The historic three-game series will feature Baseball United’s two UAE-based franchises competing for the first time
DUBAI, UAE (February 12, 2025) – Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, announced today that its UAE Series event will be broadcast through 17 official broadcast partners across six continents. The worldwide footprint of coverage will reach more than 170 countries, and include more than one dozen linear and OTT platforms across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin and South America, Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States.
Linear platforms are headlined by MBC, the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The MBC GROUP operates over 20 free-to-air TV channels and radio stations across the region, including Saudi Arabia’s leading sports channel, Saudi Sports Company (SSC). Baseball United’s UAE Series will be aired on SSC3 in Saudi Arabia.
Dubai Media, Dubai’s local sports network, will broadcast the historic games on Dubai Sports Channel. This will be the first time in history baseball is broadcast by Dubai Sports.
Digital broadcasters are headlined by DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform. DAZN reaches over 200 markets worldwide, which will ensure that the UAE Series is accessible to fans across the globe.
Starzplay, another leading streaming service in MENA, will drive coverage in Baseball United’s home region via Starzplay Sports. The games will also be available through STARZ ON, Starzplay’s pay-per-view and on-demand sports platform.
“We continue to be blown away by broadcasters’ appetite for international baseball,” said Kash Shaikh, Baseball United Chairman, CEO, and Majority Owner. “Baseball United is already the most well-known internationally-based professional baseball league in the world, and with the continued support of our broadcast partners, we know that awareness and engagement in both the sport and our league will continue to grow.”
Major League Baseball will also carry the three-game series on its flagship property, MLB.TV. Baseball United’s ownership group includes 20 current and former MLB stars, including Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, and Adrian Beltre. Future Hall of Famer and Baseball United Co-owner, Albert Pujols, will serve as the color commentator on the broadcast.
A Sports, Pakistan’s first HD sports channel – a part of the ARY Digital Network – will broadcast Baseball United’s games on their linear channel, with additional coverage on their free digital platform, ARY ZAP. Tapmad, Pakistan’s leading OTT platform, will augment coverage by offering additional digital access. Baseball is experiencing rapid growth in Pakistan – the fifth most populous country in the world with 240 million people – due to the recent success of Pakistan’s National Baseball Team. The Pakistani team won the inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic tournament this past November.
Tokyo Broadcasting System’s TV Sports will cover the games in Japan. The sports channel reaches more than 400,000 subscribers across Japan. Three Japanese players will compete in the Series, with Shuhei Fukuda on the Arabia Wolves Team, and Shingo Hirata and Kodai Hamaya on the Mid East Falcons Team.
Other linear broadcasters include Africa XP and Startimes in Sub-Saharan Africa, Sportsmax in the Caribbean, and beIN Sports in the U.S. and Canada.
Baseball United will also stream the games free of charge on baseballunited.com in collaboration with Signature Productions.
Baseball United play-by-play veteran, Joey Zanaboni, will join Pujols in the broadcast booth for all three games. The UAE Series will take place at Baseball United’s new ballpark – the first professional baseball field in the history of the region. Limited tickets are still available at dubai.platinumlist.net.
To learn more about Baseball United, visit baseballunited.com.
###
About Baseball United
Baseball United is the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Baseball United’s inaugural Showcase event in Dubai was broadcast in 127 countries, reaching 200 million households. Our mission is to inspire one billion new fans to fall in love with baseball. Our ownership group includes award-winning entrepreneur, Kash Shaikh, and 20 baseball legends, including Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Adrián Beltré, Robinson Chirinos, Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, and Ronald Acuña Jr. In addition to our professional league, the Baseball United ecosystem spans youth development, federation partnerships, media and content production, merchandise, and non-profit outreach. With over 30 nationalities represented on our team rosters and a new suite of innovative game changes, Baseball United is working to create a new future for baseball in one of the fastest growing and most culturally diverse regions in the world.