TelevisaUnivision is adding to its sports portfolio.
The Spanish-language media giant has inked a multiyear deal with Major League Baseball, including multiple new windows of programming, as well as playoff games.
TelevisaUnivision networks will begin broadcast MLB games Aug. 20, continuing through the postseason.
Perhaps the most important component of the deal is the playoff games, with the company having exclusive Spanish-language rights to the American League Division Series and American League Championship Series games, which will air on UniMás and Mexico’s TUDN, as well as on the premium tier of the ViX streaming service. Some games will also air on Univision.
And Univision will air game one of the World Series, in conjunction with Fox Sports and Fox Deportes.
The new deal also includes a weekly “whip-around” show, called MLB en Vivo, which will run Tuesday nights on UniMás, and giving viewers a peek into all the games being played that evening. It will also have MLB Esta Semana on Saturday afternoons on UniMás.
The programs will also be simulcast on Mexico’s TUDN, and on the premium tier of the ViX streaming service.
Baseball of course is particularly popular in Latin America, with many of the top players in MLB from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries. The deal also diversifies the company’s sports rights, which have a heavy emphasis on soccer (er, fútbol), as well as some combat sports.
“Major League Baseball is truly excited for the launch of this new partnership, as it provides a valuable opportunity to increase exposure for our great game across the formidable reach of TelevisaUnivision’s unmatched domestic platform,” said Kenny Gersh, executive VP of media and business for Major League Baseball in a statement. “Communicating authentically with our robust Spanish-speaking fanbase is a priority for Baseball and this partnership will allow us to connect them more directly to our brand, our clubs, and the growing number of dynamic Latino stars represented in the game today.”
“We are proud to partner with Major League Baseball, delivering action from the best players and teams to our viewers across the country,” adds Marco Liceaga, senior VP of sports rights acquisitions & commercial partnerships at TelevisaUnivision. “Baseball is engrained in Latin culture. With Hispanic players making up more than 30% of the league, this first-time partnership deal will undoubtedly bring a new wave of pride, influence and sense of community, providing Spanish-speaking fans with in-language coverage of the game they love.”
