Fifty-one media outlets have signed on to broadcast the 2017 World Baseball Classic, which began earlier today in Seoul, South Korea. The fourth installment of the premier international baseball tournament, which features the world's top 16 National Teams competing over a 17-day span, will be distributed via media platforms in 182 countries and territories worldwide with a global reach of more than 415 million households. In addition to local language coverage and play-by-play, World Baseball Classic Inc. (WBCI) will offer a fully-produced English-language feed of each game for global distribution. WBCI worked with MP & Silva, a leading international media rights agency, on the global media distribution for the tournament.
Broadcasts from the previous edition of the World Baseball Classic in 2013 set numerous records around the world. The 2013 Final was one of the most watched sporting events in Dominican Republic history and was the year's most watched sporting event in Puerto Rico. Japan vs. the Kingdom of the Netherlands (March 10, 2013) was the most viewed sporting event over the previous 12 months in Japan, out-rating all 2012 Olympic coverage. In Chinese Taipei, an extra-inning thriller between Japan and Chinese Taipei was the highest-rated cable program in the country's history.
In the United States, the 2013 World Baseball Classic delivered six of MLB Network's top seven most-watched games outside of the Postseason. The 2013 tournament also delivered the Network's most-watched March and the most-watched first quarter in its history. The 2013 Final was the most-viewed baseball game ever on ESPN Deportes at the time.
In 2009, the Korea vs. Japan Final (March 23, 2009) averaged more than 14 million viewers across Korea, where all nine Team Korea tournament games achieved an average audience of 9.4 million. In the inaugural 2006 tournament, the Cuba vs Japan Final received the third best rating at the time for any professional baseball broadcast in Japan since 1977.
The full list can be found here: https://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/info/broadcast-partners.
"As international baseball's premier event, the World Baseball Classic deserves the finest global stage," said Dominick Balsamo, Vice President, International Media Sales and Marketing Partnerships, MLB. "Together, our media partners for the 2017 event provide a far-reaching worldwide platform that will serve the demand of baseball fans everywhere."
Rosters for the 2017 World Baseball Classic feature tournament record totals of 63 MLB All-Stars and 259 players under contract with MLB organizations.
"With so many outstanding players participating, the anticipation for an exciting and action packed tournament is high," said Major League Baseball Players Association Chief of Business Affairs, Timothy Slavin. "We expect record-breaking television audiences will witness some incredible performances."
"The World Baseball Classic is a truly premium global sports property that excites baseball fans around the world," said Jochen Lösch, Chief Executive Officer at MP & Silva. "I'm pleased that MP & Silva has been able to use its international network to secure broadcasting deals covering more than 180 territories for the tournament. MP & Silva is proud of its relationship with the World Baseball Classic and we are delighted to have contributed towards the tournament's global visibility, fan engagement, and commercial success."
About the World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball tournament, sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), as the sport's official National Team World Championship, and features the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories. More than 2.4 million fans from all over the world have attended the tournament games, held in March 2006, March 2009 and March 2013. Team Dominican Republic is the reigning World Baseball Classic Champion after going undefeated during its 2013 championship run. The 2017 World Baseball Classic, which begins on Monday, March 6 continuing until the championship game on Wednesday, March 22, will again feature the greatest baseball-playing nations in the world. The tournament will be held every four years thereafter. For more information on the tournament, visit www.worldbaseballclassic.com.
About World Baseball Classic, Inc.
World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) is a company created at the direction of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to operate the World Baseball Classic tournament. The tournament, which is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), is supported by MLB, the MLBPA, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), their respective players associations and other leagues and players from around the world.
About MP & Silva
MP & Silva is a leading international media company that owns, manages and distributes television and media rights to some of the most prestigious sports events around the world. With an annual turnover in excess of USD 720 million, MP & Silva's portfolio includes the FIFA World Cup 2018 & 2022, UEFA EURO 2016, Italian Serie A TIM, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, French Ligue 1, the Emirates FA Cup, Copa America 2015, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana & Copa do Brazil, Brazilian national league (Brasileirão), Arsenal Football Club, the AC Milan Channel, French Open at Roland Garros, eight ATP World Tour tennis tournaments, EHF Handball Champions League, the Formula One, World Baseball Classic, the Premier 12 World Baseball Championships, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Spanish Basketball League (Liga Endesa). Headquartered in London and Singapore, MP & Silva operates worldwide through regional offices in Beijing, Budapest, Dubai, Dublin, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Luxembourg, Madrid, Miami, Monaco, Munich, Nairobi, New York, Paris, Taipei, Tokyo and Warsaw. www.mpsilva.com.
2017 World Baseball Classic to be broadcast in 182 countries & territories
Fifty-one media outlets have signed on to broadcast the 2017 World Baseball Classic, which began earlier today in Seoul, South Korea. The fourth installment of the premier international baseball tournament, which features the world's top 16 National Teams competing over a 17-day span, will be distributed via media platforms in 182 countries and territories worldwide with a global reach of more than 415 million households.
March 6th, 2017