Facebook linked to MLB live streaming deal

Social media platform Facebook is in “advanced talks” over live streaming rights to Major League Baseball games, according to Reuters.

The news agency, citing two people familiar with the situation, said the talks concern rights to live stream one game per week during the upcoming 2017 season. Reuters added that it was unclear which games MLB would live stream on Facebook.

Reports of a potential deal with the North American league come after Facebook added two significant content partnerships last week. LaLiga, the organising body of Spanish club football, and the Mediapro agency unveiled an agreement that will result in Friday night games from the top division being streamed live and free of charge via Facebook in Spain.

The agreement took effect from Granada’s 4-1 victory over Real Betis on February 17. The game was the first under a long-term initiative, with action to be provided by LaLiga’s Facebook page and that of Mediapro’s digital-terrestrial sports channel, Gol.

In addition, Facebook struck a deal to stream selected live matches from US pay-television broadcaster Univision Deportes’ coverage of Liga MX, the domestic Mexican football top tier. The games will be available via the Facebook Live service through the Univision Deportes Facebook page in the US.

Coverage began on February 18 and the deal will run until the end of this year. Univision Deportes will stream 46 Liga MX matches this year, including play-off games. Facebook agreed the deal with Univision Communications, the parent company of Univision Deportes.