MLB Extends Broadcasting Deal With Puerto Rico’s WAPA TV

Major League Baseball and WAPA Television have reached a new multi-year rights agreement that will extend the network’s broadcast privileges in Puerto Rico. WAPA Television — along with its sister sports network WAPA Deportes — has been the over-the-air broadcast partner in Puerto Rico of MLB since 2010.

The extension continues WAPA’s current rights agreement, which includes select spring training games and regular season games. WAPA Television serves as the exclusive television broadcast partner in Puerto Rico of MLB jewel events including the World Series, League Championship Series, Division Series, Home Run Derby, and the All-Star Game.

WAPA Television is Puerto Rico’s highest-rated broadcast network and WAPA Deportes is the island’s leading sports network. The MLB coverage has been very well received among Puerto Ricans — WAPA Deportes’ 2018 postseason MLB coverage was up 16% among HH from 2016 postseason coverage.*

“We are excited to continue our relationship with WAPA and WAPA Deportes,” says Dominick Balsamo, Vice President of Global Media Business Development, Major League Baseball. “We saw the excitement and passion the fans on the island have for MLB firsthand when we played there last season and are thrilled to be able to showcase so many of our young Puerto Rican stars making a huge impact on our game to them.”

“The histories of Major League Baseball and Puerto Rico have been intertwined for generations, from when Hiram Bithorn became the first Puerto Rican to play in the MLB in 1942, to when Roberto Clemente was the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973,” says Paco Vargas, General Manager of WAPA Deportes. “We’re honored to be the exclusive home of MLB in Puerto Rico and help propel the love and fanaticism of the sport on the Island for years to come.”