It’s unlikely the rebuilding Boston Red Sox will be favored to win the World Series — or even the American League East — in 2024, but they will be getting the star treatment nonetheless.
Netflix announced Wednesday it is partnering with Major League Baseball to produce two Red Sox-focused projects this season.
One project is a “Hard Knocks”-style docuseries that will give what Netflix calls “unprecedented access” to team players and personnel throughout the season and will air in 2025.
The second is a look back to the 2004 Red Sox season to mark the 20th anniversary of the team’s first World Series championship in 86 years. It will include exclusive interviews with key participants from the team.
“The partnership between MLB, Netflix and the Red Sox will have a significant impact on growing the game of baseball,” Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said. “The reach of Netflix is profound and these docuseries are ambitious. One will relive one of the most magical stories that forever changed this franchise, and the other is a truly groundbreaking endeavor that will provide an inside look at the lives and personalities of today’s Red Sox players.”
This is Netflix’s venture into MLB after success with other sports. It already has partnered with the NFL, Formula One, the PGA Tour, FIFA and other leagues for programming such as “Quarterback” and “Formula 1: Drive To Survive.”
To Netflix executives, the stories of the Red Sox will make good viewing.
“Our fans love that our sports series focus on the drama of sport, and nothing was more dramatic than the 2004 Red Sox season, especially having witnessed their comeback from the bleachers during Game 7 against the Yankees,” said Gabe Spitzer, vice president, nonfiction sports of Netflix. “We’re thrilled to partner with this iconic franchise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the greatest sports comeback ever, while also looking forward to the team’s future with inside access to their 2024 campaign.”
–Field Level Media