Starting in 2022, Apple TV+ gained exclusive rights to air some MLB games on Fridays.
The streaming service happens to have the rights for tonight’s game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
It was the agreement before the campaign started.
Now, in the middle of Aaron Judge‘s quest for history, YES Network (the Yankees’ broadcasting and entertainment system that airs games most of the season) wanted to make a trade with Apple TV+ for Friday’s game, but didn’t succeed.
Judge is currently at 60 home runs, and the next one will tie Roger Maris‘ 61 for most in franchise history over a single season.
The outfielder is just two home runs away from taking sole possession of the highest mark in Yankees history.
People need an Apple ID to watch the game, but it is free of charge.
Apple TV+ Retains Exclusive Rights For The Game And There Won’t Be Live Look-Ins
There won’t be, however, live look-ins to Judge’s at-bats: you will have to either be at the game, create the Apple ID, or be active on Twitter and wait until someone posts the video of the historic moment to enjoy it.
“ESPN, MLBN, nor anyone else, will have live-look-ins of Aaron Judge’s at-bats for tonight’s game on Apple TV+, as of now,” New York Post’s Andrew Marchand tweeted on Friday.
ESPN, MLBN, nor anyone else, will have live-look-ins of Aaron Judge's at-bats for tonight's game on Apple TV+, as of now.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) September 23, 2022
Marchand then expanded a bit on the issue.
“The way MLB looks at it, just like Fox last night, and ESPN Sunday, Apple TV+ free broadcast is national and thus doesn’t need live look-ins elsewhere,” he tweeted.
There might be a technological/generational barrier preventing some people from watch the game on a streaming service, and that’s why the issue has been so controversial.
NEXT: Aaron Judge Can Tie A Frustrating Mark Friday Night
