''Wednesday Night Baseball'' is a live game telecast of

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

. The series formally aired every Wednesday night during the regular season on

ESPN ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...

. However, beginning with the

2022 Major League Baseball season The 2022 Major League Baseball season (MLB) was originally scheduled to begin on March 31 and end on October 2. The 2021–22 MLB lockout caused the season to be delayed by one week, starting on April 7. The regular season ended on October 5. The ...

, ESPN significantly reduced their MLB schedule, which included cutting most, if not all, of their Wednesday Night Baseball games. Wednesday Night Baseball games now generally air on

Fox Sports 1 Fox Sports 1 (FS1) is an American pay television channel owned by the Fox Sports Media Group, a unit of Fox Corporation. FS1 replaced the motorsports network Speed on August 17, 2013, at the same time that its companion channel Fox Sports 2 ...

and

MLB Network The MLB Network is an American television sports channel dedicated to baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball, with Warner Bros. Discovery through its sports unit, Comcast's NBC Sports Group, Charter Communications, and Cox Com ...

. On ESPN, the game started at 7pm ET, following ''

SportsCenter ''SportsCenter'' (SC) is a daily sports news television show, television program that serves as the flagship program and brand of United States, American cable television, cable and satellite television television network, network ESPN. The show ...

'', and usually lasted around three hours with an hour-long ''

Baseball Tonight ''Baseball Tonight'' (stylized as ''Baseball Tonight presented by Chevrolet'' for sponsorship reasons) is an American television program that airs on ESPN. The show, which covers the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since ...

'' following the game leading up to the 11pm ET ''SportsCenter'' (1am ET for September games with ''Baseball Tonight'' moving to

ESPN2 ESPN2 is an American multinational pay television network owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and Hearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%). ESPN2 was initially fo ...

at 12am ET). Every April some broadcasts aired on ESPN2 due to ESPN's priority with Wednesday's NBA coverage. ''Wednesday Night Baseball'' is not exclusive, as it is usually blacked out in the teams' local markets, where the respective local broadcasters may still air the game, unless local broadcasters choose not to televise the game.

ESPNEWS ESPNews (pronounced "ESPN News", stylized ESPNEWS) is an American multinational digital cable and satellite television network owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between the Disney Media Networks division of The Walt Disney Company (which owns ...

was seen on ESPN during the game in the teams' designated markets. The blackout (100-mile radius from the stadium, and all of a team's designated market) can be lifted in the latter scenario. On double-headers in September, due to the broadcast of ''

Monday Night Football ''ESPN Monday Night Football'' (abbreviated as ''MNF'' and also known as ''ESPN Monday Night Football on ABC'' for simulcasts) is an American live television broadcast of weekly National Football League (NFL) games currently airing on ESPN, AB ...

'', either one of the ''Wednesday Night Baseball'' games will co-exist with the local markets' carriers and will not always be subject to blackout.

Commentators

A complete list of broadcasters, with their period of tenure on the show (beginning years of each season shown). *

Manny Acta Manuel Elias Acta (born January 11, 1969) is a Dominican former professional baseball manager (baseball), manager who is currently the Third Base coach for the Seattle Mariners, and formerly a broadcast analyst for ESPN and ESPN Deportes. He has ...

: (analyst, 2013–2015) *

Erin Andrews Erin Jill Andrews (born May 4, 1978) is an American sportscaster, television personality, and actress. She rose to prominence as a correspondent on the American cable sports channel ESPN after joining the network in 2004. She later joined Fox Sp ...

: (field reporter, 2008) *

Chris Berman Christopher James Berman (born May 10, 1955), nicknamed "Boomer", is an American sportscaster. He has been an anchor for '' SportsCenter'' on ESPN since 1979, joining a month after its initial launch, and hosted the network's '' Sunday NFL Coun ...

: (play-by-play, 1990–2016, select games) *

Bonnie Bernstein Bonnie Lynn Bernstein (born August 16, 1970) is an American sports journalist and executive. She has been named one of the most accomplished female sportscasters in history by the American Sportscasters Association. Bernstein is Vice President, Co ...

: (field reporter, 2007, select games) *

Steve Berthiaume Steve Berthiaume () is an American television sportscaster who serves as the play-by-play broadcast announcer for the Arizona Diamondbacks and is a former anchor on ESPN and a former sportscaster for SportsNet New York (SNY). He is married to ...

: (fill-in play-by-play, 2007–2012) *

Aaron Boone Aaron John Boone (born March 9, 1973) is an American baseball manager and former infielder who is the manager of the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for 13 seasons from 1997 through 2009. As a player, ...

: (fill-in analyst, 2010–2017, for September games only) *

Jeff Brantley Jeffrey Hoke Brantley (born September 5, 1963) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 14 seasons, from to . Brantley currently is a broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds. Early care ...

: (analyst, 2002–2005) * Dave Campbell: (analyst, 1990–2002) * Bob Carpenter: (play-by-play, 1990–2004) *

Duke Castiglione Joseph "Duke" Castiglione Jr. (born June 21, 1973) is an American news anchor for WCVB-TV Boston’s ''NewsCenter 5'' weekend newscasts. He was the sports journalist, Sports Anchor for WNYW Fox 5 Good Day New York in New York City.Best, Neil (June ...

: (field reporter, 2006) *

Nomar Garciaparra Anthony Nomar Garciaparra (; born July 23, 1973) is an American retired Major League Baseball player and current SportsNet LA analyst. After playing parts of nine seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played shortstop, third ...

: (analyst, 2010–2013) *

Doug Glanville Douglas Metunwa Glanville (born August 25, 1970) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers. He is also a broadcast color analys ...

: (analyst, 2013–2017) * Pedro Gomez (field reporter, 2011–2014) *

Orel Hershiser Orel Leonard Hershiser IV (born September 16, 1958) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1983 to 2000. He later became a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers from 2002 to 2005 and a bro ...

: (analyst, 2001 and 2006–2007; 2009–2010 for September games) *

Chipper Jones Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones Jr. (born April 24, 1972) is an American former professional baseball third baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2012. The Braves chose Jones with the first overall p ...

: (analyst, 2020) *

Tim Kurkjian Tim Kurkjian (; born December 10, 1956) is a Major League Baseball (MLB) analyst on ESPN's ''Baseball Tonight'' and ''SportsCenter''. He is also a contributor to ''ESPN The Magazine'' and ''ESPN.com''. On December 7, 2021, Kurkjian was named t ...

: (field reporter, 2011–2014, for September games only) *

Barry Larkin Barry Louis Larkin (born April 28, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player. He played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2004. He briefly played in the minor leagues before making hi ...

: (fill-in analyst, 2013–2014) *

Steve Levy Steve Levy (; born March 12, 1965) is an American journalist and sportscaster for ESPN. He is known for his work broadcasting college football, ''Monday Night Football'' and the National Hockey League. Early life and career Levy went to Jo ...

: (fill-in play-by-play, 2013–2021) *

Buck Martinez John Albert "Buck" Martinez (born November 7, 1948) is an American former professional baseball catcher and manager, and is currently the television play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays. He played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball ( ...

: (analyst, 1992–2000 and 2002–05) *

Sean McDonough Sean McDonough (born May 13, 1962) is an American sportscaster, currently employed by ESPN and WEEI Red Sox Radio Network. Early life The son of ''Boston Globe'' sportswriter Will McDonough, McDonough graduated from the S. I. Newhouse School ...

: (play-by-play, 2011–2012, for September games only; 2013-2015, select games) *

Mark Mulder Mark Alan Mulder (born August 5, 1977) is an American former professional baseball player. A left-handed starting pitcher, Mulder pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. He is a two-time All-Sta ...

: (fill-in analyst, 2013–2015) *

Joe Morgan Joe Leonard Morgan (September 19, 1943 – October 11, 2020) was an American professional baseball second baseman who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Colt .45s / Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, ...

: (analyst, 1990–2010, select games) * Dave O'Brien: (play-by-play, 2008–2012; 2013–2015, for September games only) *

Steve Phillips Stephen Francis Phillips (born May 18, 1963) is an American baseball analyst and former baseball executive. He served as the general manager of the New York Mets from 1997 through 2003. He worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN from 2005 until h ...

: (analyst, 2007) *

Karl Ravech Karl Ravech (; born ) is an American journalist who works as the primary play by play commentator for '' Sunday Night Baseball''.David Ross: (analyst, 2017–2019) *

Curt Schilling Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is a commentator for conservative media outlet BlazeTV. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series appearance ...

: (analyst, 2013–2016) *

Jon Sciambi Jon "Boog" Sciambi (; born April 11, 1970) is an American sportscaster for ESPN and the Marquee Sports Network, currently the everyday play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs TV broadcasts. He has worked extensively as a baseball play-by-pla ...

: (play-by-play, 2005; fill-in play-by-play, 2013; play-by-play, 2014–2021) *

Xavier Scruggs Xavier Ladel Scruggs (born September 23, 1987) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos. Profession ...

: (analyst 2021) *

Rick Sutcliffe Richard Lee Sutcliffe (born June 21, 1956), nicknamed "The Red Baron", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals between 1976 and ...

: (analyst, 2008–2021) *

Dan Shulman Daniel Shulman is a Canadian sportscaster with Sportsnet as well as the American network ESPN. Shulman serves as a play-by-play announcer for select Toronto Blue Jays telecasts on Sportsnet and during 2018 and 2020 he hosted the baseball-the ...

: (play-by-play, 1995–2007; 2009–2010 for September games)

History

The program debuted in

1990 File:1990 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1990 FIFA World Cup is played in Italy; The Human Genome Project is launched; Voyager I takes the famous Pale Blue Dot image- speaking on the fragility of Humankind, humanity on Earth, Astroph ...

, when ESPN first acquired MLB rights. From

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...

, broadcasts consisted of a doubleheader, usually airing the first game at 7pm ET on ESPN and the second at 10pm ET on ESPN2. The second part of the doubleheader was discontinued after 2005 season. Wednesdays also formerly included an afternoon game, called ''

ESPN DayGame ''MLB on ESPN'' is an American presentation of live Major League Baseball (MLB) games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+. ESPN's MLB coverage debuted on April 9, 1990 with three Opening Day telecasts. ''ESPN Major League Baseball'' is guaranteed to remain ...

'' which aired typically at 12:30pm or 1pm ET on ESPN, making Wednesdays ESPN's primary day of baseball, as games aired both in the afternoon and in primetime. However, ''ESPN DayGame'' was also discontinued following the 2006 season. In 2021, ESPN agreed to a new contract with Major League Baseball through the 2028 season. However, the deal included only around 30 exclusive broadcasts, most of which would take place on ''Sunday Night Baseball''. Thus, it is likely that ''Wednesday Night Baseball'' may move to

, and

as part of the ''

MLB Network Showcase ''MLB Network Showcase'' is the title of a presentation of Major League Baseball on cable and satellite channel MLB Network that premiered on April 9, 2009. The network produces in-house 26 non-exclusive live games a year during baseball season. ...

'' package.

''Wednesday Night Baseball'' on other networks

Nationally televised baseball on Wednesday nights is not exclusive to

. Recently, nationally televised Wednesday games have also aired on networks such as

FS1 Fox Sports 1 (FS1) is an American pay television television channel, channel owned by the Fox Sports (United States), Fox Sports Media Group, a unit of Fox Corporation. FS1 replaced the motorsports network Speed (TV network), Speed on August 1 ...

FS1 (2017-2018, 2020-present)

While nationally televised FS1 games usually air on Friday and Saturday nights,

has also aired games on Wednesday nights since 2017. Usually, they're on days when ESPN is covering other sports.

=Schedule

MLB Network (2009-present)

Since 2009,

airs live baseball most weeknights, including games. Wednesday games on MLB Network tend to just be simulcasts of games produced by

regional sports network In the United States and Canada, a regional sports network (RSN) is a cable television channel (many of which are also distributed on direct broadcast satellite services) that presents sports programming to a local market or geographical region. ...

s and not games directly produced by MLB network.

Resources

ESPN.tv

References

External links

Baseball on ESPN.tvMLB on ESPN.comSearchable Network TV Broadcasts
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