MLB’s in-game ads make it clear who MLB cares about… and it’s not the fans

Writer Dan Secatore criticizes Major League Baseball and TBS for prioritizing corporate advertisers over viewer experience during key playoff moments. He highlights an incident during Game 6 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians, where a critical third-inning rally was interrupted by an in-game advertisement for Zoom featuring Kate McKinnon instead of game analysis.

Secatore argues that MLB views fans as products to be sold to advertisers and corporate partners rather than valued consumers. He claims this commercial focus, along with broadcast fragmentation and gambling sponsorships, demonstrates that Commissioner Rob Manfred and team owners prioritize corporate revenue over fan interests.