Around the World

2009 ™ SCHEDULE OF GAMES MLB Round 1 Double Elimination Schedule is subject to change.

International POOL A Tokyo, Japan Directory Date GAME Match-up local et Thurs, March 5 Game 1 China vs. Japan 6:30pm 4:30am Central Office (New York) (Phone +1-212-931-7500) Fri, March 6 Game 2 Chinese Taipei vs. Korea 6:30pm 4:30am 245 Park Avenue Sat, March 7 Game 3 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 12:30pm 10:30pm (Fri) New York, NY 10167, Sat, March 7 Game 4 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 7pm 5am

Paul Archey, Senior VP, Sun, March 8 Game 5 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 6:30pm 5:30am International Business Operations Mon, March 9 Pool Final Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 6:30pm 5:30am

Broadcast operations POOL B Stadium Mexico City, Mexico Russell Gabay, Vice President Date GAME Match-up local et & Executive Producer Sun, March 8 Game 1 Cuba vs. South Africa 1pm 3pm

Broadcast Sales Sun, March 8 Game 2 vs. Mexico 8pm 10pm Frank Uddo, Vice President, International Broadcasting Mon, March 9 Game 3 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 8pm 10pm Tues, March 10 Game 4 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 8pm 10pm game development Mike McClellan, Program Wed, March 11 Game 5 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 8pm 10pm Manager, Game Development Thurs, March 12 Pool Final Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 7pm 9pm licensing Denis Nolan, Vice President, POOL C Toronto, Canada Licensing Date GAME Match-up local et Sat, March 7 Game 1 Canada vs. USA 2pm 2pm sponsorship & communications Sat, March 7 Game 2 Italy vs. Venezuela 8pm 8pm Dominick Balsamo, Senior Director, Sun, March 8 Game 3 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 8pm 8pm Sponsorship & Communications Mon, March 9 Game 4 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 6:30pm 6:30pm Tues, March 10 Game 5 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser 5pm 5pm World Baseball Classic, Inc. James Pearce, Tournament Wed, March 11 Pool Final Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 6:30pm 6:30pm Director POOL D Stadium San Juan, Regional offices Date GAME Match-up local et Australia & Oceania Sat, March 7 Game 1 Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands 12pm 11am (Phone: +61 2 9238-2292) Sat, March 7 Game 2 Panama vs. Puerto Rico 6pm 5pm Level 57, MLB Centre 19-29 Martin Place Sun, March 8 Game 3 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 4:30pm 4:30pm Sydney, Australia NSW 2000 Mon, March 9 Game 4 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 6:30pm 6:30pm Tom Nicholson, Director Tues, March 10 Game 5 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 6:30pm 6:30pm

china Wed, March 11 Pool Final Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 5pm 5pm (Phone: +86 10 8523-3020) Level is NCL Tower ROUND 2 Double Elimination No. 12 A Jianguomenwai Ave Chaoyang District POOL 1 , California POOL 2 Dolphin Stadium Miami, Beijing, China 100022 Date GAME Match-up local ET Date GAME Match-up local ET Mike Marone, Manager Sun, March 15 Game 1 Pool A Winner vs. Pool B Runner-up 1pm 4pm Sat, March 14 Game 1 Pool C Winner vs. Pool D Runner-up 1pm 1pm Europe, Middle East Sun, March 15 Game 2 Pool B Winner vs. Pool A Runner-up 8pm 11pm Sat, March 14 Game 2 Pool D Winner vs. Pool C Runner-up 8pm 8pm and Africa Mon, March 16 Game 3 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 8pm 11pm Sun, March 15 Game 3 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 7:30pm 7:30pm (Phone: +44 20 7453-7000) Anel House Tues, March 17 Game 4 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 8pm 11pm Mon, March 16 Game 4 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 8pm 8pm 74a Charlotte Street Wed, March 18 Game 5 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 8pm 11pm Tues, March 17 Game 5 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 7pm 7pm London W1T 4QJ, United Kingdom Wed, March 18 Game 6 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 7pm 7pm Clive Russell, Director Thurs, March 19 Game 6 Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 6pm 9pm

japan SEMIFINALS & FINALS Single Elimination (Phone: +81 3 3507-5799) FINALS , California Masonic 39 MT Building SF Date GAME Match-up local et 2-4-5 Azabidai, Minato - Ku Tokyo, Japan 106-0041 Sat, March 21 Semifinal 1 Pool 2 Winner vs. Pool 1 Runner-up 6pm 9pm Jim Small, Managing Director Sun, March 22 Semifinal 2 Pool 1 Winner vs. Pool 2 Runner-up 5pm 8pm and Vice President, Asia Mon, March 23 Final Championship Game 6:30pm 9:30pm

For up-to-date information, please visit: worldbaseballclassic.com

8 The Official International Newsletter of ✯ fall 2008 National Rivalries Set to Heat Up Fall Classic in 2009 World Baseball Classic 'Phan-tastic' he 2008 celebrated many firsts Jason Bay Ichiro Suzuki Jorge Cantu for MLB Clubs, players Name Canto T and fans around the world. The Champion Phillies knocked out the Brewers and Dodgers on their way to defeating a tal- ented, young Champion, the , in the Rays’ first World Series in franchise history. The 2008 postseason pro- vided a veritable showcase of international baseball players. The city of Sydney, Australia enthusiastically watched as their own be- came the first Australian since in 1996 to reach the World Series. Teammates and Carlos Peña earned cheers in their homelands, Japan and the Do- minican Republic, respectively. Panamanian catcher made a lasting impres- sion as his single during the bottom of the ninth inning of Game Three marked the first World Series walk-off by a Phil- lies player ever. Overall, the five-game series concluded a he schedule has been set, tickets South Africa and hometown favorite Team Mexico tak- great season leaving baseball have gone on sale and baseball players ing on Australia. Players on Team U.S.A. will seek to fans everywhere excited for from the 16 participating countries are avenge their 2006 loss to Team Canada in the first game what’s to come in 2009. T eagerly awaiting another chance to repre- matinee at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on March 7, sent their homelands in the hopes of becoming the while Venezuela and Italy have drawn one another for 2009 World Baseball Classic Champions. the nightcap. The Dominican Republic will begin its Defending Tournament Champion Team Japan will quest for the Championship against the Kingdom of the

im a g e s (1) open the second World Baseball Classic against Team Netherlands on Saturday, March 7 in San Juan's Hiram China in the Tokyo Dome on March 5, 2009, followed Bithorn Stadium, while Puerto Rico faces Panama in g ett y by Chinese Taipei taking on 2006 Semi-Finalist Team front of what is sure to be an excited home crowd. Lead- m l b (3); Korea the next day. Fans in Mexico City are already ing off with these initial match-ups, the first two rounds by gearing up for their first day of games on Sunday, March of the tournament will follow a double-elimination

photo s 8, with 2006 Runner-Up Cuba squaring off against format – for the full schedule, see page 8. Baseball Around the World

Behind Every Play, A Nation

The 2009 World Baseball Classic advertising campaign to well as in the Toronto Sun and Toronto Star. Radio spots, tagged with ticket support the November 17 launch of ticket sales for Round 1 consisted of purchase information, were put into heavy rotation in top stations in Toronto. print, radio, online and out-of-home creative elements. English, Spanish Using the tagline “Behind every play, a nation," the campaign evokes the spirit and Japanese language print was placed throughout the venue regions, as of nationalistic competition embodied by the World Baseball Classic.

Mastercard And banco provincial take card holders Fun Fact On May 6, 2008, Dodger short- to the 2008 world series stop Chin-lung Hu and Dodger MasterCard International and member bank, Hong-Chih Kuo be- Banco Provincial – BBVA, ran a World Series came the first two Taiwanese promotion in Venezuela from August 15 through players to consecutively September 28, offering a grand prize trip to in a big league game, adding the 2008 World Series. Targeted specifically to to the long list of Taiwanese card users, the program was heavily promoted “firsts” the club has spawned, by a significant cable and free-to-air TV plan, starting in 2002 when Dodger including during ESPN International broadcasts of outfielder Chin-Feng Chen Major League Baseball games airing in Venezuela. became the first Taiwanese Additional support was provided by print, radio, player in MLB history. statement inserts and POS within bank locations. 2008 player nationalities Arizona Diamondbacks braves Orioles Red sox Cubs Dominican Rep., Australia, Cuba, Canada, Cuba, Canada, Dominican Canada, Dominican Mexico, United Curacao, Dominican Dominican Rep., Rep., Jamaica, Rep., Japan, Puerto States, Venezuela Rep., Germany, Puerto Rico, United Japan, Nicaragua, Rico, United States, Mexico, Panama, States, Venezuela Puerto Rico, Venezuela Puerto Rico, UK, United States, United States, Venezuela 2 Venezuela Game Development

Developing MLB Academies Develop Global Talent Baseball in Delhi This past October, Major League Baseball conducted the first-ever MLB India Coach Certification Course, an introductory course held in New Delhi at Jesus and Mary College. Thirty-three (33) participants attended the course, learning various coaching meth- ods and baseball rules over a morning classroom session and Australian Academy alum, , was the starting 3rd Former MLB All-Star, Barry Larkin, served as lead instructor an afternoon field session. By baseman for the World Team at the 2008 XM All-Star Future Game. at the 2008 European Academy. the end of the clinic, all partici- pants had a deeper understand- he MLB International Academy but finished pitching in Single-A for the , ing of the game and the nuances Program has been a resounding success the first Academy player to go directly from the Gold of coaching technique. T since its inception in Australia in 2001. MLBI Coast to the Minor Leagues. currently operates three Academies dedicated to China Academy helping elite junior players prepare for the rigors of For three weeks this September, MLBI conducted its professional and international baseball – a goal that second China Academy in Wuxi. The Academy's in- has most definitely been achieved, as demonstrated novative coaching methods, based in part on the MLB by the more than 150 Academy graduates who have Fall Instructional League, expose players to special- signed contracts with MLB organizations over the ized training techniques in defensive positions and past eight years. hitting instruction. This year's academy consisted of Australian Academy 59 elite junior players and five Chinese coaches, led The MLB Australian Academy celebrated its ninth year by an MLB staff. in 2008, with 75 players contracted to professional European Academy teams and another 41 playing for U.S. colleges. Brad Fifty-five (55) talented young players from 14 countries Harman, a 2003 Academy grad, made his MLB debut in Africa, Europe and the Middle East recently com- with the World Series Champion pleted training at the European Academy in Tirrenia, on April 22, becoming the 26th Australian to play in Italy. Players received daily coaching from an All-Star the Major Leagues. Luke Hughes and Scott Campbell MLB coaching staff that included Rod Carew, Barry played for the World Team at the All-Star Futures Larkin, Bruce Hurst and Lee Smith. Scouts from 13 Game, and Campbell appears poised to become the MLB Clubs were on hand to evaluate the talent. To first New Zealander to make it to a big league roster. date, 27 European Academy graduates have signed began the 2008 season at the Academy, professional contracts with MLB organizations. The event was organized by Indian baseball representative Anoop Kumar, whose long- term relationship with the par- GRANDERSON JOURNEYS TO FAR EAST ticipants will allow for MLB’s urtis Granderson, center fielder for the instruction to have a lasting Tigers, made his third appearance as an MLB impact. During the course, the C International Ambassador this October when Indian coaches learned to adapt he became the first current MLB player to tour China to pitching instead of promoting the game of baseball. Granderson, who has cricket balls. MLB International represented MLB in Europe (2006) and South Africa (2007), sees great potential in this conducted clinics and appeared on World Series broad- region and has plans for a spe- casts in Shanghai and Beijing , instructing players and cialized course for and Granderson provides hitting instruction to members of the fans on how to make it to the big leagues. Shanghai Eagles, a team in the China Baseball League. catchers in the near future.

2008 player nationalities Chicago Colorado Detroit white sox Reds Indians Rockies Tigers Colombia, Cuba, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Rep., Canada, Dominican Colombia, Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., Indonesia, Japan, Rep., Mexico, Dominican Rep., Mexico, Puerto Mexico, Puerto South Korea, Panama, United Puerto Rico, United Rico, United States, Rico, United States, United States, States, Venezuela States, Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela 3 Marketing & Sponsorship

Banco BHD & MLB: Pepsi Helps Spread Game Across Caribbean A Winning team

his fall, major league baseball and pepsi have teamed up to bring the game of baseball to fans in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. With a plethora of games, prizes and other attractions, T children and adults from these two Caribbean countries gathered to learn more about the sport and their favorite players. Pepsi Sponsors 2008 Major League Baseball Festival in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Home to some of the most passionate baseball fans in the world, the Dominican Re- Banco BHD, the Official Bank of public hosted the MLB Festival this past October in Santo Domingo. MLB partnered MLB in the Dominican Republic, with Pepsi to bring over 10,000 fans to the capital city over the five-day event. Centered ran two exciting promotions in the on the 2008 World Series, Pepsi and MLB tested local fans’ baseball skills in batting first year of its sponsorship, send- cages, a pitching tunnel, a running game and a mini-. ing customers to the All-Star Game In addition, Pepsi and MLB provided live-entertainment, a World Series watch- and World Series. To win a chance party and a car give-away; an interactive video zone, an official MLB store, baseball to attend the 2008 All-Star Game trivia games and other prize give-aways, as well as a Pepsi stage-area where free or the 2008 World Series, fans had drinks were distributed to all who attended. Additional partners on the event included to apply for and activate the newly- Gatorade, Banco BHD and CDN, who, combined with Pepsi, put on a tremendously launched, co-branded MLB Banco successful event. BHD MasterCard. Banco BHD Pepsi Sponsors MLB Pitch, Hit & Competition in Puerto Rico complemented these promotions MLBI once again joined forces with Pepsi to provide youth across Puerto Rico by taking the top players from the with an opportunity to participate in an exciting baseball skills competition. The MLB Dominican Summer League competition spans three weekends in Carolina, Guaynobo and Aguadilla. Top to see the take on three finishers from two age groups (9/10 and 11/12-year olds) will move on to the at Turner Field the National Final in mid-December, where Pepsi, along with other sponsors this summer, where they met cur- T-Mobile, Chrysler, Universal Insurance and El Nuevo Dia, will send two lucky rent All-Stars Jose Reyes, Carlos winners – one in each age group – to the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis. Delgado and David Wright. MLBI Young athlete participates in Pepsi MLB Pitch, Hit and Run. looks forward to more great things to come through this valuable part- nership with Banco BHD. Anheuser-Busch Brings World Series to Panama Frito Lay Joins MLB in Puerto Rico For 2009, MLB has formed a part- nership with Frito-Lay as an Official Sponsor in Puerto Rico. Frito-Lay will be using 10 brands, includ- ing Lays, Tostitos and Doritos, to promote their MLB sponsorship. Major League Baseball will be prominently featured throughout the season on millions of bags of various Frito-Lay brands sold across the island each month.

From August 4 through September 30, Anheuser- exchange for prizes. The campaign focused on a Busch International led a branding campaign grand prize trip to World Series Game Three and throughout Panama promoting their official part- was supported by TV, print and radio. The promo- nership with Major League Baseball. Participants tion received widespread media coverage and turned in bottle crowns at designated centers to increased consumer participation. 2008 player nationalities Florida Kansas city L.a. Angels Los Angeles Marlins Astros Royals of Anaheim Dodgers Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., Australia, Cuba, Canada, Curacao, Mexico, Netherlands, Japan, Mexico, Japan, Mexico, Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., United States, Panama, Puerto United States, Mexico, United Japan, Mexico, Venezuela Rico, United States, Venezuela States, Venezuela South Korea, Venezuela Taiwan, United 4 States Marketing & Sponsorship Marketing & Sponsorship Fans in japan Aoyama and MasterCard Go On Tour eager to pitch, hit & run asterCard International On August 20, MLB Pitch Hit & Japan Inc. partnered with Run visited Japan for a second M Aoyama Capital Co., Ltd. to time, with this year’s event tak- run an exciting promotion for three ing place in Nagaragawa Base- months this Spring. From January ball Stadium. 15 to April 30, Aoyama Sales rep- Over 400 participants ages resentatives signed customers to 7 to 14 were welcomed by Chi- the "Aoyama MasterCard," a new co- cago Cub rookie Kosuke Fuku- branded credit card. dome, who encouraged them to The Aoyama MasterCard Tour enjoy the MLB experience, via proved to be a resounding success, the jumbotron. with nearly 180,000 customers sign- The winners from each age ing up for the new card. In addition, the group won a trip to experience 15 Aoyama sales representatives who an MLB game in May. signed the highest number of new card- This year’s event brought Winning Aoyama sales reps enjoy an MLB game in at Safeco Field. holders won a trip to Seattle to attend in new media partners, Tokai a Major League Baseball game in Seattle at Safeco Field and participate in a stadium tour. Based on TV and CASIO, along with sev- the successful execution of both the campaign and the tour of Seattle and Safeco Field, Aoyama Capital eral local sponsors: Global and MasterCard have already decided to run the campaign again next year. Home, Hoken Soudan Center and Telecom Number 1. Na- tional sponsors Mizuno and Japan Dreams BIGGER in 2008 Sports Authority returned again this year, providing much LB International expanded the tagged advertising in publications targeting chil- excitement in their booths Dream BIG marketing campaign across dren, women and a wide-range of baseball fans. for the participants to enjoy. M Japan in 2008 with strategically-placed In its February 8 issue, Infant, a national free monthly publication targeting mothers, announced open auditions at the MLB Clubhouse Store in Tokyo for readers to win the chance to appear on the cover of the June 13 issue. Orange Page placed Dream BIG ad- vertising alongside editorial pages that focused on MLB products in their February 17 and June 17 issues. Walker, a local community publication distrib- uted in seven major cities, featured Dream BIG advertising, showcasing All-Stars such as David Wright, Ichiro Suzuki and World Series Champion . Sports Graphic Number, Japan’s pre- mier sports magazine, and Monthly Major League, an MLB-licensed magazine, also featured the campaign throughout the season. For the final stage of the campaign, MLBI placed three advertisements featuring MLB merchandise to showcase casual lifestyle products. Several pub- lications, including Orange Page, Como, Seventeen, Hana*chu, Street Jack, Smart and Sports Graphic Num- ber, supported Dream BIG with advertisments and ar- ticles featuring interviews with MLB global licensees Majestic Athletic and New Era Cap Company. 2008 player nationalities Milwaukee Minnesota New York New York Oakland Brewers Twins Mets Yankees Athletics Canada, Canada, Cuba, Cuba, Dominican Aruba, Cuba, Canada, Dominican Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., Rep., Mexico, Dominican Rep., Rep., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Puerto Mexico, Puerto Puerto Rico, Japan, Mexico, United States, Rico, United Rico, United United States, Panama, Puerto Venezuela States, Venezuela States, Venezuela Venezuela Rico, Taiwan, United States, Venezuela 5 Licensing

MLB Goes Mobile Major League MLB Store Opens in China Baseball has partnered with versports Marketing Ltd. introduced Taiwanese li- the first MLB flagship store in China this sum- censee, Smart E mer. The two-floor store is located on a busy Media, to intro- commercial street in Xiamen City and occupies ap- duce MLB team-logoed mobile phones proximately 350 square meters. The first floor show- and accessories. Mobile phones fea- cases a broad range of MLB merchandise, including turing the logos of the Yankees, Dodg- baseball equipment, jerseys, caps, fashion apparel ers and Red Sox were launched over and baseball magazines, while the second floor acts the summer exclusively for distribution as a sports lounge for baseball fans. The MLB store in Taiwan. The mobile phones are avail- has become a unique shopping experience in Xiamen, able in black, gold or silver. attracting both baseball fans as well as consumers interested in the latest fashion trends. Since April MLB now off and 2007, Eversports has opened 55 MLB store locations throughout China and is expecting to open 10 more running in europe locations before the end of 2008. MLB Merchandise displayed in new free-standing store in China MLB has taken a major new step in licensing in Europe with the introduc- tion of an extensive range of footwear “Major League Brands” New Licensee in Australia by Siport. The Italian shoe special- ist will launch the range of casual New licensee, Major League Brands, will be retailing MLB licensed non-replica footwear in Spring 2009 at retailers apparel and headwear in market beginning in November 2008. They will also be the across Europe. new distributor of Majestic replica gear. Now in the sell-in phase of the launch, A-Mart (a national retailer with 78 stores) has signed up for the line and will be featuring it in their summer catalogue. The , , , , Atlanta Braves, and will be featured in the initial line. Road Show A Hit with fans in China The MLB Road Show appeared at the New Era Expands in the UK and Germany 2008 Beijing Chaoyang International Tourism and Culture Festival during ew Era Cap Company Inc., the premier New Era Birmingham and New Era Berlin will China’s golden week holiday. More global headwear designer, developer and feature the broadest and most exclusive selection of than 150,000 visitors participated in N manufacturer, and an MLB licensee, opened New Era headwear in the world. A mixture of designs the various attractions including bat- its second European flagship store in the major UK city will adorn the company’s signature fitted baseball ting, pitching, and T-ball cages where of Birmingham on July 26, 2008. Just weeks after the cap, the 59FIFTY, as well as over 250 adjustable cap participants learned how to throw and one-year anniversary of the London flagship store, styles, and the latest Authentic Collection in the new hit baseballs. New Era now turns its eye to its second major flagship performance fabric material. retail space in the midlands area of England. Corpora- tion Street, one of the busiest streets in the heart of Birmingham's shopping district, offers a haven of retail outlets in a central location of the city centre. The opening of New Era Birmingham was swiftly followed by the opening of a third European flagship store in the German capital of Berlin on August 2, 2008 in the hugely popular area of Hackeschen Market at Spandauer Bricke 7. New Era's second European flagship store in Birmingham, England Visitors stop by to enjoy the MLB Road Show 2008 player nationalities Philadelphia Pittsburgh San Diego St. Louis phillies Pirates Padres Giants Cardinals Australia, Canada, Canada, Dominican Australia, Colombia, Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., Rep., Mexico, Japan, Nicaragua, Japan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Puerto Japan, Mexico, United States, South Korea, United States, Rico, United States, Panama, Puerto Venezuela United States, U.S. Venezuela Venezuela Rico, United States, Virgin Islands, 6 Venezuela Venezuela Licensing Broadcasting New MLB Network TO ESPN and ESPN International Deal Inked Feature the 2009 to broadcast 2009 classic Down Under World Baseball Classic around the world LB Network, which launches in SPN International will broadcast 50 million homes in January 2009, all 39 games of the 2009 tournament out- Major League Baseball has M is set to air 16 games of the 2009 E side of the United States, to 167 countries signed a new broadcast deal World Baseball Classic live this March, along within Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa with Fox Sports in Australia. with a nightly studio show dedicated to the and Australia. Along with international rights, ESPN The contract covers the 2008, world’s premier international baseball tourna- will share U.S. broadcast rights with MLB Network, ’09 and ’10 seasons and includes ment. World Baseball Classic Tonight, which televising 23 games, including the Semi-Final and exclusive coverage of postsea- will debut in late February, will feature high- Final Games, across ESPN and ESPN 2, and on son play. The new deal allows lights, analysis, feature stories and special its Spanish-language platform ESPN Deportes. for an expansion of coverage to reports on the tournament, its teams, play- ESPN’s agreement includes English and Spanish six games per week. ers and coaches. MLB Network also will air radio broadcast rights as well as digital rights, in- In addition to Fox Sports, the World Baseball Classic Selection Show, a cluding the live-streaming of games on ESPN360. ESPN Australia and TV studio show reporting on the announcement com. Stay tuned for agreements with over-the-air New Zealand also broadcast of the rosters. partners worldwide, which will be announced in Major League Baseball in the the coming weeks. Australia/New Zealand region.

meridiano signs on through 2010 MLBI and Meridiano Television in Venezuela have agreed to extend their broadcast part- nership for another two sea- sons. Venezuelan fans will be able to catch MLB games on Meridiano TV through the end of the 2010 season. Fans Across China Catch the World series For the 2009-2010 seasons, Meridiano will be the exclu- ajor league Baseball International China-specific segments. sive over-the-air television reached historic agreements with Shang- MLBI's relationship with broadcaster in the territory. M hai Media Group (SMG) and Beijing Tele- SMG continued through They will telecast eight games vision (BTV) this year to air the games of the 2008 2008, culminating in an per week during the regular World Series. The World Series broadcast on Shang- unforgettable 2008 Fall season as well as the All-Star hai Media Group built upon MLBI's 2007 agreement Classic between the Phil- Game, and all Division Series, and gave MLB continued exposure to tens of millions lies and Rays. League Championship Series of fans in the greater Shanghai area. MLBI also This year, MLBI broadcast the 2008 Fall Classic and World Series games. achieved historic inroads with Beijing Television to in 13 languages to 229 countries and territories air Games One and Two of the World Series on BTV- around the world. These strategic partnerships in 6, Beijing's dedicated sports network. China have provided MLBI the opportunity to deliver MLB's relationship with SMG began in 2007, exciting baseball content to a growing fan base in as SMG broadcasted the 2007 All-Star Game from the world's most populous nations. San Francisco, California. Baseball coverage on SMG continued over the remainder of the 2007 sea- son, with SMG airing weekly Mandarin episodes of "," to which SMG added 2008 player nationalities Seattle texas Tampa Bay Toronto Washington Mariners Rangers Rays Blue Jays Nationals Australia, Canada, Aruba, Dominican Australia, Canada, Dominican Canada, Curacao, Cuba, Curacao, Rep., Japan, Dominican Rep., Rep., United States, Dominican Rep., Dominican Rep., Mexico, Nicaragua, Germany, Japan, Venezuela Mexico, Puerto Japan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, United South Korea, Rico, United States, South Korea, United States, Venezuela United States, Venezuela States, Venezuela Venezuela 7