Part 6/9:
The decision to walk away from the agreement carries inherent risks for ESPN. With the impending launch of their direct-to-consumer streaming service, the network will need to fill the void left by the absence of "Sunday Night Baseball."
In terms of future possibilities for MLB, the league would likely struggle to find another partner willing to pay the same hefty sum that ESPN had committed to. While MLB looks forward to 2028, when their agreements with Fox, ESPN, and Turner expire, the landscape has become increasingly complex, shaped by evolving broadcast, cable, and streaming dynamics.