Championship Game to Reach Approximately One-Half Billion Households – Team Netherlands Semi-Final was First World Baseball Classic Game to be Televised Live on Free TV in the Netherlands
The 2013 World Baseball Classic Championship game, taking place at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:00 p.m. PT, will be available to 440 million households worldwide, reaching more than 200 countries and territories in 15 different languages. Countries or territories where the games will not be televised can view the games via live stream on Youtube.com/LoveBaseball. Authenticated Bright House Networks, DIRECTV and Time Warner Cable subscribers of MLB Network in the United States can stream games online at www.worldbaseballclassic.com or through the 2013 World Baseball Classic app available for iPad and iPhone.
In addition, the semi-final on Monday between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic was the first World Baseball Classic game ever to be aired live on free television in the Netherlands. Nederland 1, which reaches more than seven million households, will carry Team Netherlands’ quest to reach the World Baseball Classic Championship.
Broadcasters including TV Asahi (Japan), JTBC (South Korea), CDN (Dominican Republic), DIRECTV (Latin America), ESPN Deportes (United States) and MLB Network (United States) will be calling the Championship game on-site from San Francisco. The global broadcast distribution is made possible through 40 television and six radio partners around the world. Prior to the start of the tournament, World Baseball Classic, Inc. selected Yomiuri to distribute all qualifying and main draw tournament games for the 2013 World Baseball Classic in Japan and MP & Silva to distribute games worldwide excluding Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United States.
The 2013 World Baseball Classic is also setting viewership ratings records around the world. Thursday night’s game telecast on MLB Network (Dominican Republic vs. United States) averaged 883,000 viewers and set a new record for the network’s most-watched non-Postseason game, beating the previous high set by last Sunday’s United States vs. Canada game telecast by 16%. Five of MLB Network’s seven most-watched game telecasts are from the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The March 8th extra-inning thriller between Japan and Chinese Taipei registered a 15.5 rating in Taiwan making it the highest rated cable program in the country’s history. Meanwhile, Japan’s defeat of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on March 10th was the most viewed sporting event in Japan in the last 12 months, registering a 22.1 rating and a 43 share, out-rating all 2012 Olympics coverage and World Cup Qualifying matches.
The 2013 World Baseball Classic Championship Round features two-time defending Champions Japan, the undefeated Dominican Republic who also beat the Yankees and Phillies in exhibition games, Puerto Rico featuring San Francisco Giants outfielder Angel Pagan and the underdog Kingdom of Netherlands.
Individual tickets for games in San Francisco can be purchased at worldbaseballclassic.com or by calling 877-4SFGTIX. Tickets can also be purchased at any Giants Dugout store or the ballpark. Windows are open at AT&T Park from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. everyday throughout the tournament. All games of the World Baseball Classic are scheduled to be televised live on the MLB Network and ESPN Deportes in the United States.
