I can't watch it on WBC terrestrial TV! Enthusiastic! Very regretful 67.5% → Even the Yomiuri Shimbun's statement that the broadcasting rights were taken away
Aug 26, 2025
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The Major League Secretariat announced on its official website on the 26th (Korea Standard Time) that 'Netflix has secured exclusive broadcast rights to Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
WBC is a huge hit content in Japan. According to Japanese media Sponizia Nex, viewership for the 2023 WBC final was a whopping 42.4%. The ratings of all Japanese games exceeded 40%. Sponichia Nex explained '75% of Japanese watched live broadcasts in some form'
Until the last tournament, the organizer WBCI sold the broadcast rights through the Yomiuri Shimbun. The Yomiuri Shimbun is a co-host of the Tokyo Round. Ahead of 2026 WBC, WBCI has started negotiations on broadcast rights directly.
The Yomiuri Shimbun even issued an official statement.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Netflix will exclusively deliver live broadcasts of all 2026 WBC games held in March 2026. WBC is a special event in which the world's top baseball players compete on behalf of the country. As the organizer of the Tokyo Round, we will try to make sure that many people enjoy the competition. Private broadcasters, including NHK, can air video of the game for reporting purposes. Highlights can be seen on TV like before. I ask for your understanding.
Japanese online public opinion is generally bad. In a survey conducted by Sponichia Nex, there were only a few positive responses.
Very regretful 67.5% and some regretful 2.5%. Only 12% responded to the good change.
Japanese media Chunichi Sports reported that diverse opinions are intersecting on the SNS. Some say it is sad because it is a competition that started to broaden baseball's appeal, but others say it is good to see the whole game, while others say it is good because it is the opposite.
Sponichia Nex 'Broadcasting rights continue to soar. In 2023, WBC was about 3 billion yen (28 billion won), nearly three times more than in 2017. It has already been said that after the 2023 competition, 2026 WBC will be difficult for terrestrial broadcasters to win broadcasting rights. I think he jumped several times again this time,' he said.
Reporter Han Dong-hoon dhhan@sportschosun.com
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
