Elle Duncan defends herself against critics following the issues on Netflix’s MLB Opening night.

Streaming Issues Surround MLB Opening Night on Netflix

Opening night for Major League Baseball brought with it a mix of reactions, a situation that’s all too familiar for Netflix.

The platform faced significant streaming problems during a late 2024 boxing event, particularly with delays during the Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson bout, which also included the Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor fight. This led to Netflix being hit with a hefty $50 million lawsuit regarding its streaming quality.

After broadcasting the Yankees versus Giants for MLB Opening Day, Netflix isn’t in quite the same hot water, but chatter online has been prolific. Elle Duncan, who transitioned to Netflix after a lengthy career at ESPN, discussed the reactions during a recent episode of “Discovering Pablo Torre.”

Critics have highlighted the inclusion of non-baseball characters and the revamped scoring display as two main concerns.

Duncan openly acknowledged the feedback, stating, “Whenever the criticism came, it was so Netflix. It wasn’t for baseball purists.” She clarified, “This wasn’t for baseball purists. You could watch it anywhere. This was for people who were interested in baseball.”

She emphasized that the broadcast efforts are targeting a broader audience, not just the die-hard baseball fans. “A lot of what Netflix is doing in the sports sphere isn’t just for the usual viewers, but also those who might stumble across it, like someone who watched ‘Love Is Blind’ and saw the ‘Opening Day on Netflix’ option,” Duncan explained.

Duncan also pushed back against some critiques, particularly one about missing the first-ever automatic ball strike challenge due to a dugout interview taking place mid-inning. She noted that some fans expected something different from what was presented. “It’s like going to a Mexican restaurant and complaining that they don’t have barbecue,” she said. “They advertise it as a Mexican restaurant. It’s on you for thinking they’d serve barbecue.”

She emphasized that Netflix is unapologetic about its identity: “We’re going to publicize these things and keep people out of the Netflix world. That’s what we’re going to do.”