Why isn't the Home Run Derby airing on ESPN?

[ASFN Admin]

Sports fans are well accustomed to the constant changing of hands when it comes to broadcasting rights. But the Home Run Derby has been a mainstay on ESPN since 1994.

That changes on Monday night.

Just as sports across the major professional leagues are becoming increasingly open to stream only broadcasts, MLB is taking the Home Run Derby in that direction over a legacy broadcaster like ESPN.

This year's edition of the Home Run Derby will air exclusively on Netflix with Lauren Shehadi, Matt Vasgersian and Elle Duncan leading the broadcast. Barry Bonds, Hunter Pence, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rizzo and CC Sabathia will serve as analysts.

Netflix signed a three-year deal to acquire the Home Run Derby rights, and the streamer played a major part in changing the Home Run Derby format for this year's event.

Netflix VP of sports Gabe Spitzer told Front Office Sports about the decision to acquire the rights:

“We’ve always loved the Home Run Derby, and when we had the conversations with MLB and this opportunity came up, we pounced. The derby really fits in our overall programming strategy. It’s a big event with big personalities and something that resonates across a wide audience.”

Netflix aired the Yankees-Giants broadcast to open the season and will also broadcast the Field of Dreams game in Iowa between the Phillies and Twins.

Why did the Home Run Derby leave ESPN?​

The Home Run Derby leaving ESPN was just part of the network's rolling back of its MLB broadcasting rights. ESPN still holds digital rights for MLB.tv and broadcasts 30 midweek games. The entire Wild Card Series will air on NBC this postseason instead of ESPN.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why isn't the Home Run Derby airing on ESPN?

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