Major League Baseball on Netflix

Major League Baseball on Netflix
GenreAmerican baseball game telecasts
Directed by
  • Tom Healy (pre/postgame studio show director)
  • John Moore (game director)
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1 (through 2026 season)
Production
Producers
  • Chris Collins[1] (pre/postgame studio show producer)
  • Mike Treanor (game producer)
Production locationsVarious MLB stadiums (game telecasts)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time210 minutes or until game ends (inc. adverts)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseMarch 25, 2026 (2026-03-25) –
present

Major League Baseball on Netflix (also known as MLB on Netflix) is an American presentation of Major League Baseball (MLB) games produced by Netflix, Inc. and MLB Network[2] and televised on the Netflix subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service.

History

In February 2025, ESPN and Major League Baseball announced that both parties had exercised a mutual opt-out to end their media agreement following the previous 2025 season; the contract was originally going to expire after the 2028 season.[3][4]

In November 2025, MLB reached new, three-year agreements with ESPN, NBC Sports, and Netflix to replace ESPN's previous deal.[5][6] In line with the company's preference towards isolated rights that can be promoted as an "event", Netflix's package includes rights to the primetime "Opening Night" game, the Home Run Derby, and an annual special event game (such as the neutral-site MLB at Field of Dreams game).[7][8][9] The deal overall is reportedly worth $50 million annually.[10]

Production

Similarly to Netflix's NFL coverage, production is overseen by EverWonder Studio, with MLB Network producing the game broadcasts. For the opening night game, the production featured 30 different cameras (including augmented reality cameras, and one on a kayak in McCovey Cove—one of 73 present placed in honor of Barry Bonds' single-season home run record in 2001).[11][12][13]

Commentators

Date Teams Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Reporter(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s) Contributor(s)
March 25, 2026 New York Yankees-San Francisco Giants (Opening Night)[14][15] Matt Vasgersian[16] Hunter Pence (co-primary)
CC Sabathia[17] (co-primary)		 Lauren Shehadi[18] Elle Duncan[19][20][21] Barry Bonds[22], Albert Pujols, and Anthony Rizzo Bert Kreischer[23][24], Jey and Jimmy Uso[25], and Jameis Winston[26]
August 13, 2026 Philadelphia Phillies-Minnesota Twins (MLB at Field of Dreams)[27][28] Matt Vasgersian[29] Hunter Pence
CC Sabathia		 Lauren Shehadi[30] Elle Duncan[31] Barry Bonds[32], Albert Pujols, and Anthony Rizzo

Reception

The inaugural Opening Night game between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants was seen by approximately 3 million viewers, an 45% increase over the Opening Night game on ESPN in 2025.[33]

Netflix faced mixed reviews from viewers and critics for aspects of the Opening Night broadcast, such as an excessive amount of entertainment elements and cross-promotion for Netflix original programming (including guest appearances by Daniel Dae Kim, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and WWE wrestlers John Cena and Jey Uso to promote Avatar: The Last Airbender, Man on Fire, Little Brother, and Monday Night Raw respectively), a studio panel of MLB alumni with unproven broadcasting experience (with Barry Bonds receiving positive reviews, but Andrew Marchand of The Athletic noting that the extended pre-game show felt like an episode of This is Your Life about Bonds), missing the first regular season use of ABS challenges due to an in-game interview with the Giants' manager Tony Vitello, and using an unusually-designed scoreboard graphic.[34][35][12][36][37]

As previously mentioned, the Home Run Derby moved from ESPN to Netflix beginning in 2026.[38] Netflix's inaugural Home Run Derby broadcast[39][40][41] drew 5.3 million viewers, the lowest since 2003. The audience on Netflix was also younger compared to previous editions.[42]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hernández, Kristian (March 25, 2026). "On Eve of Opening Day, Netflix Starts Off MLB Regular Season With Yankees–Giants Matchup by the Bay". Sports Video Group. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  2. ↑ Maglio, Tony (March 25, 2026). "With 'MLB Opening Night,' Netflix Is Messing With the Wrong Fans". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  3. ↑ Drellich, Evan (February 20, 2025). "MLB, ESPN opt out of TV deal for 2026–28; MLB cites 'minimal coverage'". The Athletic. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  4. ↑ Sherman, Alex (August 22, 2025). "Major League Baseball closes in on new media rights deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix". CNBC. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  5. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (November 19, 2025). "MLB announces new 3-year rights deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  6. ↑ Marchand, Andrew (November 19, 2025). "After near-billion-dollar blunder, MLB's Rob Manfred puts on rally cap with new TV deals". The Athletic. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  7. ↑ Marchand, Andrew (September 26, 2025). "Netflix to stream Yankees-Giants on MLB Opening Day 2026 as part of new 3-year agreement: Sources". The Athletic. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  8. ↑ "MLB announces new 3-year rights deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ Karp, Austin; Mazzeo, Mike (November 19, 2025). "MLB unveils short-term deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  10. ↑ Lacques, Gary (March 25, 2026). "Netflix looked desperate promoting itself throughout its Major League Baseball debut". USA Today. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  11. ↑ Maglio, Tony (March 25, 2026). "With 'MLB Opening Night,' Netflix Is Messing With the Wrong Fans". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Yoder, Matt (March 25, 2026). "Netflix MLB scorebug draws polarizing reaction". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  13. ↑ "On Eve of Opening Day, Netflix Starts Off MLB Regular Season With Yankees–Giants Matchup by the Bay". Sports Video Group. March 25, 2026. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  14. ↑ Kleen, Brandon (March 11, 2026). "Michael Kay: 'It sucks' that Netflix is taking Yankees' opener from YES Network". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ Austin Jr., Ahmad (March 25, 2026). "Baseball Fans Slam MLB for Making Season Opener a Netflix Exclusive: 'Worst Idea Anyone Has Ever Had'". Mediaite. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  16. ↑ Neumann, Sam (March 10, 2026). "Matt Vasgersian reportedly in line to call Netflix's MLB Opening Night game". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ Neumann, Sam (February 11, 2026). "Netflix reportedly pursuing Barry Bonds, CC Sabathia for Opening Day broadcast". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ Neumann, Sam (March 10, 2026). "Lauren Shehadi joining Netflix as in-game reporter for MLB Opening Night". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Elle Duncan confirmed as Netflix's lead MLB host". Awful Announcing.
  20. ↑ Broady, Armand (March 27, 2026). "On the Air: A jumbled MLB debut for Netflix". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  21. ↑ Yoder, Matt (April 3, 2026). "Elle Duncan responds to backlash over Netflix MLB broadcast". Awful Announcing. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ Lewis, Jon (March 19, 2026). "Barry Bonds joins Netflix as MLB analyst". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  23. ↑ Lerner, Drew (March 11, 2026). "Netflix reveals full MLB Opening Night broadcast team". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  24. ↑ Yoder, Matt (March 25, 2026). "The Netflix MLB pregame show was one big Netflix infomercial". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  25. ↑ Neumann, Sam (March 23, 2026). "WWE's Jey and Jimmy Uso joining Netflix MLB Opening Night Yankees-Giants broadcast". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  26. ↑ Soloway, Manny (March 20, 2026). "Jameis Winston latest big name added to Netflix's Opening Night MLB coverage". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  27. ↑ Costa, Brandon (August 13, 2026). "MLB at Field of Dreams Returns as Netflix Joins the Effort, Leans Into Cinematic Look at Newly Permanent Ballpark". Sports Video Group. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  28. ↑ Clapp, Matt (August 13, 2026). "Netflix makes big scorebug change for Field of Dreams Game after Opening Night criticism". Awful Announcing. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  29. ↑ Elman, Jake (August 14, 2026). "Grading Netflix's Phillies-Twins Field of Dreams broadcast". Fandsided. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Meet Netflix's broadcast team for Field of Dreams game between Phillies vs. Twins". The Sporting News. August 12, 2026.
  31. ↑ Armstrong, Megan (August 14, 2026). "Review: Netflix rewarded patience with MLB Field of Dreams Game broadcast". Awful Announcing. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  32. ↑ Chavkin, Daniel (August 13, 2026). "MLB Field of Dreams Game announcers: Meet Netflix's broadcast team for Phillies vs. Twins". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
  33. ↑ Porter, Rick (April 1, 2026). "Baseball's New TV Partners Deliver Solid Audiences on Opening Day(s)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  34. ↑ Marchand, Andrew (March 26, 2026). "On 'Netflix Opening Night,' fans just wanted to watch 'The Show'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  35. ↑ Maglio, Tony (March 25, 2026). "With 'MLB Opening Night,' Netflix Is Messing With the Wrong Fans". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  36. ↑ Neumann, Sam (March 25, 2026). "Netflix's MLB debut was promising, excessive, and occasionally a disaster". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  37. ↑ Lacques, Gabe. "Netflix's MLB debut was self-promotion with a side of baseball: Opinion". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  38. ↑ Marchand, Andrew (September 26, 2025). "Netflix to stream Yankees-Giants on MLB Opening Day 2026 as part of new 3-year agreement: Sources". The Athletic. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  39. ↑ Futterman, Derek (July 16, 2026). "Netflix brings the Home Run Derby into its streaming era". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  40. ↑ Neumann, Sam (July 13, 2026). "Netflix fixed the Home Run Derby's biggest problem and created a new one". Awful Announcing. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  41. ↑ Clapp, Matt (July 13, 2026). "Netflix viewers didn't like Will Ferrell-led commentary to open MLB Home Run Derby". Awful Announcing. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  42. ↑ Karp, Austin (July 16, 2026). "Sources: Netflix's Home Run Derby debut is event's smallest audience since 2003". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
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