Netflix is entering the baseball sector, by granting a streaming agreement for the classic Baseball 2026. Capture? The streaming giant is only taking Japan rights.
The World Baseball Classic belongs to Major League Baseball (via World Baseball Classic Inc.), which operates it alongside the MLB Players Association, and sees the national teams compete in a classic tournament format. The last WBC took place in 2023, with Team Japan and Team USA against the final.
WBC will be the first live event for Japan, expanding the company of sports and live events from the company to a new market. Netflix will broadcast the 47 games live and on demand, promising full coverage. Fox Sports holds television and streaming rights on WBC in the United States
Netflix is already in business with MLB via a number of documentaries, and there have been rumbles that the streaming service could be in the mixture for the derby, which should leave ESPN after this season after the sports giant belonging to Disney has chosen its agreement with the League.
Japan may be the perfect market for a WBC offer.
Team Japan, led by Los Angeles Dodgers star, Shohei Ohtani, won the world’s latest world baseball in 2023, Ohtani withdrawing his teammate then, Mike Trout, to close the tournament in one of the most dramatic ends of a recent memory game. According to Journal of Sports AffairsSix of the seven games of the Japan team during the WBC 2023 delivered more than 30 million viewers in Japan, with household shares comparable to the Super Bowl in the United States, in comparison, the WBC championship game was on average more than 5 million viewers.
“This partnership demonstrates the growing popularity of the tournament, which is an increasing interest in global media companies and WBCI efforts to interact with fans thanks to innovative digital platforms,” said Noah Garden, deputy commissioner of the MLB for business and media. “Netflix has already demonstrated a remarkable success in live sports streaming on a global scale. By joining an entertainment leader, we are not only honoring the tradition of baseball, but also to adopt the future – ensuring that fans of all ages and all background can take advantage of the tournament in a way that adapts to their lives today. With Netflix, we are committed to and unified for Japanese fans. “
“We are honored to associate ourselves with WBCI as a new house for the World Baseball Classic in Japan,” added Kaata Sakamoto, Vice-President of Netflix in Japan. “We are committed to ensuring all fans – whether supporters for life or new ones in the game – can live the tournament in a way that is aimed at their lives today. With Netflix already in millions of Japanese houses, we are delighted to provide a new type of vision experience that still brings fans closer to action, players, and the heart of the tournament, everywhere. Celebration, and to offer live entertainment innovative for our members. »»
