MLB on Fox launched on June 1, 1996, when Fox Sports acquired a share of Major League Baseball’s national broadcast rights. It has since become a cornerstone of Fox’s sports programming. The franchise has aired every World Series since 2000 and every All-Star Game since 2001. In November 2018, Fox signed a rights extension with MLB, carrying the partnership through the 2028 season.
The weekly broadcast centers on Fox’s Saturday afternoon national game window, with select primetime and postseason matchups added throughout the season. Postseason coverage expands to include the American League Division Series, American League Championship Series, and the World Series. Each broadcast features a pregame and postgame studio show, with highlights, interviews, analysis, and reports from ballparks across the country. Advanced statistics, player-tracking technology, and enhanced replay systems have also become regular parts of telecasts.
MLB on Fox has changed considerably over the years. FOX originally shared postseason coverage with NBC before becoming MLB’s exclusive over-the-air television partner in 2001. The network’s rights package has evolved through successive agreements, with changes to the number of regular-season games and postseason series it carries. Production has also advanced with high-definition broadcasts, on-field microphones, drone cameras, and expanded statistical analysis.
Kevin Burkhardt has served as the program’s studio host since 2014. He anchors the studio show alongside analysts Derek Jeter and David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez. Veteran sportscasters Chris Myers and Mike Hill serve as supporting and fill-in hosts during regular-season and regional broadcasts.
Earlier, the MLB on Fox broadcast team featured Joe Buck alongside Tim McCarver for more than two decades. He was succeeded by Joe Davis, who took over as FOX’s lead play-by-play announcer in 2022. The network has also featured notable analysts and commentators such as John Smoltz, Harold Reynolds, Frank Thomas, and David Ortiz.
