Red Sox Fans Brace for the Final Apple TV+ Exclusive—and Wonder What Comes Next
BOSTON — Friday night’s Red Sox broadcast carries more than the usual late-season intrigue. It marks Boston’s final regular-season game streamed exclusively on Apple TV+, ending a two-year experiment that brought new technology and national reach but also plenty of frustration for fans accustomed to NESN or traditional cable. With only one Apple+ game left on the 2024 slate, the question lingers: what will the future of Red Sox broadcasting look like, and how will fans follow their team next year?
Major League Baseball struck its streaming deal with Apple before the 2022 season, positioning the tech giant as a Friday-night showcase partner. For Boston supporters, it meant occasional marquee matchups would be available only on the Apple TV+ platform. While the broadcasts introduced slick graphics and immersive camera angles, many fans bristled at the paywall and the need to juggle another subscription service. Social media routinely lit up with complaints whenever the Red Sox appeared on the exclusive schedule.
This week’s final Apple-only matchup, a late September showdown with a wild-card rival, has become a conversation starter about what’s next for MLB’s media strategy. League executives have hinted that negotiations with a variety of streaming and cable partners are ongoing for 2025 and beyond. The goal, insiders say, is to balance the league’s push toward digital innovation with the local loyalty that drives baseball’s nightly audience.
Inside the clubhouse, players have noticed the difference but stayed focused on the field. “We just want fans to see us play, no matter where,” said third baseman Rafael Devers. “If it’s Apple, NESN, whatever—it’s about winning games.”
Team officials share that sentiment while recognizing the business realities. The Apple partnership brought additional revenue and a younger streaming audience, but the Red Sox are aware of their fan base’s strong ties to local broadcasts. Whether the next agreement leans toward another tech platform, a broader cable package, or a hybrid model remains to be seen.
For some fans, the experiment was worth it. “The picture quality is amazing, and I love the new stats,” said Kelly Simmons of Cambridge, who subscribed to Apple TV+ early in the season. Others remain skeptical. “It just feels like we’re being nickel-and-dimed,” said season-ticket holder Mike Wallace. “I miss hearing our regular announcers.”
As MLB maps its future, Boston’s Friday night game represents both an ending and a test case. The league must decide whether to double down on exclusive streaming deals or find a middle ground that satisfies both younger viewers and long-time supporters.
For now, Red Sox Nation will tune in—some through Apple devices, others through borrowed logins or sports bars—to catch the final Apple TV+ broadcast of 2024. Whether it’s remembered as a brief experiment or a sign of baseball’s next era may depend on what deal MLB strikes next. One thing is certain: fans will be watching, and they’ll have opinions.
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