Aug 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) celebrates with catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) after a victory against the Detroit Tigers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
Much to the chagrin of many fans, the Phillies will host the Atlanta Braves on Apple TV+ Friday.
This evening's game, though, might be the final time the Phillies ever play on the streaming service.
As part of the shakeup in MLB media rights coming in 2026, Kendall Baker of Yahoo! Sports reported earlier this month that Apple TV+ will likely be out after this year:
🚨 SCOOP: MLB rights deals are “close to being done,” per sources.
What I’m hearing:
- Apple is fully out. RIP Friday Night Baseball
- NBC/Peacock is in, for Friday and Sunday exclusive and Wild Card
- MLB TV being sold to ESPN (for a boatload of $$$)
- Netflix gets HR Derby
The new media rights deal has yet to be finalized, so this is subject to change. Although based on what Baker wrote, the Apple TV+ part doesn't appear to be in flux.
"Friday Night Baseball" on Apple TV+ began in 2022. During the first year, you simply needed to login with your Apple ID, or make one if you don't already have one. But watching the games was free when you downloaded the free app. Then in 2023, they switched it that you needed to have an Apple TV+ account, which now costs $12.99 per month. With shows like Severance and Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, if you're a TV person, the subscription is probably worth it. Still, it was shady to let fans watch for free the first year and then switch it the second season. Apple TV+ also continues to raise the price of the monthly subscription.
As for the actual broadcast, Apple TV+ has pristine picture, and it's allows you to switch the broadcast feed to local radio announcers if you choose. Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (color commentator) and Tricia Whitaker (dugout reporter) will be the booth for Braves-Phillies Friday, and it's safe to say that Apple TV+ has upgraded the quality of their announcers since 2022.
With that said, where Apple TV+ (and pretty much all national broadcasts currently) struggles is with putting together a show where the game is the actual focus. So many national broadcasts now are overrun with in-game interviews and cutaways that make the game feel like an afterthought. Perhaps that appeals to more casual fans, but it angers those who want to focus on games with playoff implications.
In any event, if you've spent four years bitching about Apple TV+, make sure to get in all your complaints tonight. Next year, there will be something new to be mad about.
