The BBC have been an advocate for bringing sport to the masses for many years. They often have international tournaments for the football, snooker, darts, athletics and more, in addition to sports programming such as Question of Sport and Match of the Day. However, with viewing numbers for their programming falling, and the number of people who pay for TV Licenses also falling, the BBC are having to look at new ways to attract more viewers and license payers.

With the BBC still heavily criticised for showing so many repeats of old programming, they have turned to re-launching the BBC Three channel to attract a younger audience, focusing on shows such as Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK in a bid to appear to be fresh and modern. But that’s not the only US programming that the BBC have locked in on to try and boost viewing numbers, with a new deal signed with the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox to showcase their intense MLB rivalry.

This won’t be the first time a series between these two teams has been available to watch and stream on a BBC channel, with a two-year deal signed in 2019 to showcase MLB’s London Series games, the first ever MLB series to be played in Europe. And it was a huge success, although due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the London Series due in 2020 never took place.

The New BBC Deal

Following the popularity of the original deal, the BBC proceeded to sign the largest baseball deal to have ever been reached in the UK. The new deal will stretch over five years, and as well as the current Red Sox at Yankees series which resumes their rivalry on Saturday at Yankee Stadium as the hosts look to secure a spot in the playoffs, there will be other games on show as well.

The main focus of the new MLB deal with the BBC will once again focus on MLB’s London Series games with events taking place at West Ham’s London Stadium when it returns in 2023, 2024 and 2026. Following this weekend’s games, the next showing on the BBC will see the Chicago Cubs’ meeting with the St Louis Cardinals in June next year. However the deal will also allow for them to showcase US-based games as well.

The BBC will air MLB Games due to be played at the London Stadium

When Will The Next Red Sox at Yankees Game Be Shown

Viewers can watch the latest meeting between the Yankees and the Red Sox this Saturday live on the BBC. Sadly, fans will have missed the first three games of the six-game series, two of which the Yankees won away to the Red Sox 7-6 and 5-3, before the start of four games at Yankee Stadium, the first of which the Yankees won 5-4. The first game to be shown will be the third match of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium.

The game will be available live on BBC iPlayer, via the Red Button service and will also be available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app from 18:00 BST. The commentary team will include former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, the renowned MLB broadcaster Melanie Newman and Felix White, guitarist for The Maccabees who is a co-presenter of cricket’s Tailenders podcast on BBC Sounds.

Just to help get you in the mood for the upcoming MLB game as well, here is the highlights of the latest game between these two great baseball rivals.

Red Sox vs. Yankees full game highlights from 9/22/22, pres. by Roman Health.

For even more MLB news and other coverage like this, check out our Baseball section.