TelevisaUnivision, the Spanish-language media giant, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Major League Baseball that will bring weekly programming dedicated to baseball to its platforms. This deal marks a significant milestone as it will allow TelevisaUnivision to air postseason play, including a World Series telecast on over-the-air Spanish-language broadcast TV for the first time.
The agreement includes the exclusive Spanish-language rights in the U.S. to the 2024 American League Division Series and American League Championship Series, which will be broadcast on UniMás and simulcast on TUDN, with select games airing on Univision. Additionally, Game 1 of the 2024 World Series will be shown on Univision in collaboration with Fox Sports and Fox Deportes. This partnership will provide a valuable opportunity to increase exposure for Major League Baseball across TelevisaUnivision’s extensive domestic platform.
Kenny Gersh, executive vice president of media and business for Major League Baseball, expressed excitement about the new partnership, emphasizing the importance of connecting with the Spanish-speaking fanbase. This collaboration will allow Baseball to communicate authentically with its robust Latino audience and showcase the growing number of dynamic Latino stars in the game.
TelevisaUnivision has demonstrated a growing interest in U.S. sports, having recently secured the rights to air a Spanish-language version of the Super Bowl earlier this year. With the merger of Univision Holdings and Grupo Televisa, the company has expanded its sports offerings, including hundreds of hours of soccer content.
Baseball fans can look forward to a weekly two-hour program called „MLB En Vivo“ on UniMas, featuring live look-ins, highlights, and recaps of up to 15 games every Tuesday during the regular season. Additionally, TelevisaUnivision will produce „MLB Esta Semana,“ a weekly MLB-focused show airing on UniMás in the U.S. and TUDN in Mexico. These programs will also be available on the ViX streaming service, hosted by Antonio de Valdés and Enrique Burak.
Marco Liceaga, senior vice president of sports rights acquisitions and commercial partnerships at TelevisaUnivision, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating that baseball is deeply ingrained in Latin culture. With Hispanic players making up over 30% of the league, this collaboration will bring a new wave of pride, influence, and community to Spanish-speaking fans.
TelevisaUnivision has been MLB’s official national Spanish-language audio partner in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with TUDN Radio broadcasting a variety of MLB games and events. This new partnership further solidifies the relationship between TelevisaUnivision and Major League Baseball, providing Spanish-speaking fans with comprehensive coverage of the sport they love.