MLB Signs European FOX Broadcast Deal

Major League Baseball (MLB) have signed a European broadcast deal with FOX International Channels (FIC), abortion a division of 21st Century Fox, for the network to televise a surplus of live MLB games in over 30 countries across Europe.  

FIC begins its new MLB partnership with the 2013 World Series, featuring the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, airing live in multiple markets.

The new agreement grants FIC the rights to distribute all MLB games, including: the regular season; the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby; the Wild Card match ups; the Divisional Series; the League Championship Series; and the World Series.  In addition, the deal gives FIC rights to a number of classic MLB games, as well as ancillary programming from both MLB and FOX.  MLB games and programming will be distributed on FIC’s channels throughout the territory across its various television outlets and platforms.

“The relationship with Fox International Channels allows us to expand our relationship with Fox and is an exciting development for our business in Europe,” said Paul Archey, Senior Vice President of International Business Operations, Major League Baseball.  “This deal exemplifies the growing popularity of baseball across Europe and will provide increased access to telecasts for our many passionate fans.”

This agreement with Major League Baseball International is the latest in series of recent deals struck by FOX International Channels to acquire multi-territory rights to premier sports properties. 

“FIC’s new partnership with Major League Baseball International underscores our strategy to build a premier sports rights portfolio that we can leverage across multiple territories on our different TV channels distributed in Europe,” said Diego Londoño, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of FOX international Channels Europe& Africa. “We look forward to continuing to create value for our distributors and viewers throughout the world.”

FOX International Channel’s ongoing global expansion into sports now reaches over 71 million homes in Latin America, South East Asia and Japan and Europe. In Europe, FOX Sports recently launched in the Netherlands and Italy and is also present in Turkey and Cyprus.