Apple on the hook for $85 million over seven years for MLB streaming
Mike Wuerthele
Apple's deal with Major League Baseball announced at the Apple Event on Tuesday is part of a $115 million deal between it, NBC Sports, and Apple.
According to the report detailing the deal by Forbes on Wednesday, Apple can bail out of the agreement up to two years after the start of broadcast. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report also claims that the national deals with all broadcasters and streamers is $1.96 billion for the 2022 season, split among 30 teams.
The breakdown of the revenue between the teams isn't clear. Historically, it's been uneven, and based on a complex equation loosely based on viewership.
Apple's partnership with Major League Baseball consists of a weekly double-header with live pre- and postgame shows, available in eight countries. Fans will be able to view marquee games on Friday nights without local broadcast restrictions wherever Apple TV+ can be viewed, and for a limited time, without a subscription.
As well as Friday Night Baseball, Apple is providing users in the U.S. with "MLB Big Inning," a live show with highlights and look-ins airing every weeknight of the regular season. A 24-7 livestream will also be viewable with MLB game replays, news, and analysis in the U.S. and Canada.
"Friday Night Baseball" will be available in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. An expansion into more countries will take place at a later date.
As well as Apple TV+, the partnership has Apple and MLB providing enhanced league and team coverage for fans in Apple News, complete with highlights watchable within the News app.
Streaming of the games is scheduled to start on April 8. The existing MLB lockout will likely prevent that.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Marko Zivkovic
David Schloss
Wesley Hilliard
Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen
11 Comments
Great news. I always envisioned Apple’s streaming service to be innovative but replace traditional TV. When they first announced The Morning Show I thought it was a literal morning show broadcast daily.
Would love to see more live content. Maybe broadcast the Apple Music Festival at least. (If they don’t already)
I thought this kind of stuff would be MUCH more expensive.
Apple is paying 85 million for 2 games per week, both on Fridays. NBC is paying 30 million for 2 games per week on Monday and Wednesday. Why is Apple paying so much more? Is it because it is Apple, or are Friday games that much more valuable? I've read that Friday nights are one of the lowest rated nights for TV viewing, but that is not sports-specific.
Wouldn't be surprised if they have more rights than realized here. When NBC created Thursday Night Football 10-ish years ago, they also negotiated rights to move around which game would be played on Thursday, and actually had preference over ABC/ESPN's Monday Night Football franchise. The league was happy to do it, because it represented new territory for them and expanded their overall profile. Wouldn't be surprised to see MLB be very excited to have Apple's interest and marketing muscle pushing their brand as the league is grappling with waning interest.