Photo: IC

Major League Baseball (MLB) will continue to be aired on China's online streaming platform Tencent Video, it was announced Wednesday, despite the diplomatic spat between the two countries.

Tencent Video will offer viewers MLB spring training, the regular season, the All-Star Game and playoffs. 

At least one live MLB game per game day will be featured, the MLB said in a statement with Tencent, with at least 200 live game broadcasts and on-demand offerings available throughout the season.

MLB has been broadcast on Tencent since 2018, and has cultivated a solid baseball fanbase online. 

Another broadcasting deal has also been reached by MLB and Oriental Pearl New Media, allowing the 2021-23 seasons to be shown on cable TV in China. 

A growing number of Chinese kids have been taking up baseball, even though China's national team is underachieving in the sport. 

A baseball-themed documentary called "Tough Out" has earned plaudits for introducing "left-behind" children who have taken up the sport. It was released in December 2020.

Global Times