Good news for Blue Jays fans as Sportsnet strikes tv deal

Back-to-back losses by the Toronto Blue Jays in Tampa Bay have certainly delayed some of Toronto's momentum, especially when considering how close they are to clinching a postseason berth. Had they managed to win just one of those games, there was potential for the Blue Jays to be in a position to clinch on Friday. That's why it was so important for that game to be viewed by as many people as possible.

However, the original tv broadcast schedule had Friday's series opener between the Blue Jays and the Royals in Kansas City exclusively on Apple TV. Apple TV+ broadcasts aren't new to baseball fans as the streaming service partnered with MLB a few years ago to offer an "alternative" way to offer baseball to the viewers.

But with the game potentially having huge playoff implications for the Blue Jays, Rogers (who owns Sportsnet and the Blue Jays) made a deal with Apple TV to simulcast the game on Rogers airwaves. Sportsnet will produce the pre-game show Blue Jays Central at 7 p.m. as well as the post-game show, while airing the Apple TV+ production of the actual game.

It's welcomed news for Blue Jays fans, many of whom already subscribe to Sportsnet and having to add another service provided for a few games a season can be very cost prohibitive. It also would have been a very demoralizing footnote on what's been a great season, if Toronto fans didn't get a chance to see their team clinch a postseason berth.

Even without the possibility of clinching a postseason berth, every game until the Blue Jays get that division title locked up has huge implications. A win on Friday would give the Blue Jays their 90th win of the season, something they haven't achieved since 2022 when they went 92-70 and made the playoffs as a Wild Card team.

As part of the deal, Apple TV will get exclusive rights to air next Friday's game (Sept. 26) when the Blue Jays host the Tampa Bay Rays.