Programming Alert: Massive update on AppleTV+ Friday Night Baseball that will make Blue Jays fans rejoice
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Many Toronto Blue Jays fans will be very happy to know that AppleTV has lost their rights to broadcast Friday Night Baseball.
It's no secret that many Blue Jays fans loathe AppleTV's Friday night baseball.
Fans have voiced their frustrations about having to pay up for another streaming service to watch one game every couple of months on AppleTV.
Now they will no longer have to do that, as a package of MLB baseball rights are currently up for grabs.
As recently as last week, Apple was said to be a front runner to land expanded baseball streaming coverage.
But according to Yahoo Sports reporter Kendall Baker, that is no longer the case.
🚨 SCOOP: MLB rights deals are «close to being done,» per sources.
What I'm hearing:
- Apple is fully out. RIP Friday Night Baseball
- NBC/Peacock is in, for Friday and Sunday exclusive and Wild Card
- MLB TV being sold to ESPN (for a boatload of $$$)
- Netflix gets HR Derby
What I'm hearing:
- Apple is fully out. RIP Friday Night Baseball
- NBC/Peacock is in, for Friday and Sunday exclusive and Wild Card
- MLB TV being sold to ESPN (for a boatload of $$$)
- Netflix gets HR Derby
According to the report, Apple has elected to "exit" its relationship with Major League Baseball altogether.
That means it will add no new Sunday games, and it also implicates the future of Friday Night Baseball.
Friday Night Baseball currently streams two weekly games for Apple TV+ subscribers.
Assuming the report is accurate on the latest developments, the new deal would see Apple abandon all interests in MLB streaming, which would mean it would longer broadcast Friday Night Baseball.
Apple signed a seven-year deal for Friday Night Baseball back in 2022, paying about $85 million annually, which would indicate it would run through 2029.
However, Apple is believed to have the latitude in the contract to get out earlier than that, as is suggested to have happened.
MLB Friday Night Baseball to move to NBC/Peacock going forward
Instead, Baker believes Friday night MLB games would move to NBC/Peacock.
They would also add Sunday exclusive games and Wild Card. Netflix will also partner with the league to stream Home Run Derby games.
The MLB.TV service is apparently being sold to ESPN.
The deals are supposedly «close being to done», so we should know what the official state of affairs is soon.
If true, it raises questions about the future of Apple's commitments to sports streaming in general.
The company currently offers MLB Friday Night Baseball, and MLS Season Pass.
The MLS deal runs for ten years, through 2032, although reports indicate Apple has an opt-out option if they wish to exercise it.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 21 | 259 ANSWERS Programming Alert: Massive update on AppleTV+ Friday Night Baseball that will make Blue Jays fans rejoice Are you happy that AppleTV no longer broadcasts Blue Jays games? | ||
| Yes | 250 | 96.5 % |
| No | 9 | 3.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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