It’s kind of a historic day for the Phillies and the Mets, they are the first two teams to feature the latest way to view an MLB game. The game is being broadcast on Facebook exclusively in a 25 game deal that the social media hub struck with the MLB.
It’s not the first time a game has been broadcast on Facebook, but it is the first time that a game and the rest of the 24 games to be broadcast on the social media website will be exclusive to Facebook only.
The social network reportedly paid between $30 million and $35 million for the rights to the games, which will primarily take place on Wednesday afternoons. The games will be produced by MLB Network, meaning the broadcasts will look similarly to a game that would air on that network on television.
This isn’t the first time Facebook has secured broadcasting rights for major sports leagues. It aired 20 non-exclusive MLB games last year and recently reached a deal with Fox Sports to broadcast UEFA Champions League games as well as exclusive rights to 47 small-conference college basketball games. Facebook was said to be considering bidding for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts, which aired on Amazon as well as NFL Network last season. But Facebook did not bid, Fox Sports secured the rights to Thursday Night Football this year.
So all of you who have cut the cord at home with not needing cable tv anymore will be able to watch a game of baseball on Facebook. That’s a real treat for many who have either made the ‘cutting of the cord’ for either financial or other reasons.
The Phils and the Mets will still be able to be heard on radio in Philly at FM 94.1 WIP, and NY on WOR AM 710, so however you choose to tune into the game today, you’ll be able to at 1:10 PM today from New York’s Citi Field.
Follow the game at MLB Live on Facebook. It’s being billed as the game of the week.
