Major League Baseball Game of The Week - A Games and B Games

A Games and B Games

The A Game is generally the nickname for the baseball game that's broadcasted to approximately 80% of the country. The B Game (also known as the Backup Game) only aired in the participants' home markets. For example, if the Cubs were playing the Cardinals, only the Chicago and St. Louis television markets would get a chance to see the game. The B Game also generally existed as a backup in case of rainouts/delays at the A Game.

Previously (i.e. pre-1980s), NBC typically had the A Game going to most of the country (but not to the markets of the participating teams). While the B Game only went to the home markets of the teams in the A Game. In those days, the TV rules did not allow a market to see its local team play on NBC. However, in situations where the B Game got rained out, the rules would relax.

In the early years of ABC's Monday Night Baseball broadcasts (c. 1976), the rules changed to allow the home market of the A Game's road team to see the A Game. Meanwhile, the A Game's home team got the B Game.

See also: List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market#United_States, List of ABC television affiliates (by U.S. state), List of NBC television affiliates (by U.S. state), List of CBS television affiliates (by U.S. state), and List of Fox television affiliates (by U.S. state)