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**Netflix Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Japan, Sparks Controversy with WBC Exclusive Streaming Deal**

**Tokyo, Japan –** Netflix marked its 10th anniversary in Japan with a celebratory event held at Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo, on September 4th. Co-CEO Greg Peters, formerly the head of Netflix Japan, addressed attendees in fluent Japanese, reflecting on the company’s growth and outlining its future focus on live sports streaming.

The anniversary event follows Netflix’s August 26th announcement that it had secured exclusive streaming rights for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). This announcement has ignited a debate, particularly among sports media outlets, who fear that limiting access to the WBC will harm baseball’s popularity, especially among children who previously had access through free, over-the-air broadcasts.

During an interview on TV Tokyo’s “World Business Satellite” on the night of the anniversary event, Peters was directly questioned about whether the WBC games would be exclusively available to Netflix subscribers. Peters confirmed definitively that access would be limited to paying subscribers, dismissing any possibility of free access or alternative broadcast methods.

The debate centers on the accessibility of the WBC and its potential impact on the sport’s popularity. Critics argue that the widespread viewership of the WBC on terrestrial TV contributed to its success in 2023.

Netflix’s defense points to the viewership figures for the Japan Series, which did not see a significant increase in the two years following the WBC excitement. While the 2023 Japan Series saw an increase in the average personal viewership compared to 2021 and 2022, it did not reach an all time high in 2024, suggesting the popularity of the WBC did not have long term effect on the domestic baseball viewership. The company seems determined to capitalize on its investment in exclusive streaming rights.

The controversy underscores the tension between traditional media access and the evolving landscape of streaming services, as Netflix doubles down on live sports and the fight for exclusive broadcast rights heats up.

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