Most people hate that Friday Night Baseball is now exclusively on Apple TV+. I see it as necessary.

Yes, I know. Two baseball realted articles in a row. I am aware. But, it’s opening week and I can’t help myself. There’s just so many thoughts I’ve cooked up over the break that I simply must share.

Let me explain my ideaology here:

Production Value

The production value that Apple brings to their Friday Night Baseball¹ is absolutely unmatched. Between the visuals, the statistics, and even the scoreboard overlay, Apple brings their own UI style to the TV screen. It’s just as beautiful as their UIs are.

Implications

You see, most MLB games these days are broadcast over hyper-local television stations, and theres nothing wrong with that. I dont want to see an LA Angels game when I live near Philadelphia. I’m not saying every game should be broadcast nationally.

What I am saying is that Apple set a new bar for what a national broadcast of a sporting event should look like. It should have the quality and production value that Apple creates for their Friday Night Baseball series.

It’s almost like a necessary evil. These games are locked away behind an Apple TV+ paywall, but these broadcasts show what truly can be done for a national sporting broadcast. As a result, the traditional national broadcasts are forced to play catchup.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, Apple TV is doing the good work by forcing the industry forward through Friday Night Baseball.

On a more personal note, I’m going to a Phillies game on Friday. It’s not scheduled as a Friday Night Baseball exclusive, but I’ll play the intro on my phone before the game.

I’ll leave it here.

Footnotes

1. Friday Night Baseball is Copyright 2024, Apple Inc ↩