Netflix has scored an exclusive deal to broadcast the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Japan, hitting a home run into the domestic streaming market. Its unprecedented deal has sent shockwaves in the industry, which is set to redefine the landscape of sports broadcasting in the country. The premium streaming service is well-known for its robust entertainment content, and with this move into live sports streaming, it's engaging in diversification against its competitors.

Sports, particularly baseball, hold a profound place in Japanese culture. In that context, Netflix securing exclusive streaming rights to the WBC is a big deal. Baseball fans, who have traditionally relied on conventional cable TV for watching games, may now make a shift towards online platforms. Additionally, exclusivity rights mean the competition among streaming platforms is likely to heat up.

In the US or EU, sports rights are often divided among cable networks and several streaming services. This allows games to be accessible on various platforms. Netflix's coup of exclusive rights in Japan indicates the company's unique strategy for this market, different from the usual distribution practices in the West.