Toronto Blue Jays fans are in for a frustrating Friday night. After Daulton Varsho’s thrilling walk-off grand slam injected some serious momentum into the team earlier this week, supporters hoping to catch the next game against the Detroit Tigers are facing an unexpected roadblock—the game won’t be available on Sportsnet.
Instead, the matchup is being broadcast exclusively on Apple TV, available in both the United States and Canada. This has left many Canadian fans disappointed, especially those without a subscription to the streaming service. Social media quickly lit up with reactions, including one fan who joked they’d rather garden and clean than miss the game.
The situation is unusual because Sportsnet typically isn’t affected by national broadcasts originating in the U.S. However, MLB’s deal with Apple TV for Friday night games includes exclusive broadcasting rights. Since Apple TV operates in both countries, the league structured the contract so that local broadcasts for the Tigers and Blue Jays are blocked.
Sportsnet proactively addressed the issue with a programming alert on X, reminding fans they can still listen to the game for free via the Sportsnet Radio Network and the Sportsnet app. So, for those without Apple TV, tuning into the radio broadcast is the best way to catch the action live.
For Blue Jays fans, it’s a tough pill to swallow—but at least there’s still a way to stay connected to the game, even if it means swapping the screen for the airwaves.
