Free games for non-subscribers are no longer included in Apple’s Major League Baseball broadcast schedule. The organisation said today that an Apple TV+ membership is now necessary to watch its “Friday Night Baseball” doubleheaders, which start on April 7.
Anyone could watch the Friday night baseball games on Apple TV+ without a subscription in 2022. The company did state at the time, though, that the deal would only be valid for a short period of time. It was Apple’s first step into live sports following a $595 million seven-year agreement with MLB.
Apple’s agreement does not involve blackouts for local teams, a rarity in non-network-TV sports programming even though the games are now restricted behind a subscription. Furthermore, while Apple refers to its Friday-night schedules as “doubleheaders,” the two games frequently air concurrently. The first game on April 7th is an exception, featuring the San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves at 7 PM ET and Texas Rangers vs. Chicago Cubs at 2 PM ET. You can look through Apple’s calendar. (up to June 30th).
Play-by-play announcer Wayne Randazzo, analyst Dontrelle Willis, sideline reporter Heidi Watney, play-by-play announcer Alex Faust, analyst Ryan Spilborghs, and announcer Tricia Whitaker are all part of Apple’s 2023 in-game broadcast roster. (sideline reporter). In addition, host Lauren Gardner, Siera Santos, Xavier Scruggs, Matt Joyce, Russell Dorsey, and former MLB officials Brian Gorman and Dale Scott return for pre- and postgame coverage.
Apple entered the live sports market with baseball, but it now also offers Major League Soccer Season Pass, which costs an additional $13 per month or $79 for the entire season ($15 per month or $99 for non-Apple TV+ users). Additionally, Apple and T-Mobile recently collaborated to offer free full-season access to its wireless customers. Apple TV+ has only been available for three years, but even so, the iPhone manufacturer has moved rapidly to expand its streaming platform past Ted Lasso.
