Watching Shohei Ohtani will require payment! Netflix secures exclusive broadcasting rights for the Baseball Classic in Japan

The American streaming service Netflix has signed a deal with Major League Baseball to exclusively broadcast the 2026 Baseball Classic in Japan. During the 2023 Classic, the Japanese team’s games attracted an average audience of 30 million viewers domestically, with Shohei Ohtani’s active role helping the Samurai Japan team to triumph over the U.S. team for the title.

This agreement impacts only the Japanese audience. All 47 games will be exclusively available on Netflix, meaning viewers cannot watch them on free over-the-air television. The previous five tournaments were televised, and the final between Japan and the U.S. in the last edition drew an exceptionally high 42.4% viewership. The complete withdrawal of TV broadcasts this time has stirred significant controversy among Japanese fans.

Fans worry that this marketing approach by MLB will narrow the audience. Netflix is a paid platform, so casual fans or "one-day fans" will be unable to join in, and they won't be able to watch Shohei Ohtani either. Of course, this move will certainly help Netflix grow its subscriber base. The platform has found success with movies, series, and animation, and is now expanding into sports entertainment.

Japanese professional baseball revenues may be impacted. International tournaments have traditionally been opportunities to promote star players and expand markets, but now they risk injury by participating and can only be viewed by audiences on a specific streaming platform. Some fans condemn this as "MLB’s greed" and call for all Nippon Professional Baseball stars to withdraw, suggesting instead that amateur players be sent for experience. However, for NPB players aiming to develop in the U.S., participating in the Classic remains a valuable chance to gain recognition. Shota Imanaga and Roki Sasaki have attracted MLB scouts’ attention during past Classics.

With streaming platforms becoming the dominant way to watch, the era of free professional game broadcasts seems to be ending. Fans must decide whether to continue paying to support their favorite sports. For Netflix, subscribers gain access to many other programs, so casual fans might be less resistant, but Japanese viewers who only want to watch the WBC games have said they won’t subscribe just for that. Japanese media now refer to Netflix’s aggressive entry into the Japanese market as the “American Black Ships” that “opened the country’s gates” back in history.