Roku, the streaming giant, has hit a home run by acquiring exclusive multi-year rights to air Major League Baseball (MLB) Sunday Leadoff games, beginning May 19. This move positions Roku not only as a key player in the streaming world but also as a pivotal hub for sports enthusiasts. Every Sunday, viewers can tune in for free to watch the first games of the day on The Roku Channel, marking a significant development in how fans access live sports.
Charlie Collier, President of Roku Media, emphasized the strategic importance of this deal, stating, “With this deal, Roku delivers free, live, weekly Sunday baseball and 24/7 baseball curation, destinations, and channels across our platform. The lead-in to all of television is now the lead-off for Sunday baseball as well. It’s a terrific partnership.” This arrangement not only offers free access to games but also includes an innovative MLB Zone on Roku. This feature will enhance user experience by providing easy access to live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, and highlights.
The MLB Zone promises to be a comprehensive hub, offering a dedicated MLB FAST channel that streams baseball content around the clock. This includes highlights, MLB Game of the Week replays, Minor League Baseball game replays, and more. Fans can access this zone directly from the Sports section on the Roku Home Screen or through Roku Search.
For die-hard baseball fans, the lineup for the season is particularly enticing. Starting with the St. Louis Cardinals versus the Boston Red Sox on May 19, the schedule includes high-profile matchups like the Baltimore Orioles with rising stars Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson facing off against the New York Yankees featuring Aaron Judge and Juan Soto on July 14. The season will continue with key games including the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks against the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers on September 1.
MLB Deputy Commissioner Noah Garden highlighted the broader implications of this partnership, noting, “Since Roku serves as an entertainment gateway for millions, this partnership offers a valuable new promotional and distribution platform for MLB games and content.” This deal is expected to significantly increase accessibility, allowing more fans to engage with the sport without the need for a subscription or sign-up.
The Roku Channel, where these games will be streamed, is accessible via Roku devices, as well as online at TheRokuChannel.com, and through the Roku app on various platforms including iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung TVs, and Google TVs. According to a recent Nielsen Gauge Report, The Roku Channel has become a top 10 streaming app in the U.S. and ranks third on the Roku platform both by reach and engagement.
This strategic partnership not only benefits Roku and MLB but also the fans who will now have unprecedented access to live games. It is a significant step forward in making sports more accessible to a broader audience, leveraging Roku’s extensive reach and technological capabilities to enhance the way we watch and enjoy baseball.
For more details on the MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule and to learn about other Roku offerings, please visit mlb.com.
