Friday Night Baseball to resume on Apple TV throughout 2023 MLB regular season

22 March 2023 , 14:00

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Friday Night Baseball will return on Apple TV for the 2023 season

Apple TV have announced that Friday Night Baseball (FNB) will resume for the 2023 season, with fans from more countries than ever able to tune in for weekly double-headers of MLB action.

The MLS has seen a huge boost to their reach, with a recent Forbes report claiming almost 40% of the league's fixtures for the 2023 season are available to subscribers around the world. Following the success of Friday Night Baseball during the 2022 season, Apple have announced that the weekly series will continue throughout the 2023 campaign.

Apple and Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that FNB will be available to all Apple TV+ subscribers on Fridays throughout the regular season. The weekly double-header will begin on April 7, with the Texas Rangers facing the Chicago Cubs for the inaugural FNB daytime game before the San Diego Padres take on the Atlanta Braves.

The service will be available for fans in 60 countries and regions, with Apple TV+ subscribers able to enjoy two marquee matchups over 25 weeks with no local broadcast restrictions. Fans in the United States can subscribe to Apple TV+ for $6.99 per month, with rates varying elsewhere depending on your location.

With Sunday and Monday Night Football becomes mainstays on the NFL's prime-time offering, the return of Friday Night Baseball appears to suggest the MLB are keen to corner an area of the broadcast schedule.

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Apple TV have also expanded their broadcasting team, with Wayne Randazzo and Alex Faust joining as a play-by-play announcers, while Dontrelle Willis and Ryan Spilborghs will join as analysts. Heidi Watney and Tricia Whitaker join as sideline reporters, with game assignments for announcers to be shared on a weekly basis.

Live coverage both pre-game and post-game will again be hosted by Lauren Gardner, along with Siera Santos. Former MLB stars Xavier Scruggs and Matt Joyce will serve as analysts alongside baseball journalist Russell Dorsey.

To help with explaining the new MLB rule changes for the new season, former MLB umpires Brian Gorman and Dale Scott will join the team to break down certain events. "We can’t wait for ‘Friday Night Baseball’ to start up again, and we’re excited for fans to experience everything new we’re bringing this season," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services.

Friday Night Baseball to resume on Apple TV throughout 2023 MLB regular season

The Chicago Cubs will take part in the first FNB of the 2023 season (MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 01: Cody Bellinger #24 of the Chicago Cubs bats during the first inning of a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Sloan Park on March 01, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images))

"Apple TV+ truly has something for everyone, from two live baseball games every Friday night, to an incredible slate of award-winning original films and series. There’s never been a better time to sign up."

The FNB schedule has been announced for the first half of the season, through June 30 by Apple TV and MLB:

Friday, April 7

Texas Rangers at Chicago Cubs - 2pm ET

San Diego Padres at Atlanta Braves - 7pm ET

Friday, April 14

San Francisco Giants at Detroit Tigers - 6:30pm ET