Roku has secured a deal to broadcast a national package of 18 Sunday morning Major League Baseball games this season, beginning with a game between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals on May 19. This adds another streaming content provider to the mix of platforms offering live sports coverage, with Peacock previously holding the rights to MLB’s national Sunday morning package. The games will be available to viewers on Roku’s platform, which has expanded from its original streaming service to include original programming and now live sports programming as well. The games will occupy a time slot that varies based on the geographic region, with times for all 18 games announced by MLB.
As part of the agreement, Roku and MLB have announced an all-new MLB Zone to help fans discover live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, highlights, and more across the Roku platform. The broadcast teams for the games will rotate week-to-week based on the markets. The first broadcast will feature Chip Caray as play-by-play announcer, Will Middlebrooks as analyst, and Alexa Datt as the reporter. MLB.tv subscribers will have the ability to watch all 18 matchups without any blackout restrictions from anywhere in the world. Non-Roku subscribers can also access the games by downloading the free Roku Channel app or through various streaming devices and platforms like Amazon Fire, Samsung TVs, and Google TVs.
Roku’s President, Charlie Collier, emphasized the platform’s role in providing viewers and advertisers with access to fragmented television programming, live sports, and various leagues across multiple networks and packages. With this deal, Roku will offer free, live, weekly Sunday baseball games as well as 24/7 baseball curation, destinations, and channels to users. The company sees this partnership as a significant step in expanding its offerings beyond traditional streaming services and into the live sports market. The addition of MLB programming represents Roku’s dedication to becoming a one-stop destination for all types of programming.
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Former Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks will be part of the broadcast team for the first MLB game on Roku featuring the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. The game kicks off the lineup of Sunday morning games that will be available to viewers through Roku’s platform. The broadcast teams for the games will feature a rotation of announcers and analysts, with different voices providing coverage week-to-week. This variety adds a unique element to the viewing experience for baseball fans who tune in to watch the games on Roku.
Viewers who want to watch the MLB Sunday Leadoff games on Roku can do so via the Roku Channel app or the free Roku mobile app. Subscribers to MLB.tv will have the benefit of watching all 18 matchups without restrictions, making it easier for fans to follow their favorite teams and players throughout the season. Roku’s expansion into live sports programming further solidifies its position as a leading streaming platform that offers a diverse range of content, from original programming to live sports coverage. The addition of the MLB Sunday Leadoff games will provide baseball fans with another option for enjoying the game they love on Roku’s platform.
