Twins games will still be available to local viewers on Twins.TV.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins’ upcoming season will still be available to local viewers on Twins.TV even after the announcement of Major League Baseball’s deals with ESPN, NBC and Netflix.
The reworked deal with ESPN includes out-of-market streaming rights on MLB.TV, but also local in-market distribution for six teams which have telecasts produced by MLB, including the Twins. In a news release, the team said its Emmy Award-winning Twins.TV streaming service (which is also part of certain local cable and satellite packages) will continue for local fans on the same platforms in 2026.
NBC and Netflix will also air games as part of a three-year media rights agreement, worth $250 million per year (NBC $200 million and Netflix $50 million). The deal with ESPN will remain $550 million, according to the MLB.
“Our new media rights agreements with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix provide us with a great opportunity to expand our reach to fans through three powerful destinations for live sports, entertainment, and marquee events,” said Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. in a statement. “Following our last World Series game that averaged more than 51 million viewers globally, these partnerships build on MLB’s growing momentum that includes generational stars setting new standards for excellence, new rules which have improved the game on the field, and increases in important fan engagement metrics like viewership, attendance, participation and social media consumption. We’re looking forward to tapping into the unique areas of expertise that ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix each bring to the sport for the benefit of our fans.”
As part of the deal, NBC/Peacock will be the new home of “Sunday Night Baseball” and the Wild Card round, while Netflix will have the Home Run Derby and two additional games, including the return of MLB at Field of Dreams, which will feature the Twins and the Philadelphia Phillies. The game will be held in Dyersville, Iowa, the site of the classic film “Field of Dreams,” on Aug. 13.
“The Minnesota Twins are thrilled to be playing in the return of MLB at Field of Dreams,” said Twins’ Executive Chair Joe Pohlad in a statement. “Taking the field in Dyersville, where so much of baseball’s magic comes alive, is special for our club and for our fans in Iowa. August 13, 2026 will be a true celebration of our sport and a memorable day in Twins history.”
NBC had a long history with the MLB from 1939 through 1989, but outside of being part of the short-lived Baseball Network with ABC in 1994-1995 and airing playoff games from 1996-2000, MLB has been shown elsewhere.
Its first game will be on March 26 when the defending two-time champion Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 25 Sunday night games will air mostly on NBC, with the rest on the new NBC Sports Network. All games will stream on Peacock.
The first “Sunday Night Baseball” game on NBC will be April 12, with the next one in May after the NBA playoffs.
MLB will still have a partnership with FOX and Turner Sports, who have deals through the 2028 season.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
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