TBS to Air MLB Wild Card Match-Ups; MLB Network Gets Two Division Playoff Tilts

http://sportsmediajournal.com/ With the new Major League Baseball playoff format beginning this season, it was up in the air which network would telecast the two, one-game Wild Card games. Major League Baseball announced that TBS will air the two Wild Card games this season and next. Major League Baseball also announced that two games in the Division Series Round of the playoffs will shift from TBS to the MLB Network, also this season and in 2013. This is the first time the MLB Network will televise post season baseball in its three year history. TBS will also continue to televise any necessary regular season tie-breaker games. “The new format will create two compelling Wild Card match-ups for fans that will begin our Postseason with unprecedented pressure and implications,” said Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig in a press release. “We are confident that TBS will provide outstanding coverage and promotion of the games. I am also very pleased that this arrangement allows for MLB Network to air Postseason games for the first time. MLB Network has done a remarkable job with its live game coverage and I am certain that its extraordinary work will continue as it produces Postseason games.” “We applaud Major League Baseball on their decision to expand Postseason eligibility and we’re excited to build upon our long-standing partnership with MLB by adding these highly anticipated exclusive Wild Card games to our Postseason coverage on TBS,” said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “We believe the additional single-elimination Wild Card spots will build upon the popularity of the sport and will serve as a great launching pad for our Division Series and ALCS coverage on TBS.”