It’s Official: Fox, Turner and MLB Network Renew Pacts with MLB

http://sportsmediajournal.com/page/2/ Fox will continue to retain rights to the World Series, one League Championship Series and the All-Star Game. Beginning in 2014 Fox will also televise two Division Series match-ups. Fox will cover the ALDS in the same year it televises the ALCS and vice-versa with the NLDS in the year it carries the NLCS. One game from each Division Series will be televised by the MLB Network. Fox also retains it regular season Saturday national window, but upping the number of games telecast from 26 to 52. 12 will be carried exclusively on Fox with 40 others slated for another Fox national sports network. Along with rights to highlights and library footage, Fox Deportes will have Spanish language rights to Fox baseball programming, including the post season. Turner ( on TBS) will continue to air one League Championship Series each year, alternating leagues with Fox. Turner will also telecast two Division Series games each year, again alternating leagues with Fox. Turner will also televise one Wild Card game each season. Turner will continue to air its Sunday MLB on TBS package over the final 13 Sunday afternoons of the regular season. Games will also be made part of the TV Anywhere online platform. Turner Sports will also have access to highlights to share across its varied platforms. The MLB Network will continue to air more than 150 regular season games each year, along with securing the two Division Series games each post season. MLB Network also will televise the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and the MLB All-Star Game Selection Show each year starting in 2014, while continuing to produce the MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Emmy Award-winning MLB Tonight seven days per week, and other regular season and offseason studio programming including Quick Pitch, The Rundown, Intentional Talk, Hot Stove and Clubhouse Confidential. “I have often said in recent years that we are living in the golden age of baseball and that the game has never been more popular. said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, “But to see the unprecedented and historic commitment these networks have made to televising Major League Baseball for years to come is truly amazing. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am thrilled that we will continue our relationships with both FOX and Turner. Both networks are passionate about baseball and are committed to covering, promoting and growing the sport, and I want to thank them for their continued support.” “It is with tremendous pleasure that we’re able to extend and advance our relationship with Major League Baseball for another eight years,” said FSMG co-presidents Randy Freer and Eric Shanks. “Baseball, both nationally and regionally, has been part of our DNA here at FOX for a long time, and we’re looking forward to working with MLB on many new initiatives that will grow and promote the sport in coming years.” “Major League Baseball on TBS has been a staple of our programming foundation and the home to so many memorable baseball moments,” said David Levy, President of Sales, Distribution and Sports, Turner Broadcasting. “This agreement reflects our respect for one another’s business and the mutual regard we have with MLB.” “Securing two exclusive Postseason games, in addition to televising regular season games, special events and our Emmy Award-winning studio programming, demonstrates our commitment to grow MLB Network and provide baseball fans with high-quality production and programming over the next decade,” said MLB Network President and CEO Tony Petitti. Earlier this summer MLB announced its extension with ESPN, also through 2021.