The news immediately sparked heated debate and discussion in Japanese baseball circles. Many fans were dissatisfied with having to pay to watch the games, while professionals also expressed concerns about the long-term impact of this broadcast method on Japanese sports.
Netflix acquires exclusive broadcast rights for WBC; Japanese fans will pay full price to watch
According to Japanese media reports, controversy has arisen in Japanese baseball circles after Netflix secured the broadcasting rights. Rakuten Golden Eagles board member and Pacific League chairman Tomoharu Inoue stated, "If the broadcast could be free, more people would be able to watch. The increasing number of major sporting events being available through pay-per-view isn't necessarily a positive development for Japanese sports."
These remarks reflect the concerns of some professionals about the commercialization of sports content, especially during events that feature many superstars. If most viewers are unable to watch due to payment barriers, it may affect the popularity and prevalence of baseball.
Japan's NPB is concerned about the impact of paid viewing on fans, making subscriptions a necessity
Katsuhiko Nakamura, director of the J.League NPB Affairs Bureau, pointed out that the league currently tends to "convey the facts clearly first" and will observe the actual impact of paid viewing on fans and the league.
With Netflix acquiring the exclusive broadcasting rights, Japanese fans who want to see games played by star players such as Shohei Ohtani, Ryuki Sasaki, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have to subscribe to a paid membership to watch the exciting events in real time.
The viewing method for Taiwanese viewers has been clarified: simultaneous broadcast on cable TV and the Internet
Unlike Japan, the 2026經典賽 broadcasting rights for Taiwan have already been acquired by Elta Entertainment. Fans will be able to watch the matches live on Elta Entertainment's webcast and on cable TV channels such as Eastern and Videoland.
For Taiwanese fans, there are relatively diverse ways to watch games. Not only can they enjoy real-time events, but they can also choose the most convenient viewing method through different platforms to avoid missing out on exciting games due to a single paid platform.