An important and underdiscussed angle of MLB’s new Friday night doubleheader exclusive streaming partnership with Apple is that while these games are slated for pay subscription service AppleTV+, they will be free without a subscription for at least “a limited time.” That fits in with past exclusive MLB streaming projects on YouTube and Facebook; those games may have posed an inconvenience to those not accustomed to watching streaming services, but there wasn’t actually a pay barrier (unlike with the broadcasting model of regional sports networks, which remain mostly only available on traditional cable and satellite, plus the occasional streaming MVPD package).
And that’s an interesting thing to keep in mind when it comes to reactions to news about specific games that may be on this AppleTV+ stream. One of note there is this piece from Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post Saturday. Dougherty writes that the April 8 New York Mets-Washington Nationals game (likely Mets’ pitcher Max Scherzer, seen above in 2019, making his first start against the Nationals since he was traded through the 2021 season) is set for AppleTV+ (as per four of his sources):
The Washington Nationals-New York Mets game on April 8 will be exclusively broadcast on Apple TV Plus, according to four people with knowledge of the situation, kicking off Major League Baseball’s newest streaming partnership. The game, which will be available for free and not require an Apple TV Plus subscription, will not be shown on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, the Nationals’ television network, or SportsNet New York, which broadcasts all in-market Mets games.
And if pitching plans hold, as expected, that is the night Max Scherzer will return to face his old team at Nationals Park.
The game will not be subject to any blackout restrictions, but fans will need to have or download Apple TV Plus. According to a joint announcement from MLB and Apple earlier this month, games will only be free…