Apple announced in late March 2023 that its Friday Night Baseball series would be returning for a second season for Apple TV+ subscribers from 7 April 2023. The company has once again teamed up with Major League Baseball (MLB) to bring two live games every Friday to baseball fans with an Apple TV+ subscription.
The season spans 25 weeks and the 2023 season kicks off with the Texas Rangers taking on the Chicago Cubs at Chicago’s Wrigley Field for the daytime game that takes place at 2PM ET, followed by the San Diego Padres taking on the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park at 7PM ET.
Apple TV+
Apple's TV+ subscription offers access to a number of great shows and you can watch it on a huge number of devices, from Apple's own devices to any third-party device offering support for the Apple TV app. It's £6.99 a month in the UK and $6.99 in the US.
Apple and the MLB also revealed the schedule for the first half of the season up to 30 June so for those baseball fans out there who don't yet have an Apple TV+ subscription and are considering signing up, you'll be able to see what other games you'll be able to enjoy.
Unlike Apple's MLS season pass, Friday Night Baseball is part of the standard TV+ subscription that costs £6.99 a month in the UK and $6.99 a month in the US, so if you already have it, you'll be able to enjoy the games on top of Apple's other shows and series, like Ted Lasso and Severance.
Those in the US and Canada also have access to the 'MLB Big Inning' show, which has live look-ins and in-game highlights every weeknight and there is content including 'Countdown to the First Pitch', 'MLB Daily Recap' and 'MLB This Week' on Apple TV+ to indulge in too.
Friday Night Baseball is available in 60 countries and regions for the 2023 season with no local broadcast restrictions. The series is filmed with vivid live-action shots, and it is promised to offer immersive sound in 5.1 with Spatial Audio enabled, while drone cameras are deployed for aerial stadium shots, and player mics and field-level mics used to immerse you in the gameplay and atmosphere.
Lauren Gardner is hosting live pre and post-game coverage, as she did in 2022, along with Siera Santos. Former MLB players Xavier Scruggs and Matt Joyce are serving as analysts alongside baseball journalist Russell Dorsey. Meanwhile, former MLB umpires Brian Gorman and Dale Scott are breaking down the MLB’s new rules for the season.
As we mentioned, you will need an Apple TV+ subscription to enjoy the live games shown through the Friday Night Baseball series, though MLB programming such as condensed game recaps, classic games, highlights and interviews will be available for free in the Apple TV app.
In order to watch the Major League Baseball games every Friday night from 7 April, follow the steps below:
- Open the Apple TV app on a compatible device
- Ensure you are signed up for an Apple TV+ subscription
- Scroll down to Friday Night Baseball section
- Tap on the Friday Night Baseball section to expand it
- Tap on the games you are interested in watching
- Tap on the "+" in the top right corner to add to your 'Up Next' section
- Your chosen games will then appear at the top of the Apple TV app wherever you open it ready to watch
You can read our separate feature for more about the Apple TV app and we also have a feature on the Apple TV+ subscription service and what other shows there are available enjoy alongside your weekly dose of baseball.