A New Era for Independent League Baseball
The American Association of Professional Baseball, a Partner League of Major League Baseball, has built a reputation as a fertile ground for talent, with 483 of its players advancing to affiliated baseball and 60 alumni earning spots on MLB rosters.
In 2026 the league will kick off its Game of the Week on Thursday, marking the most extensive broadcast slate in its history.
Strategic Reach Beyond the Midwest
The broadcast will be carried on a suite of regional networks — including NBC Regional Sports Networks, Marquee Sports Network, NESN, Sportsnet Pittsburgh and Silver State Sports Network — and will also stream on the Unbeaten Sports App.
Through Unbeaten’s linear channels, fans can tune in via Samsung TV+, Prime Video, DAZN and more than 30 additional platforms across the United States and abroad, a move designed to pull viewers out of the league’s traditional Midwest footprint.
Commissioner Joshua Schaub said the partnership reflects the league’s ambition to double its audience, projecting growth from ten million viewers in 2025 to over twenty million next year.
The expanded distribution not only broadens exposure but also underscores the league’s role as a development hub, highlighted by the Kane County Cougars’ recent Baseball Champions League title.
With games now reaching into Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia through digital partners, the American Association is positioning itself as a truly international showcase for independent baseball.