NBC Sports Regional Networks announced on Thursday an agreement with MLB Advanced Media to stream local market games along with pre- and postgame interview shows once the 2017 regular season begins.
The new streaming option is available at no additional cost to pay TV subscribers to CSN regional sports networks and can access the stream online or using the NBC Sports app available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.
The deal adds to the number of Major League Baseball teams where authenticated viewers within their respective markets can access local streaming of games and programming, as it covers the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs and White Sox on CSN Chicago, the Philadelphia Phillies on CSN Philadelphia, the Oakland Athletics on CSN California and the San Francisco Giants on CSN Bay Area.
Last season, Major League Baseball had seen an expansion in live in-market streaming thanks to a three-year deal with FOX for the teams covered by a FOX regional network. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays could be streamed online and on FOX Sports GO.
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The partnership between the NBC Sports Regional Network and MLB came after a similar deal was announced in November enabling CSN subscribers to stream live in-market NHL games.
The NBC Sports Regional Networks now have partnerships for in-market streaming of the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks, Giants and A’s (CSN Bay Area/CSN California); Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox (CSN Chicago); Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals (CSN Mid-Atlantic); Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phillies (CSN Philadelphia); and Boston Celtics (CSN New England).
“This is a home run for our local sports fans,” David Preschlack, President of NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Group Platform and Content Strategy, said in a statement of the baseball deal. “We are constantly looking for ways to better serve our fans and provide comprehensive coverage of their favorite teams. With the addition of the MLB in-market streaming right, they don’t have to miss a pitch.”