Facebook is doubling down into professional sports streaming game, partnering with Major League Baseball to air 25 afternoon games in an exclusive deal.
The games will be available to Facebook users in the United States via the MLB Live show page on its video service Facebook Watch. Recorded broadcasts will also be available globally, excluding select international markets.
Facebook, Twitter and Amazon and other tech companies are in a race to acquire sports streaming rights, both because it can be lucrative, and can potentially boost user loyalty.
Verizon signed a deal with the NBA to stream eight basketball games on Yahoo. And Amazon paid $50 million last year to stream NFL games to Prime members last season.
Facebook says the games will be produced by the MLB Network for Facebook Watch, with interactive and social elements that make them different from simple live streaming. Financial terms were not disclosed. The games will begin streaming on April 4.
While Facebook has streamed MLB games in the past, this is the company's first exclusive deal and the MLB's first digital-only national broadcast program. Last year, Facebook showed 20 Friday games using broadcast feeds from the participating teams.
In September, the social networking giant was also the highest bidder for the digital rights of the Indian Premier League with a Rs 3,900 crore bid, but eventually lost out to Star India that placed a larger consolidated global bid of Rs 16,347.50 crore.
The games will be available to Facebook users in the United States via the MLB Live show page on its video service Facebook Watch. Recorded broadcasts will also be available globally, excluding select international markets.
Facebook, Twitter and Amazon and other tech companies are in a race to acquire sports streaming rights, both because it can be lucrative, and can potentially boost user loyalty.
Verizon signed a deal with the NBA to stream eight basketball games on Yahoo. And Amazon paid $50 million last year to stream NFL games to Prime members last season.
Facebook says the games will be produced by the MLB Network for Facebook Watch, with interactive and social elements that make them different from simple live streaming. Financial terms were not disclosed. The games will begin streaming on April 4.
While Facebook has streamed MLB games in the past, this is the company's first exclusive deal and the MLB's first digital-only national broadcast program. Last year, Facebook showed 20 Friday games using broadcast feeds from the participating teams.
In September, the social networking giant was also the highest bidder for the digital rights of the Indian Premier League with a Rs 3,900 crore bid, but eventually lost out to Star India that placed a larger consolidated global bid of Rs 16,347.50 crore.
