Ken Burns Getting PBS to Stream His 'Baseball' Documentary Series for Free is a Godsend for Fans
By Michael Luciano
The coronavirus pandemic across the world has forced the sports world to grind to a halt as the entire country prepares to reduce social contact to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Fortunately, baseball fans currently hunkering down in their homes have been blessed by filmmaker Ken Burns, the creator of the immortal documentary series "Baseball." Burns and PBS have announced that the nine-part documentary can be streamed for free in its entirety. With no baseball for a while, this is the next best thing.
With events canceled & so much closed, I asked @PBS to stream BASEBALL for free so we can participate in the national pastime together. Watch at the link below or on any streaming device. And please look out for those with greater needs. Play ball. @MLB https://t.co/WaQLSpeYkF pic.twitter.com/QYp1XE0SLC
— Ken Burns (@KenBurns) March 15, 2020
The documentary was released in 1994, with an updated tenth episode made in 2010. Even after all this time, it remains an impressively rich look at the history of America's pastime dating back to the late 19th century.
(Hopefully, PBS finds a way for Canadian viewers to also experience this game-changing documentary, as the film is currently geolocked and unable to be seen by those north of the border. What's good, CBC?)
Hi Ken, thank you. Your friends in Canada don’t have access; PBS, can you remove your regional restrictions?
— Oly Backstrom (@OlyBackstrom) March 15, 2020
If you haven't seen this documentary yet, it's perhaps the most comprehensive and well-produced one on the market when it comes to telling a detailed story of our national pastime's history. With the entire world currently staying inside as much as possible, now is as good a time as any to watch it.