MLB Sunday Leadoff
{{Short description|Live streaming of Sunday Major League Baseball (MLB) games}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox television
| image = MLB Sunday Leadoff 2024 logo.jpeg
| image_size = 225
| caption =
| alt_name =
| genre = Baseball telecasts
| director =
| presenter =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes =
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
| producer =
| editor =
| location = Various MLB stadiums (game telecasts, pregame and postgame shows)
| cinematography =
| camera = Multi-camera
| runtime = 180 minutes (varies depending on game length)
| company = NBC Sports (2022–23)
MLB (2024–present)
| network = Peacock/NBC {{Small|(2022–2023)}}
The Roku Channel/MLB.tv {{Small|(2024–present)}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|05|08}}
| last_aired = present
| related = Major League Baseball on NBC
}}
MLB Sunday Leadoff is the branding used for broadcasts of Major League Baseball (MLB) games that primarily are held on Sunday afternoon. It was originally produced by NBC Sports for the streaming service Peacock from 2022 to 2023, with one game each season simulcast on NBC. It was NBC Sports' first national MLB package since 2000. Since 2024, MLB Sunday Leadoff is produced by MLB Local Media for The Roku Channel, and is also available blackout free on MLB.tv.{{Cite web |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=2024-10-01 |title=SVG All-Stars: Kendall Burgess, as VP, Local Media Technical Operations, Major League Baseball |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/10/01/svg-all-stars-kendall-burgess-as-vp-local-media-technical-operations-major-league-baseball/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}
History
File:MLB Sunday Leadoff logo 2022.svg
{{See also|History of Major League Baseball on NBC}}In March 2022, it was reported by The Wall Street Journal that NBC Sports was finalizing an agreement to establish a new package of Sunday afternoon games beginning in the 2022 MLB season. The package would be a successor to TBS's previous Sunday afternoon package during the later half of the season; as part of a contract renewal, TBS replaced these games with a new Tuesday night package across the entire regular season.{{Cite news |last=Diamond |first=Lillian Rizzo and Jared |date=March 11, 2022 |title=NBC's Peacock Is Finalizing Deal to Stream MLB Games in New Sunday Time Slot |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nbcs-peacock-is-finalizing-deal-to-stream-mlb-games-in-new-sunday-time-slot-11647034302 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}
As a prelude to the deal, Peacock had exclusively aired a June 2021 series between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants. It was co-produced by NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports Philadelphia, and featured a broadcast team led by the Giants' lead play-by-play announcer Jon Miller and his partner Mike Krukow, joined by the Phillies' analysts John Kruk and Jimmy Rollins.{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2021 |title=Phillies-Giants series to be broadcast only on Peacock, for free |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/phillies-giants-series-peacock-broadcast.html |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last=Kurtenbach |first=Dieter |date=June 14, 2021 |title=You won't be able to find SF Giants games on cable TV this weekend |work=The Mercury News |location= |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/06/14/you-wont-be-able-to-find-the-giants-games-on-cable-tv-this-weekend/ |access-date=}}
NBC formally announced the deal on April 6, with a reported value of $30 million per-season.{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2022 |title=MLB and NBC confirm 'US$30m a year' Peacock streaming deal |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mlb-nbc-peacock-tv-rights-streaming-2022/ |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}} As part of the agreement, Peacock would also carry the All-Star Futures Game, as well as an MLB content hub featuring classic games and other video content.{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2022 |title=Peacock's MLB package will be branded as 'MLB Sunday Leadoff' |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/peacocks-mlb-package-will-be-branded-as-mlb-sunday-leadoff.html |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}
On April 13, 2022, NBC Sports announced that the games would be branded as MLB Sunday Leadoff.{{cite news |date=April 13, 2022 |title="MLB Sunday Leadoff" – Peacock and NBC Sports Reveal Name and Logo for Exclusive Sunday Morning Baseball Package |publisher=Comcast |agency=NBC Sports Group Press Box |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2022/04/13/mlb-sunday-leadoff-peacock-and-nbc-sports-reveal-name-and-logo-for-exclusive-sunday-morning-baseball-package/ |access-date=April 26, 2022}}
The inaugural broadcast was a game featuring the Chicago White Sox at the Boston Red Sox on May 8.{{cite news |last=Lucia|first=Joe|date=April 6, 2022|title=Your 2022 MLB regular season broadcasting primer|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/schedules/your-2022-mlb-regular-season-broadcasting-primer.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=}} The game was also simulcast on the NBC broadcast network, marking its first MLB broadcast since Game 6 of the 2000 American League Championship Series on October 17, 2000, and its first regular season MLB broadcast since September 29, 1995. All other games were exclusive to Peacock Premium subscribers.
Outside of the United States, the games were carried on MLB's out-of-market packages (including MLB.tv). In Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays' appearances were televised as normal by MLB's Canadian broadcast partner Sportsnet, as part of its regional rights to the team.
For the 2023 season, the number of games increased to 19. Six games started at 11:30 a.m., ten started at 12:00 p.m., and three started at 1:00 p.m. ET. For the second consecutive year, one game was simulcast on NBC.{{cite news |date=January 31, 2023 |title=PEACOCK AND NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCE 2023 MLB SUNDAY LEADOFF SCHEDULE|publisher=Comcast |agency=NBC Sports Group Press Box |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2023/01/31/peacock-and-nbc-sports-announce-2023-mlb-sunday-leadoff-schedule/ |access-date=January 31, 2023}}
On May 13, 2024, Major League Baseball announced the package would move to The Roku Channel for the 2024 season. The games are also simulcast on MLB.tv.{{cite news |last=Marchand |first=Andrew|date=May 13, 2024 |title=Roku to serve as new home for 'MLB Sunday Leadoff' games|work=The New York Times|agency=The Athletic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5490386/2024/05/13/roku-mlb-sunday-leadoff/ |access-date=May 13, 2024}} Roku pays around $10 million a year for the rights package.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/major-league-baseball-espn-tv-deal-0e63bd7a|title=MLB Plots a New TV Model After Striking Out With ESPN|first1=Jared|last1=Diamond|first2=Isabella|last2=Simonetti|date=March 2, 2025|access-date=March 3, 2025|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}
Production
The broadcasts were described as being "hyperlocal" with a "national flair", being built upon the on-air presentation for NBC Sports' regional MLB coverage.{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Brandon Costa, Director of |date=May 6, 2022 |title=NBC Returns to Baseball as MLB Sunday Leadoff Streaming Package Debuts on Peacock |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/05/06/nbc-sports-returns-to-baseball-as-mlb-sunday-leadoff-streaming-package-debuts-on-peacock/ |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}} Former Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully (who served as NBC's lead play-by-play commentator for its MLB coverage from 1983 to 1989) narrated a special introduction for the first broadcast, emphasizing NBC's history as an MLB broadcaster (including its historic Game of the Week broadcasts).
Upon moving to The Roku Channel in 2024, MLB Local Media assumed production of the broadcasts.{{Cite web |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=2024-10-01 |title=SVG All-Stars: Kendall Burgess, as VP, Local Media Technical Operations, Major League Baseball |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/10/01/svg-all-stars-kendall-burgess-as-vp-local-media-technical-operations-major-league-baseball/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}
Personnel
{{See also|List of Major League Baseball on NBC broadcasters|List of current Major League Baseball broadcasters}}
Jason Benetti (who calls Chicago White Sox games for NBC Sports Chicago, and also worked NBC's telecasts of baseball during the 2020 Summer Olympics){{cite news |last=Rosenthal |first=Phil |date=June 3, 2021 |title=Jason Benetti is set to call Olympic baseball for NBC this summer, the latest broadcasting gig for the Chicago White Sox announcer |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/olympics/ct-olympics-chicago-white-sox-jason-benetti-nbc-20210603-mancleukxvafjcrjhqjhhj3cnm-story.html}} served as the lead by-play announcer for the 2022 season, joined by rotating analysts from each participating team.{{cite news |date=April 26, 2022 |title=NBC picks Jason Benetti and local analysts for Sunday MLB Peacock games |work=New York Post |publisher= |agency= |url=https://nypost.com/2022/04/26/nbc-picks-jason-benetti-local-analysts-for-sunday-mlb-peacock-games/ |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Feinsand |first=Mark |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Watch White Sox-Red Sox Sunday on Peacock |work=MLB.com |location= |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/watch-white-sox-red-sox-on-peacock-on-may-8 |access-date=}}{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 4, 2022 |title=RED SOX HOST WHITE SOX AT FENWAY PARK IN FIRST MLB SUNDAY LEADOFF GAME THIS SUNDAY, MAY 8 LIVE AT 11:30 A.M. ET ON PEACOCK & NBC |work=NBC Sports Group Press Box |location= |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2022/05/04/red-sox-host-white-sox-at-fenway-park-in-first-mlb-sunday-leadoff-game-this-sunday-may-8-live-at-1130-a-m-et-on-peacock-nbc/ |access-date=}} Jon Miller filled in for the San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds game. Ahmed Fareed would serve as the studio host.{{cite news |title=AHMED FAREED NAMED HOST OF MLB SUNDAY LEADOFF ON PEACOCK |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2022/04/26/ahmed-fareed-named-host-of-mlb-sunday-leadoff-on-peacock/ |access-date=April 26, 2022 |agency=NBC Sports Group Press Box |publisher=Comcast |date=April 26, 2022}}
Benetti joined Fox Sports in August 2022.{{cite news |last=Clapp|first=Matt|date=July 24, 2022|title=Jason Benetti reportedly leaving ESPN for Fox|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/fox/jason-benetti-leaving-espn-for-fox-sports.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=September 28, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Bucholtz|first=Andrew|date=July 28, 2022|title=Fox officially announces they've hired Jason Benetti|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/fox-officially-announces-theyve-hired-jason-benetti.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=September 28, 2022}} Brendan Burke replaced Benetti as the lead play-by-play announcer for MLB Sunday Leadoff in 2023.{{cite magazine |last=Chavkin|first=Daniel|date=April 3, 2023|title=NBC to Hire Brendan Burke to Broadcast 'MLB Sunday Leadoff,' per Report|url=https://www.si.com/media/2023/04/03/nbc-peacock-brendan-burke-mlb-sunday-leadoff|magazine=Sports Illustrated|location= |access-date=April 4, 2023}} Due to Burke's Stanley Cup Playoff commitments for TNT, Matt Vasgersian of MLB Network and Chris Vosters of NBC Sports Chicago filled in for Burke during the first four games of Peacock's 2023 schedule. Dave Sims filled in for Brendan Burke on Sunday, August 20.
For the move to The Roku Channel in 2024, MLB Sunday Leadoff utilized a mix of local TV announcers from both teams, typically with the home team's play-by-play announcer and sideline reporter joined by the road team's color analyst.{{cite news |title=Roku Lands Exclusive Rights to Major League Baseball Sunday Leadoff|url=https://newsroom.roku.com/news/2024/05/roku-lands-exclusive-rights-to-major-league-baseball-sunday-leadoff/tetn-dag-1715620860|access-date=May 22, 2024 |publisher=Roku |date=May 14, 2024}}
Schedule
The games have an exclusive midday window, with the first games carrying an 11:30 a.m. ET scheduling , and later games having a 12:00, 1:00 or 4:00 p.m. ET scheduling.{{Cite web |last=Roku |title=Roku |url=https://www.roku.com/blog/sunday-leadoff-2025?srsltid=AfmBOor46OcYjrPZbbomuWU6m-ElCbong65mwZWdnMZ3Wb_TsY98v3yR |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Roku |language=en}} On days scheduled for games on MLB Sunday Leadoff in the early window, no other MLB games will begin until at least 1:30 p.m. ET.
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Major League Baseball on national television}}
{{The Roku Channel}}
{{Major League Baseball on NBC}}
{{NBC Sports}}
{{Peacock (streaming service)}}
Category:Sports telecast series
Category:Major League Baseball on NBC
Category:Peacock (streaming service) original programming
Category:Roku original programming