MLB International
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports broadcasting |
| Founded | 1997 |
Area served | Worldwide (over 200 countries) |
| Products | Broadcasts of Major League Baseball events (All-Star Game, World Series, Caribbean Series, Australian Baseball League Championship Series, World Baseball Classic) |
| Parent | Major League Baseball |
MLB International operates as a branch of Major League Baseball dedicated to the global distribution of game broadcasts. Collaborating with DirecTV and MLB Network, it manages the production and syndication of major events such as the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the World Series, the Caribbean Series, the Australian Baseball League Championship Series, and the World Baseball Classic. These broadcasts reach audiences in more than 200 countries, including the American Forces Network, which serves U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. Historically, MLB International rotated coverage of the NLCS and ALCS on an annual basis. Additionally, MLB International customizes content to highlight baseball’s international presence and to introduce the sport to emerging markets.
Commentators
Gary Thorne was the play-by-play voice for the World Series on Armed Forces Radio and MLB International from through , and resumed this role starting in 2010.
Between 2004 and 2009, Dave O'Brien provided commentary alongside ESPN colleague Rick Sutcliffe for broadcasts of the World Series and ALCS.
From 1996 to 2002, then again from 2010 to 2014, MLB International alternated its coverage of the League Championship Series, handling the ALCS during even years and the NLCS during odd years.
Beginning in 2015, production of MLB International broadcasts transitioned to MLB Network. Matt Vasgersian, known for his work with ESPN and Fox Sports and currently a commentator for the Los Angeles Angels, took on play-by-play duties. Starting in 2016, he was joined by analyst Buck Martinez, who also serves as a commentator for the Toronto Blue Jays on Sportsnet. Since 2018, former Sunday Night Baseball announcer Dan Shulman has partnered with Martinez specifically for All-Star Game coverage.
In 2021, Scott Braun from MLB Network assumed lead play-by-play responsibilities for MLB International. His role was succeeded in 2022 by Jason Benetti (NBC Sports Chicago) for English-language All-Star Game broadcasts and by Dave Flemming (NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR) for World Series telecasts. Matt Vasgersian is slated to return as lead play-by-play announcer for the 2025 All-Star Game.
Commentator pairings
- Gary Thorne and Ken Singleton (All-Star Game, League Championship Series, World Series; 1996–2003)
- Dave O'Brien and Rick Sutcliffe (All-Star Game, ALCS, World Series; 2004–2009)
- Gary Thorne and Rick Sutcliffe (All-Star Game, League Championship Series, World Series; 2010–2014)
- Matt Vasgersian and John Smoltz (All-Star Game, World Series; 2015)
- Matt Vasgersian and Mark DeRosa (All-Star Game only; 2016)
- Matt Vasgersian and Buck Martinez (All-Star Game 2017; World Series 2016–2020)
- Paul Severino and Joe Magrane (World Baseball Classic Pool A only; 2017)
- Rich Waltz and Buck Martinez (World Baseball Classic Pools B and E only; 2017)
- Matt Vasgersian, John Smoltz, and Jon Morosi (World Baseball Classic Pools C, D, F; round robin, semifinal, championship games only; 2017)
- Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez (All-Star Game only; 2018–2019)
- Scott Braun and Cliff Floyd (All-Star Game only; 2021)
- Scott Braun and Dan Plesac (World Series; 2021)
- Jason Benetti and Dan Plesac (All-Star Game only; 2022)
- Dave Flemming and Dan Plesac (World Series; 2022)
- Dave Flemming and Buck Martinez (All-Star Game only; 2023)
- Dave Flemming and Ryan Spilborghs (World Series; 2023–present)
- Matt Vasgersian and Yonder Alonso (All-Star Game only; 2024–present)
MLB International Broadcasters
- Global (U.S. military installations): American Forces Network
- Australasia region: ESPN Australia
- Canada (excluding Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts): Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French)
- Caribbean area: ESPN Caribbean
- Europe: beIN Sports France (France); ESPN Netherlands (Netherlands); Movistar Deportes (Spain); TNT Sports 4 (United Kingdom and Ireland); BBC Sport (United Kingdom); Arena Sport (Balkans); DAZN (Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland); Sport TV (Hungary); Sky Sport (Italy); Viaplay (Nordic countries)
- Japan: NHK, J Sports
- India: Star Sports, Fancode
- South Korea: SPOTV
- Latin America: ESPN Latin America; ESPN Brazil; Fox Sports Mexico; RPC-TV and TV Max Panama; Imagen Televisión Mexico; Meridiano Televisión Venezuela; Telecaribe Colombia
- Dominican Republic: Tele Antillas and Coral 39
- Puerto Rico: WAPA-TV
- Curaçao: Telecuraçao
- Middle East and North Africa: beIN Sports Middle East
- Africa: ESPN Africa
- Taiwan: CTS, ELTA TV, Videoland
- Southeast Asia: SPOTV (coverage of the World Baseball Classic 2023 and key MLB events starting with the 2024 season)
During Game 1 of the 2015 World Series in the United States, Fox's domestic broadcast was interrupted by a power failure. To maintain coverage, Fox briefly switched to the MLB International feed before resuming its own broadcast team. MLB International functions as the official backup broadcast source should FOX or TBS encounter technical problems during the LCS or World Series.
See also
External links
- MLB International Broadcasting Information
- Major League Baseball International signs three new broadcast agreements ahead of the 81st MLB All-Star Game
- MASN’s Gary Thorne appointed play-by-play announcer for MLB’s international coverage of the ALCS and World Series
- MLB All-Star Game to be televised in over 230 countries and territories worldwide
- MLB International brings baseball action to a global audience
- MLB International to air World Series broadcasts