The MLB’s latest broadcasting pivot was supposed to be a step into the future. But for multiple Yankees fans, it felt like a stumble at the worst possible moment. As New York prepared for a pivotal clash with the Orioles, anticipation was high among fans. It was more than just a game; it was a matchup with playoff implications, and fans were ready to lock in.
But when the first pitch arrived, the stream didn’t. With the game airing exclusively on the Roku Sports Channel, fans scrambled to locate the broadcast, many unsuccessfully. Instead of a smooth, “free and easy” viewing experience as advertised, users faced buffering, blackouts, and couldn’t access the game at all.
The backlash was swift, and the MLB-Roku partnership instantly became a punching bag across social media.
The game was not available on traditional cable and regular channels. So, when the Roku stream didn’t work, that’s a brutal swing and a miss for MLB’s vision of digital accessibility.
Ironically, the Yankees had hyped the game just hours earlier. “Watch #MLBSundayLeadoff Orioles at Yankees live at 11:30 a.m. ET, streaming free on Roku Sports Channel.” That tweet now sits awkwardly under a pile of replies from angry fans asking, “How?” or “Where?” The platform may have been “free,” but the experience came at the cost of fan patience and trust.
Watch #MLBSundayLeadoff Orioles at Yankees live at 11:30 a.m. ET, streaming free on Roku Sports Channel https://t.co/yuTpDHr28e pic.twitter.com/JK1cborsWf
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 22, 2025
This is not just related to one game—it’s about a growing disconnect. MLB and Roku recently teamed up to push baseball into the streaming age, launching slick promos like “Going, Going, Gone: The Magic of the Home Run,” set to debut on July 6. It’s supposed to celebrate the magic of long balls and legendary moments. But after Sunday, fans aren’t exactly in the mood for nostalgia. They just want to watch the game without jumping through hoops.
The idea behind the partnership may have had promise—reaching new audiences, keeping things fresh—but execution matters. Especially when a playoff-hungry fanbase tunes in and finds themselves in the dark. If MLB wants fans to embrace this new era, it might want to ensure the stream doesn’t drop the ball first.
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