Telecommunications company Rogers Communications has extended a rights deal in Canada with North America’s Major League Baseball for eight years, from 2014 to 2021.
Under the deal, the league-owned pay-television broadcast service MLB Network has launched in Canada for the first time. The channel will be available to Rogers’ digital customers in Ontario on channel 415 and will be available in a free preview through to the end of April.
Rogers’ pay-television channel, Sportsnet, will also continue to show more than 240 regular-season games per year plus the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby and the post-season playoffs featuring the World Series.
Rogers’ deal with the league complements pay-television broadcaster Rogers Sportsnet’s current rights deal with the Toronto Blue Jays franchise for live coverage of all regular-season games.
Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.