Apple has revealed the first scheduled games that will be available as part of its new Friday Night Baseball series, which will start airing next week on April 8. The company announced the new partnership with the Major League Baseball (MLB) during its Peek Performance event earlier this month, where Apple TV+ got some stage time alongside the new Mac Studio and Studio Display.
The first two baseball games that will air on Apple TV+ on April 8 will feature the New York Mets play against the Washington Nationals at 7 PM ET, then the Houston Astros play against the Los Angeles Angels at 9:30 PM ET. “Friday Night Baseball, a weekly doubleheader, will be available to fans in eight countries exclusively on Apple TV+ on Fridays throughout the regular season,” the company explained.
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If baseball is mostly popular in America, Friday Night Baseball will be available on Apple TV+ in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, with more markets coming later. Baseball fans in the US and Canada will also get to watch the MLB Big Inning live show every weeknight, as well as a 24/7 livestream with MLB game replays, highlights, and more.
Apple TV+ costs $4.99/month in the US, which is pretty cheap for getting access to a selection of high-profile baseball matches. In its initial announcement, Apple also said that Friday Night Baseball would be available “for a limited time” without a subscription.
Apple is a pretty late entrant to the streaming subscription service game, though the company has come with a slightly different strategy than its competitors. The service isn’t a must-have yet despite its affordable pricing, but maybe this new partnership with the MLB will be able to move the needle.
It’s also worth noting that the entertainment industry is also starting to notice Apple’s investments in exclusive content. A couple of days ago, the Apple TV+ movie CODA became the first film from a streaming service to win Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars.