Baseball 2026: More AI, Better Viewing Choices

As the 2026 MLB season begins, the sport embraces new tech and streaming partnerships to modernize the fan experience.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:40pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette of navy, red, and gold.As baseball embraces new technologies to enhance the fan experience, the sport's visual identity is also evolving through a cubist, geometric lens.St. Petersburg Today

The 2026 MLB season is ushering in a new era of AI-powered officiating and a fragmented, multiplatform future for broadcasting. With linear viewership declining, especially among younger audiences, MLB is adapting by expanding partnerships with streaming platforms, social media, and emerging sports distributors. The goal is to create a more personalized, interactive viewing experience that can better engage the next generation of fans.

Why it matters

As the average MLB fan age continues to rise, the league must evolve beyond its legacy as a broadcast-driven product and embrace interactivity, personalization, and direct fan relationships to stay relevant. Integrating real-time prediction, gamification, and augmented reality can transform baseball from a passive viewing experience into a dynamic, participatory platform, unlocking new monetization opportunities.

The details

The new MLB-ESPN agreement is a bridge that blends national and local rights into a more flexible framework, allowing MLB to maintain reach while gradually reclaiming control over distribution. This paves the way for features like interactive engagement layers, personalized viewing options, and AI-generated highlights. Meanwhile, the Automated Ball-Strike System powered by Sony's Hawk-Eye technology has officially debuted in MLB, using advanced cameras to provide accurate ball-strike calls and reduce umpire errors.

  • The 2026 MLB season is underway.
  • The new MLB-ESPN agreement was announced last fall.
  • The Automated Ball-Strike System powered by Hawk-Eye technology debuted at the start of the 2026 season.

The players

Matt Coleman

Futurist and CEO of FansXR, a company that provides live, fan-controlled broadcast views for entertainment and gamification.

Steve Dolce

MLB Network Director of Remote Technical Operations, oversaw the expansive camera coverage and production for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Tommy Guidice

MLB Network Senior Vice President of Remote Events, was proud of the content produced for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Jason Hedgcock

MLB Vice President of Broadcast Products and Services, managed the international distribution of the World Baseball Classic through NEP Connect.

Hawk-Eye Innovations

A Sony-owned company that created the Automated Ball-Strike System technology now used in MLB.

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What they’re saying

“Younger fans aren't rejecting baseball; they're rejecting passive consumption. The next generation expects to interact with the game in real time—predict outcomes, compete with friends and personalize their viewing experience. The leagues that understand this shift will unlock entirely new economics around engagement.”

— Matt Coleman, Futurist and CEO of FansXR

“By integrating real-time prediction, gamification, and augmented reality into live broadcasts, baseball can evolve from a passive viewing experience into a dynamic, participatory platform. The financial upside is significant.”

— Matt Coleman, Futurist and CEO of FansXR

“There's something incredibly special about the World Baseball Classic. Each time, it gets bigger and bigger, with more people contributing all over the world. We're proud of the content we were able to produce.”

— Tommy Guidice, MLB Network Senior Vice President of Remote Events

What’s next

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The takeaway

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