains its longstanding Sunday night package, but NBC’s involvement adds a second marquee national game, broadening exposure and giving fans a new destination for Sunday night matchups. For NBC—and affiliates like WKYC—the move strengthens the network’s position as a major home for live sports alongside the NFL, Olympics, Premier League, and Big Ten coverage.
NBC will also air a primetime Opening Day game, placing baseball in a national spotlight during one of the most anticipated days in sports. Special event matchups, including showcase games and ballpark celebrations, will also appear on NBC, creating opportunities for the network to highlight Major League Baseball’s best storylines. For Cleveland-area viewers, WKYC becomes a direct, free, over-the-air source for these premier national broadcasts.
One of the most impactful elements of the agreement is NBC’s acquisition of the Wild Card Series, which will now air on broadcast television each postseason. With early postseason rounds often limited to cable, NBC’s national reach dramatically increases accessibility. Fans in Northeast Ohio will be able to watch Wild Card games directly on WKYC, reviving a broadcast tradition that mirrors the widely accessible playoff coverage of past decades.
NBC will also play a large role in All-Star Week, broadcasting the Futures Game and televising the first hour of the MLB Draft, which will be simulcast alongside Peacock. These events highlight baseball’s next generation, and NBC’s involvement elevates their presentation on a national stage.
Meanwhile, Peacock expands its role as a streaming home for MLB. Its dedicated Sunday Leadoff package returns with 18 exclusive early Sunday games. Peacock will also stream Sunday Night Baseball when NBC isn’t carrying the game and offer a daily “game of the day” for subscribers outside the competing teams’ home markets. This dual-network structure ensures baseball remains accessible regardless of viewing preference.
For NBC, the deal strengthens summer programming and reconnects the network with a sport it covered for decades. For MLB, the partnership restores a major broadcast platform. And for fans—especially here in Cleveland—the agreement means far more baseball available on free television, backed by flexible streaming options through Peacock.
Starting in 2026, MLB’s return to NBC creates a new era of national baseball coverage, combining tradition, accessibility, and modern digital reach—all with WKYC serving as the local broadcast home.
Under the agreement, NBC regains rights to several high-profile MLB events. Among the most notable additions is Sunday Night Baseball, which NBC will air during weeks without network conflicts. ESPN still retains its longstanding Sunday night package, but NBC’s involvement adds a second marquee national game, broadening exposure and giving fans a new destination for Sunday night matchups. For NBC—and affiliates like WKYC—the move strengthens the network’s position as a major home for live sports alongside the NFL, Olympics, Premier League, and Big Ten coverage.
NBC will also air a primetime Opening Day game, placing baseball in a national spotlight during one of the most anticipated days in sports. Special event matchups, including showcase games and ballpark celebrations, will also appear on NBC, creating opportunities for the network to highlight Major League Baseball’s best storylines. For Cleveland-area viewers, WKYC becomes a direct, free, over-the-air source for these premier national broadcasts.
One of the most impactful elements of the agreement is NBC’s acquisition of the Wild Card Series, which will now air on broadcast television each postseason. With early postseason rounds often limited to cable, NBC’s national reach dramatically increases accessibility. Fans in Northeast Ohio will be able to watch Wild Card games directly on WKYC, reviving a broadcast tradition that mirrors the widely accessible playoff coverage of past decades.
NBC will also play a large role in All-Star Week, broadcasting the Futures Game and televising the first hour of the MLB Draft, which will be simulcast alongside Peacock. These events highlight baseball’s next generation, and NBC’s involvement elevates their presentation on a national stage.
Meanwhile, Peacock expands its role as a streaming home for MLB. Its dedicated Sunday Leadoff package returns with 18 exclusive early Sunday games. Peacock will also stream Sunday Night Baseball when NBC isn’t carrying the game and offer a daily “game of the day” for subscribers outside the competing teams’ home markets. This dual-network structure ensures baseball remains accessible regardless of viewing preference.
For NBC, the deal strengthens summer programming and reconnects the network with a sport it covered for decades. For MLB, the partnership restores a major broadcast platform. And for fans—especially here in Cleveland—the agreement means far more baseball available on free television, backed by flexible streaming options through Peacock.
Starting in 2026, MLB’s return to NBC creates a new era of national baseball coverage, combining tradition, accessibility, and modern digital reach—all with WKYC serving as the local broadcast home.