Major League Baseball (MLB) and Sportradar Group AG have announced a significant extension of their exclusive partnership, securing the collaboration through the 2032 season.
This landmark agreement is built upon the existing successful relationship and focuses on maximizing the potential of MLB’s comprehensive data and audiovisual content to further enhance fan engagement and expand baseball’s global footprint.
Starting with the 2025 season, Sportradar has retained exclusive distribution rights to MLB’s official data, including the highly valuable Statcast data, media content, and AV content. This distribution will reach Sportradar’s extensive network of over 800 sportsbook clients and 900 media companies worldwide, ensuring broad access to MLB’s rich content.
A key element of this extended partnership is MLB’s acquisition of an equity stake in Sportradar. This strategic move aligns the interests of both organizations, fostering a deeper collaborative approach and supporting future growth opportunities within the evolving sports entertainment landscape. The equity stake underscores the shared vision for leveraging data and technology to drive innovation and create immersive fan experiences.
Integrity remains a paramount focus of the partnership. Sportradar will continue to provide its robust integrity services, including its widely recognized Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS). This system will monitor global betting activity related to MLB games, ensuring the sport’s integrity and protecting its long-term health.
The extended agreement emphasizes innovation, particularly in the realm of AI-driven products. By harnessing the power of player tracking data, MLB and Sportradar will collaborate on developing cutting-edge products to create more personalized and engaging experiences for fans. These innovations are expected to transform how fans interact with the game, offering deeper insights and more interactive content.
Commenting on the extended alliance, Kenny Gersh, MLB Executive Vice President of Media & Business Development, said, “Sportradar has been a great partner to MLB, particularly helping us navigate the legalization and continued evolution of the global sports betting landscape. Throughout our partnership, Sportradar has consistently developed great products utilizing MLB’s best-in-class data. MLB is delighted to continue innovating with Sportradar to create engaging products and services for MLB fans globally.”
Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar, added, “We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with MLB, and this agreement represents a new, exciting chapter in our journey together. Our collaboration is not only about leveraging cutting-edge technology and content but also working together to create innovative products that enhance fan engagement and bring fans closer to the game. By combining our strengths, we can unlock new opportunities and reach more sports fans around the globe to shape the future of sports entertainment. This deal, which is immediately accretive to our business, will drive value for our shareholders as we continue to expand margins and generate strong cash flow.”
Both organizations recognize the significant potential for growth in international markets. The partnership will capitalize on baseball’s increasing popularity in regions like Latin America and Asia, coupled with the continued expansion of legalized sports betting globally. This strategic focus on internationalization aims to broaden baseball’s reach and cultivate new generations of fans.
This extended partnership between MLB and Sportradar is poised to redefine the fan experience, capitalize on emerging market opportunities, and solidify the future of baseball in the global sports arena. The collaboration’s focus on data-driven innovation, integrity, and global expansion promises to deliver significant value to organizations and their stakeholders for years to come.
