Barstool Sports and Major League Baseball are cooking up an intriguing relationship. Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports that Barstool and MLB have had “significant” talks to broadcast midweek games on the platform.
Marchand’s source confirmed the talks have started to pick up momentum but puts the likelihood of the two sides agreeing on a package at “50-50.” ESPN currently holds MLB’s midweek rights but gave them up in their new deal starting next season.
Barstool Sports has already begun their foray into live sports rights through their sponsorship and exclusive broadcasting deal with the Arizona Bowl, which starts this bowl season.
In a video posted to his personal Twitter page last week, Portnoy says, “Do you know we’re talking with major leagues? When I say major leagues, like the four major sports. Ever since we announced the Arizona Bowl, major leagues are like, ‘We can give you the rights. We can give you the rights to call one of the major four leagues games.’ Not gonna say which one. We’re looking at it.”
The league is trying to find a suitor for their Monday and Wednesday games next season, and Marchand noted a Barstool-produced broadcast could be tailored towards gambling. Among other potential suitors were YouTube and Peacock.
MLB has aired free games during the past three seasons on YouTube, and Peacock carried a weekend series of contests last month.
Barstool’s been pegged as a black sheep in the sports media community for their irreverent style that critics have deemed misogynistic. The company forged a relationship with ESPN four years ago and even aired a pilot of Barstool Van Talk featuring Dan “Big Cat” Katz and PFT Commenter. ESPN cancelled the show after internal pressure mounted following the first episode.
Now the company could be snatching up one of ESPN’s former properties, all while firmly entrenching itself in the sports media rights wars.