MLB and NBCUniversal have just announced a new three-year television partnership (2026–2028), marking the return of baseball to NBC after a decades-long absence. And to kick off this new era, the Opening Day game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will be selected as the national highlight game on March 26, 2026, airing exclusively on NBC and Peacock.
This will also be the only opening day game to be broadcast in primetime, something that has not happened in more than 20 years. NBC sees this as the perfect opportunity to bring MLB back to the big screen, and MLB sees the Dodgers, a team with a rich history and one of the top viewership in the country, as the ideal choice to open a new chapter of baseball in the digital age.
NBC Returns to Baseball Bigger, Stronger, and More Exclusive
According to the official announcement, the new NBC/Peacock licensing package includes:
1. Sunday Night Baseball now belongs to NBC and Peacock
25 games per season will be broadcast under the NBC Sports brand, a major shift from the previous ESPN exclusive rights.
2. MLB Sunday Leadoff returns to Peacock
18 Sunday morning games (at noon Eastern) will continue to appear on this streaming platform.
3. Multi-game “whip-around” coverage on Sunday afternoon
Peacock offers a comprehensive program, continuously switching between multiple games in a similar model to NFL RedZone.
4. The entire Wild Card Round will be broadcast exclusively by NBC/Peacock
One of the most notable points of the contract, making NBC the “new home” of dramatic early playoff games.
5. MLB Draft, Futures Game and more behind-the-scenes content
This allows NBC to expand its coverage and reach a younger audience.
It’s no coincidence that the Dodgers were chosen by NBC for MLB’s “universe comeback.”
3 main reasons:
• The team has the second largest fan base in MLB – especially strong in the Los Angeles market, one of the three largest television markets in the US.
• The Dodgers are at their peak with an all-star lineup and global appeal after big deals like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts…
• Every Dodgers game aired generates high ratings, a sure guarantee for a national opening event.
Holding the game at Dodger Stadium further elevates the event, which is considered MLB’s “declaration” that Opening Day will now be a national entertainment program and not just a regular sporting event.
Rick Cordella, President of NBC Sports, said:
“This isn’t just about bringing baseball back to NBC — we want to create new experiences that focus on the excitement, the iconic, the national game.”
Meanwhile, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the partnership “ushers in a new era” where MLB can reach audiences across multiple platforms from traditional television to streaming.
Leave a Reply