Battle Over Taiwanese Baseball Broadcasting Rights Proves the Whole World is Desperate for Any Form of Live Sports
By Jerry Trotta
While there's no denying the importance of quarantine -- flattening the curve of the coronavirus pandemic is obviously paramount right now-- it's becoming increasingly difficult to do so without live sports.
Even casual sports fans have been spending this extended period of social distancing by rewatching classic fixtures of yesteryear. At the same time, they've been dealt countless buzzkills that often feature the further postponement of major leagues.
In another example that proves the entire world is desperate for any form of live sports, there is actually a battle transpiring between TV networks from the United States, Japan, and Australia for the international broadcasting rights of the Taiwanese baseball league, the only game in town these days.
According to the #CPBL commissioner, TV networks from Japan, USA and Australia are currently in talks with the Taiwanese league for the international broadcasting rights. ? pic.twitter.com/Uqcw1OSeIo
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 16, 2020
This is what it's come to, and we seriously doubt that any privileged sports junkies out there would complain if the Chinese Professional Baseball League suddenly became available to watch.
Even if folks aren't tuned in for nine innings, at least there would be some form of live competition to resort to for a little bit. And no, this isn't us endorsing the NBA's brutal "HORSE" competition.
May we present to you the first home run that counted anywhere in the year 2020:
First professional game in Taiwan. #CPBL No fans. But at least they made enough progress to return. This is first HR anywhere in 2020. pic.twitter.com/mzi3sZN21A
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) April 13, 2020
Baseball! It still exists.
This is us stating that we sincerely hope that the un-named US television networks emerge victorious in this broadcasting rights duel. We need live baseball in the worst way.