MLB Inks A Strategic Livestreaming Partnership With Tencent

Major League Baseball (MLB) and Chinese company Tencent Holdings Limited have formed a strategic partnership to live stream MLB games and MLB highlight programs in China.

Tencent will also support and broadcast MLB developmental events to help grow the sport of baseball in China. MLB and RGBAs the Official Digital Broadcasting Partner of MLB in China, Tencent will live stream 125 games including MLB Jewel Events on an exclusive basis in the country on Tencent PC, Mobile and OTT platforms

Tencent’s schedule will launch with Super Baseball Week, five consecutive days of games featuring some of baseball’s top stars including Mike Trout, Francisco Lindor, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Bryant, and Cody Bellinger.

“Tencent has continued to collaborate with the world’s top sports leagues securing broadcast rights for basketball, soccer, tennis, winter sports, football and now baseball,” said Tencent Vice President Caitlyn Chen.

“In recent years, baseball has developed rapidly in China, which wouldn’t happen without MLB’s dedicated promotion in China for over a decade. In the future, with the advantage of Tencent’s production and broadcasting, refined operational excellence and powerful social platforms, we will bring the attention to MLB and baseball in China to a new level.”

“As MLB continues to expand the participation, viewing and engagement of baseball in China, it is critical to partner with the best organizations in the country to form mutually beneficial co-operations,” said Jim Small, MLB Vice President, Asia Pacific.

“We are thrilled to team with Tencent, the largest and best distributor of digital sports content in China and a company that is widely admired around the world. We are confident that the assortment of MLB games, shows and events that Tencent will stream will entertain millions of sports fans in China and help continue to grow the sport.”