MLB All-Star Festivities Set to Drive Viewership for Broadcast and Streaming Partners

Philadelphia is preparing to host Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week from July 10-14, with events taking place at Citizens Bank Park. The festivities include the All-Star Futures Game, the MLB Draft, the Home Run Derby, and the 96th MLB All-Star Game. The city last hosted the Midsummer Classic in 1996. This year’s roster features 26 first-time All-Stars and five representatives from the host Philadelphia Phillies, including outfielder Brandon Marsh.

The broadcast schedule presents significant exposure for several media companies. The Home Run Derby will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix on Monday, July 13. The All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, airing on Fox Corporation and Fox Deportes. Streaming for the game will be available via the FOX Sports app. Additionally, the All-Star Red Carpet Show will air on MLB Network on Tuesday afternoon.

Cable and streaming providers are also positioned to benefit from the increased demand for sports content. Comcast Corporation, through its DirecTV platform, offers access to FOX and other networks carrying the events. Furthermore, streaming services like Fubo and Hulu provide alternative access points for viewers looking to stream the draft, the Futures Game, and the main event live. The American League will look to rebound against the National League, which won last year’s contest via a swing-off.

What to watch

• Viewership metrics: Results from the Home Run Derby on Netflix compared to traditional linear TV ratings.
• Advertising revenue: Ad spend figures for the broadcast slots on Fox and surrounding programming.
• Subscriber trends: Impact on sign-ups for streaming bundles carrying MLB Network and Fox during the event window.

Source: original release