Little League’s ESPN contract worth $30.1M

Published 6:10 pm Monday, August 18, 2008

It’s a big league atmosphere at the Little League World Series as several Mill Creek Little Leaguers have noted, especially with the television exposure.

Little League International signed an eight-year contract extension with ESPN in January 2007 for $30.1 million to cover all Little League World Series games, all eight U.S. regional finals and championship games of its other softball and baseball tournaments, Little League spokesman Chris Downs said.

“Having Little League games on national television has helped us communicate the benefits of our program to millions of viewers annually since 1963,” said Stephen D. Keener, president and CEO of Little League Baseball and Softball at the time.

In 2003, the Christian Science Monitor published this articlethat explores the ramifications of adding that kind of hype and exposure to the sport.

What do you think?