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MLB Network to reach 85 million homes with playoff coverage

With the playoffs in full swing, MLB Network (US) has significantly bolstered its distribution roster.

Baseball's in-house network will add about 30 million homes from Oct. 4 through Oct. 11 as part of a free preview.

Partnering with existing providers making the service available to more of their customer bases, MLB Network will reach about 85 million homes during that week, during which it will televise a pair of American League Division Series contests: Game 1 of the New York Yankees-Minnesota Twins matchup on Oct. 4 and the third Houston Astros-Tampa Bay Rays contest on Oct. 7.

Under the current national rights deal, MLB Network, which currently counts about 56 million homes, airs two division series games annually, alternating between the American and National leagues.

The affiliates broadening their base during the freeview period include AT&T Inc.'s DIRECTV and U-verse platforms; DISH Network Corp.'s primary satellite service and virtual provider, Sling TV; Altice USA Inc.'s Optimum systems in the New York area; Verizon Communications Inc.'s Fios TV; and Comcast Corp. The latter reversed course on a decision earlier this week, as the cable company's Twin Cities region will now participate in the MLB Network free preview, including game coverage within the Twins home market of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

That matchup could take aim at MLB Network's all-time audience marks. The network's coverage of Game 2 of the San Francisco-Chicago Cubs 2016 National League Division Series averaged 4.6 million viewers, while Yankees-Cleveland in the second game of the 2017 American League Division Series Game 2 ranks second with 3.2 million viewers.

All told, MLB Network will produce about 215 hours of live coverage during October, including special postseason editions of morning show "MLB Central," plus interviews, game previews, highlights and in-depth analysis across all studio programming, as the sport crowns its 2019 champion.