Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) reached a deal for “Friday Night Baseball,” a weekly doubleheader of live baseball games on Apple TV+.
The games, which will feature live pre- and postgame shows, will be available to viewers in eight countries—United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom, with additional countries coming at a later date. The deal kicks in when the regular MLB season begins, though the start date is still up in the air as the league and players union continue negotiations for a new labor agreement.
In addition to “Friday Night Baseball,” viewers in the U.S. will have access to “MLB Big Inning,” a live show featuring highlights and look-ins airing every weeknight during the regular season. Viewers in the U.S. and Canada will also have access to a new 24/7 livestream with MLB game replays, news and analysis, highlights and classic games along with on-demand programming including highlights and MLB-themed original content.
Apple said its Friday night games will be from free from local broadcast restrictions and available across devices that support Apple TV+ including the recent addition of Comcast’s Xfinity X1, Flex and XClass platforms. Apple said that for a limited time, the Friday night games will be available without the need for a subscription.
“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.”
“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.”
Apple’s first foray into live sports on Apple TV+ lends additional credibility to reports that the company is a frontrunner for the NFL Sunday Ticket package. Recent reports suggest that Apple may also take part ownership of NFL Media which includes the NFL Network.