Roku Scores Exclusive MLB Sunday Games Package, Streaming for Free in U.S. and Elsewhere
13.05.2024 - 21:23
/ variety.com
Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Roku has landed exclusive multiyear rights for Major League Baseball‘s Sunday Leadoff live games, a package previously with NBCUniversal’s Peacock. Starting May 19, Roku will stream Sunday MLB games for free on the Roku Channel. The company also will launch a new MLB Zone to help baseball fans find live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, highlights, a fully programmed MLB free, ad-supported streaming TV channel, and other content across the Roku platform.
The game telecasts will be produced in collaboration with MLB. On most Sundays throughout the MLB season, Roku will be the home for the league’s first games of the day, with an exclusivity window during airtime as well. In addition, paying subscribers of MLB.TV can watch all 18 matchups blackout-free from anywhere in the world.
Roku has worldwide rights to the MLB Sunday Leadoff games and in addition to the U.S. plans to also stream games in Canada and Mexico during the season. “As television programming, live sports, and the leagues have fragmented across networks, apps, and multiple packages, Roku — home to all of them — plays an increasingly crucial role for viewers and advertisers,” said Charlie Collier, president of Roku Media, in a statement.
“With this deal, Roku delivers free, live, weekly Sunday baseball and 24/7 baseball curation, destinations and channels across our platform. The lead-in to all of television is now the lead-off for Sunday baseball as well. It’s a terrific partnership.” MLB Sunday Leadoff will stream every Sunday on the Roku Channel and therokuchannel.com from May 19 to Sept.