MLB Signs Multi-Year Deal With Roku For Exclusive Live Sunday Leadoff Games
Monday, May 13, 2024 at 12:18PM By Barry Janoff
May 13, 2024: MLB has added another media partner to its roster, signing Roku to exclusive multi-year rights for Major League Baseball Sunday Leadoff live games.
MLB Sunday Leadoff will stream for free every Sunday on The Roku Channel and TheRokuChannel.com from May 19 (St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Boston Red Sox) to Sept. 15 (Cincinnati Reds at Minnesota Twins).
Financial terms were not shared.
“With free games available to anyone, MLB games on Roku will be widely accessible to fans,” Noah Garden, MLB deputy commissioner, business and media, said via the league.
“Since Roku serves as an entertainment gateway for millions, this partnership offers a valuable new promotional and distribution platform for MLB games and content.”
The game telecasts will be produced in collaboration with MLB.
Roku will offer Sunday MLB games for free on The Roku Channel, plus a new MLB Zone to “help baseball fans discover live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, highlights, a fully programmed MLB FAST channel, and more across the Roku platform.” (Details here.)
On most Sundays throughout the season, Roku will be the home for the first games of the day, with an exclusivity window during airtime.
The multi-year deal also includes nightly clips delivered as VOD and available in MLB Zone/Sports Zone plus an MLB FAST channel.
“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,” Charlie Collier, president, said via Roku Media.
“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.”
Other featured games include the Twins at the Houston Astros (June 2), Baltimore Orioles hosting the New York Yankees (July 14), Seattle Mariners visiting the New York Mets (Aug. 18) and the Arizona Diamondbacks hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 1).
See the full schedule here.
The Roku Channel said it reaches U.S. households with an estimated 120 million people
There are various ways to access MLB Sunday Leadoff games on Roku for free. (Details here.)
In addition, paying subscribers of MLB.TV can watch all 18 games blackout free worldwide.
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