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ESPN’s control of Diamondbacks’ broadcasts could reshape streaming future

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Ben Bliklen | Last updated Aug 22, 2025 3:56 AM ET

ESPN’s new agreement, which secures both in-market and out-of-market rights for five Major League Baseball teams, including the D-Backs, marks a dramatic shift in how fans access games.

ESPN is essentially redefining the boundaries between regional and national coverage. On the surface, that could mean broader visibility for the Diamondbacks. Though for fans, the question is cost. If ESPN rolls these rights into its streaming service, or ties them to premium bundles, Arizona viewers may soon pay extra just to follow their hometown team, including anybody who pays for the D-backs.TV subscription. Subscribing to ESPN for an added price might be the only way some fans would be able to watch the D-Backs.

ESPN’s move could be the template for how all MLB teams are broadcast in the future. If the model proves profitable, other networks may follow suit, collapsing the traditional regional sports network structure altogether.

NEWS: MLB & ESPN have an agreement to make the network the exclusive home of out-of-market games for all teams and in-market for five clubs, The Athletic has learned.

Full details on MLB negotiations https://t.co/BtSGL0BujF

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) August 21, 2025

For the Diamondbacks, that means more national exposure but also the risk of alienating fans priced out of the system. Watching the D-Backs might have become more complicated, and the cost of staying connected is rising.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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