Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Makes Historic MLB Broadcast Debut

Image credit: Apple

When the Detroit Tigers visited the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday, Apple TV+ closed out its 2025 Friday Night Baseball season with a milestone: iPhones were used as live broadcast cameras in a Major League Baseball game for the first time.

Four iPhone 17 Pro units (in the latest Cosmic Orange of course) were positioned around the ballpark—including the home dugout, inside the Green Monster, and as a roaming handheld—to capture both game action and the fan atmosphere, according to Sports Video Group.

The feeds were directed by Jason Lobb, alongside producer Christopher Bracey, and mixed into the production lineup like any other broadcast camera. A small on-screen graphic alerted viewers when a shot was captured on iPhone.

The integration was powered by the Blackmagic Camera app, with operators adjusting exposure, white balance, and zoom remotely via iPads. The iPhone 17 Pro shot in broadcast-friendly frame rates (1080p/59.94), output an HDMI signal, and was converted to SDI for fiber transmission into the production truck.

Each device was mounted in a Beastgrip cage with USB-C connections to external modules, enabling the phones to fit into a professional live sports workflow.

Apple had quietly tested the setup throughout the season, even slipping a few iPhone shots into last week’s Giants–Dodgers game. Friday’s telecast marked the first full-scale deployment. Of course it was one of the final games of the season to use an iPhone to film part of the game.

The move built on Apple’s track record of production innovation since Friday Night Baseball launched in 2022. Past broadcasts have experimented with drone shots, umpire bodycams, miked-up players, cinematic cameras, and enhanced graphics.

As for the final games of the MLB season? Friday’s Red Sox win clinched their first playoff berth in three years, while Saturday’s Tigers victory locked up at least a Wild Card spot for Detroit.