Little League’s New ESPN Deal Tops $17M Annually

Little League International has secured a new broadcast rights deal with ESPN worth over $17 million per year, an agreement that runs through 2030. The contract represents a nearly $6 million annual increase from the previous deal.

• The fine print: The extension keeps ESPN as the exclusive global broadcaster for Little League, covering more than 300 games each year from regional tournaments to its seven World Series events. According to a Little League executive, the contract also includes a slight annual escalator, ensuring the value of the deal grows over time.

• Bankrolling the bases: For the nonprofit, the cash infusion underwrites its operations. The fees are used to cover more than $12.5 million in tournament costs—a figure also broken by pennlive.com—and support its more than 6,000 community-based programs.

The lucrative, long-term agreement solidifies Little League’s premier position in the youth sports media landscape, providing a stable financial foundation for its nonprofit mission.

Beyond the financials, the partnership also highlights the unique human element of the MLB Little League Classic, where professional players and kids interact in unscripted ways. Separately, Little League and ESPN have also joined forces on a broader initiative with the Aspen Institute to help boost youth sports participation nationwide.