MLB Network has revolutionized the way fans around the world can watch postseason baseball. On Saturday, they broadcasted all four Division Series games, making it accessible to viewers from the US to Europe to India. The BBC in England aired all four games, including Rangers vs Orioles, Twins vs Astros, Phillies vs Braves, and D-backs vs Dodgers. The National League games also had Spanish-language broadcasts for US viewers, while the Phillies vs Braves game was broadcasted in India on STAR India.
MLB Network’s senior VP of production, Marc Caiafa, emphasized that their goal is to cater to fans in different countries and ensure they understand the essence of the game. This ambitious operation was coordinated from the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, NJ, where every studio was in use for the seven game broadcasts. Hundreds of people were involved in the production, creating a buzzing atmosphere at the network.
The games kicked off with the Rangers defeating the Orioles in the first BBC broadcast. The diverse announcing team consisted of O’s broadcaster Melanie Newman, MLB Network’s Xavier Scruggs, and Felix White for the BBC. Newman expressed how British fans have been reaching out on social media, organizing watch parties at pubs and embracing the playoffs. The BBC broadcasts required multiple announcing crews in Studio 21, along with two Game Creek Nitro video trucks to transmit the games.
Meanwhile, MLB Network’s Spanish-language broadcasts went live for the two late National League games featuring the Braves, Phillies, Dodgers, and D-backs. This continued effort to connect with fans who have a Latin American background is an essential part of MLB Network’s global outreach. The Spanish broadcasts have veteran MLB Network announcing teams, including Fernando Álvarez, Candy Maldonado, Carlos Peña, Yonder Alonso, and Clemson Smith Muñiz.
MLB Network’s reach extends beyond traditional international TV stations. They have also partnered with STAR India to broadcast Major League games, including the postseason. The setup for the STAR India broadcasts is unique, with play-by-play announcer Jacob Wilkins in the MLB Network studio and analysts Tejas Goradia, Manish Batavia, and Aayush Sharma in India. Spalk, a cloud company, helps connect the broadcasters and television feed.
MLB’s presence in India has been growing, and the STAR India broadcasts through MLB Network will add to that momentum. Ryo Takahashi, from MLB India, emphasized the importance of making baseball accessible to fans in the Indian market and connecting with the audience on a deeper level.
MLB Network’s efforts to broadcast postseason baseball globally are part of Major League Baseball’s broader goal to expand the game worldwide. The magnitude of the operation was evident at the Secaucus studio, where all the games were produced. Caiafa emphasized their responsibility in bringing the games to fans and expressed pride in the network’s ability to handle such a massive undertaking.