Apple TV+ Is The New Friday Night Baseball Home in MLB Deal

There’s another shakeup in the sports streaming landscape. Apple TV+ and Major League Baseball have struck a deal for Friday Night Baseball—assuming that there is actually an MLB season this year, that is. The streamer will have an exclusive weekly doubleheader with live pre- and postgame shows in eight countries, as soon as the regular season begins. Friday night baseball television rights were previously only regional. “Just like all baseball fans, we can’t wait for the season to open,” said Peter Stern, Apple’s vice president of services, in a statement. “Baseball has a special place in the heart of so many Apple customers—not just in the United States, but in many countries around the world. We’re proud to make Apple TV+ the home for great baseball moments throughout the season.” Turner Sports and US Soccer Deal Brings National Team Games to HBO Max in 2023 While Apple TV+, known for hits like Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, costs $5 per month, the company said that Friday Night Baseball will be available to fans “for a limited time” without a subscription. The streamer is also launching MLB Big Inning, a live show featuring highlights and look-ins that will air every night during the regular season in the U.S. In the U.S. and Canada there will also be a 24/7 livestream with game replays, news and analysis, highlights, classic games as well as on-demand programming including highlights and MLB-themed original content. Baseball marks the first sports deal for Apple TV+, which has not reported subscriber numbers since the streamer launched in 2019. “Apple is the ideal partner to bring ‘Friday Night Baseball’ to fans around the world,” said Noah Garden, MLB’s chief revenue officer, in a statement. “Following milestones like the launch of At Bat on day one of the App Store in 2008 to the integration of Apple technology in ballparks across the country, this robust new game package is the perfect next collaboration in our long history of offering quality and innovative content to our fans. With national availability and international reach, MLB on Apple TV+ offers an exciting new platform to fans that allows a wider audience to connect with the game.” It's still unclear when—or even if—Apple TV+ will begin streaming games this season, given that the MLB and its players have been unable to come to a new collective bargaining agreement. The regular season was originally set to kick off March 31, but that has been postponed until at least the second week of April as negotiations continue. Streamers love sports Apple TV+ is the latest streaming service to enter the world of live sports in an effort to attract new subscribers and reduce churn. Last week, Turner Sports and the U.S. Soccer Federation announced an eight-year multimedia rights agreement that makes HBO Max and cable networks TNT and TBS the exclusive English-language home for more than 20 Women’s and Men’s National Team matches each year. The deal is set to begin in 2023, and further expands HBO Max’s foray into live sports after Turner Sports struck a deal for the NHL’s second TV rights package last year. Disney and the NHL snagged that first package, striking a landmark rights deal last March for both linear and streaming properties, bringing the league to ESPN and ABC along with streamers ESPN+ and Hulu. NBCUniversal made a major play with the Premier League for its linear networks and streamer Peacock, and believes it could prove to be as popular as the NFL. Paramount+ has the NFL, college football, college basketball and golf, but is increasingly diving into the soccer world with rights to larger leagues like UEFA Champions League and Europa League, the National Women’s Soccer League and Serie A, but also leagues such as Argentine Primera División and Brasileirão.

Streaming & OTT

Apple TV+ is the New Friday Night Baseball Home in MLB Deal

The streamer will have two exclusive games when the regular season begins

Mollie Cahillane

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Mollie Cahillane