MLB scales AR and optical tracking for Netflix, NBC All-Star broadcasts

MLB’s deeper technical integration marks a shift toward 'entertainment-first' B2C streaming, where the league acts as a co-producer providing R&D for new entrants like Netflix. By centralizing Statcast and AR workflows, MLB ensures visual consistency across fragmented rights deals while leveraging All-Star Week as a sandbox for high-access camera tech. This collaboration sets a precedent for how niche sporting events can be optimized for global streaming audiences through technical experimentation. Watch for these tracking innovations to migrate to regional sports networks (RSNs) as standardized production tools in 2027.

The 2026 All-Star Week serves as a critical proof-of-concept for the league's new three-year media rights cycle. Per MLB and Front Office Sports in July 2026, Netflix’s exclusive carriage of the Home Run Derby is part of a broader $50 million annual pact that includes Opening Night and the Field of Dreams Game. This deal follows Netflix’s recent aggressive expansion into live sports, which also includes a five-game NFL rights package. While Netflix’s March 2026 Opening Night broadcast drew 3 million viewers, it faced criticism for technical glitches and a minimalist score bug, pressuring the streamer to deliver a more polished workflow for the Midsummer Classic.

Simultaneously, the league is finalizing the rollout of its Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system. Per the Associated Press in September 2025, MLB’s competition committee approved the use of a challenge-based robot umpire system for the 2026 regular season. The technology utilizes a dozen Hawk-Eye cameras per stadium and a private 5G network from T-Mobile to deliver near-instant rulings. During All-Star Week, these systems are integrated with the broadcast feed to display real-time pitch tracking on scoreboards and screens, achieving a visual standard similar to the Hawk-Eye tracking used in professional tennis.

NBCUniversal’s involvement also marks a strategic pivot for the 2026-2028 seasons. According to NBC Sports in November 2025, the broadcaster has regained a major MLB presence for the first time in 26 years, anchoring a 'Sunday Night Baseball' package that complements its NFL and NBA Sunday franchises. This shift is designed to create a year-round primetime sports destination on NBC and Peacock, further bifurcating national baseball rights between traditional linear giants and global streaming platforms.