History of MLB Network in Timeline
MLB Network is a television sports channel dedicated to baseball, primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Several media companies, including TNT Sports, Comcast's NBC Sports Group, Charter Communications, and Cox Communications hold minority stakes. The network provides baseball-related programming, including live games, studio shows, and analysis, serving as a central hub for baseball fans. Its programming covers various aspects of the sport, from current games to historical content.
1999: NBA TV Launch
In 1999, NBA TV was launched, marking the first 24-hour cable network by a major North American professional sports league.
2001: NHL Network Launch
In 2001, the NHL Network was launched, which did not air in the United States until 2007.
2005: Nationals Move to Washington, D.C.
In 2005, the Washington Nationals moved to Washington, D.C., marking their first home postseason game since the move in 2012.
August 2008: Rogers Obtains CRTC Approval for Baseball TV
In August 2008, Rogers secured Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approval for a Canadian digital channel tentatively called "Baseball TV".
November 2008: MLB Network Cancels Plans for Harlem Studios
In late November 2008, MLB Network canceled plans to launch permanent studios from a new tower in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood due to the Great Recession.
December 16, 2008: MLB Network Soft Launch
On December 16, 2008, MLB Network soft-launched with a rolling loop of archival programming and promotions.
January 1, 2009: MLB Network Full Launch with Hot Stove Premiere
On January 1, 2009, MLB Network fully launched at 6:00 p.m. EST with the premiere of Hot Stove.
2009: Rob McGlarry joins MLB Network
In 2009, Rob McGlarry joined MLB Network as Senior Vice-president of Business Affairs.
2009: MLB Network Launches in 720p HD
In 2009, the 720p high-definition simulcast of MLB Network launched simultaneously to the regular channel. All studio programs and original shows are shot in HD.
2009: Previous On-Air Graphics Package
The previous On-Air Graphics Package was in use since New Year's Day 2009.
March 26, 2010: MLB Home Plate to Become MLB Network Radio
On March 26, 2010, it was announced that satellite radio station MLB Home Plate would be rebranded to MLB Network Radio and would simulcast some MLB Network programs.
August 2011: Baseball TV License Expires
The license secured by Rogers for the Canadian digital channel "Baseball TV" in August 2008 expired in August 2011 without the channel launching.
2011: Original Target Date for Harlem Studios
The network had planned to launch permanent studios from a new tower in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood by 2011.
2011: Intentional Talk Pioneered Remote Production Setup
With the launch of Intentional Talk in 2011, it was one of the first regular programs on television to use a remote production home studio setup on a regular basis, well before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
April 10, 2012: MLB Strike Zone Channel Launched
On April 10, 2012, MLB Strike Zone was launched, providing viewers with up-to-the-minute highlights and live look-ins from every MLB game without commercials.
April 2012: MLB Network Shifts to 16:9 Letterbox Format
In April 2012, MLB Network's standard definition feed transitioned to a 16:9 letterbox format, aligning it with the HD feed.
June 13, 2012: Application for MLB Network Approval in Canada Published
On June 13, 2012, the application for MLB Network to be added to the CRTC's list of approved foreign television services was published for public comment.
November 12, 2012: MLB Network Introduces Studio K
On November 12, 2012, MLB Network introduced a third set, "Studio K", for the new daily morning offseason show Hot Stove and guests analysts/insiders on High Heat.
November 21, 2012: MLB Network Approved in Canada
On November 21, 2012, MLB Network's request to be added to the CRTC's list of approved foreign television services was approved, allowing Canadian providers to import the American feed.
2012: MLB Network to Air Division Series Games
In 2012, MLB Network aired its first postseason games, two Division Series games, due to the expansion of the playoffs and the creation of the wild-card round.
2012: MLB Network Takes Over MLB on Fox Pre-Game Production
In 2012, MLB Network took over the pre-game production responsibilities for the MLB on Fox package, producing Baseball Night in America and postseason pre-game shows.
2013: Peak Availability
In 2013, MLB Network reached its peak availability in approximately 71,000,000 pay television households in the United States.
January 8, 2014: MLB Network Added to Rogers Cable Systems
On January 8, 2014, MLB Network was added to Rogers Cable systems in Ontario in both standard and high definition.
December 2014: Tony Petitti Appointed COO of MLB
In December 2014, Tony Petitti, the first president of MLB Network, was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball and Rob McGlarry became the network's second president.
2014: Fox Retakes Control of MLB on Fox Pre-Game Production
In 2014, Fox took back control of the pregame show for MLB on Fox when the Game of the Week package was eliminated.
2014: MLB Network to Air Division Series Games as Part of Fox Rights Agreement
Starting in 2014, as part of Fox's new eight-year rights agreement, MLB Network would air two Division Series games from the league assigned to Fox for each postseason.
June 3, 2015: SaskTel to Carry MLB Network
On June 3, 2015, SaskTel announced that it would begin carrying MLB Network.
August 2015: MLB Advanced Media to Take Over NHL Digital Properties
In August 2015, it was announced that MLB Advanced Media would take over the digital properties of the National Hockey League, leading to NHL Network relocating its studios to MLB Network's facilities.
2015: MLB Advanced Media takes over NHL Network
In 2015, MLB Advanced Media took over the management of NHL Network, transferring most operations from Toronto to MLB Network's studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.
2015: MLB Network Introduces Studio 21
In 2015, MLB Network introduced a fourth set, "Studio 21", named in honor of Roberto Clemente. The studio hosts the shows MLB Central, MLB Now, and Quick Pitch along with the presentation of the BBWAA Awards.
February 2016: Scale Hockey Rink Built in Studio 42 for Cross-Promotional Appearances
In February 2016, in honor of the NHL Stadium Series at Coors Field, a scale hockey rink was built on Studio 42 for cross-promotional appearances on NHL Network and MLB Network.
April 4, 2016: MLB Network Debuts New Graphics Package
On April 4, 2016, MLB Network introduced a new on-air graphics package optimized for the 16:9 format, replacing the look used since New Year's Day 2009.
April 14, 2016: MLB Network to Broadcast Games in 4K UHD on DirecTV
On April 14, 2016, it was announced that 25 MLB Network Showcase games would be broadcast in 4K ultra-high definition exclusively on DirecTV in the 2016 season, starting April 15.
April 2016: NHL Network Opens New Studio at MLB Network Facilities
In April 2016, NHL Network completed "The Rink," a new dedicated studio at MLB Network's Studio 21 wing.
March 23, 2017: MLB Network Launches on Bell Fibe TV and Bell Satellite TV
On March 23, 2017, MLB Network was launched on Bell Fibe TV and Bell Satellite TV.
2017: MLB Network Expands Availability in Canada
As of 2017, MLB Network is also available on MTS and Vidéotron in Canada.
2018: MLB Network on DAZN in Canada
As of 2018, MLB Network is carried nationwide in Canada on the DAZN streaming service.
January 2019: Fire at Marcal Paper Mill
The new MLB Network studio in Elmwood Park will be built at the former site of a paper mill company known as Marcal, which succumbed to a fire in January 2019.
2020: MLB Network Showcase Games Called Remotely from Studio K Due to COVID-19
In 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MLB Network Showcase games were called remotely from Studio K.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated remote production across the television industry, highlighting the earlier adoption of this setup by programs like Intentional Talk in 2011.
2021: Stephen Nelson named co-host of Intentional Talk
After Rose left the network in 2020 and Stephen Nelson was named the new co-host of Intentional Talk in 2021, Nelson co-hosts the show from Studio K.
2021: MLB Network Showcase Games Called Remotely from Studio K Due to COVID-19
In 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MLB Network Showcase games were called remotely from Studio K.
2022: MLB Network Shifts Postseason Broadcast Rights
Starting with the 2022 postseason, MLB Network returned the English-language rights to Division Series games to Fox and took the Spanish-language rights to the postseason series carried by TBS.
January 31, 2023: MLB Network Removed from YouTube TV
On January 31, 2023, MLB Network was removed from YouTube TV's channel lineup due to a failed contract renewal agreement.
November 2023: MLB Network Availability Update
As of November 2023, MLB Network is available in approximately 31,000,000 pay television households in the United States.
July 2024: MLB Network Launches Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Service
In July 2024, MLB Network launched a direct-to-consumer streaming service which is avaliable for $5.99 a month or free with an MLB.tv subscription.
2024: MLB Sub-Licenses Spanish-Language Rights to TelevisaUnivision
In 2024, MLB sub-licensed the Spanish-language rights to postseason series carried by TBS to TelevisaUnivision.
February 2025: MLB Network Announces Plans for New Studio in Elmwood Park
In February 2025, MLB Network announced plans to build a new $100 million studio in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, set to open in early 2028.
2025: MLB Network Expands Coverage to Include More Baseball and Softball Games
As of 2025, in addition to Major League Baseball coverage, MLB Network also airs minor league, fall league, international, and college baseball and softball games.
2028: New MLB Network Studio Opening
MLB's new studio in Elmwood Park, New Jersey at a construction budget of $100 million, is set to open in early 2028.
Mentioned in this timeline
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