MLB.TV...what the hell is the point?

[clint g]

So today I decided to look into MLB.TV. Because I'm usually on the go, I was interstellar in a subscription so that I could watch games on my laptop or on my phone.

Imagine my surprise that they have blackouts in your home region; meaning that I can't watch the Yankees in NYC. What is the point of having something like this when you can't even watch your hometown team when you want, where ever you are???

Suffice it to say, MLB just lost out on 120 bucks.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ They probably figure that since the NYC area has its own network for the Yankees (YES), everyone would just watch that.

 

[clint g]

^ They probably figure that since the NYC area has its own network for the Yankees (YES), everyone would just watch that.

Assuming you're at home and have access to a TV. There are many occasions where I find myself with my smart phone and not a TV. Or using another example, Im at a hotel right now in Albany since I need to go to a conference. The hotel doesn't carry YES but I'm still in the freaking blackout zone. While not an issue right now since the game is on ESPN, it's still stupid.

 

[Canadave]

I don't have cable, so I wanted to buy MLB.tv to watch the Jays, but they're blacked out in all of Canada. It's stupid, and a good way for them to lose out on getting my money. It's a great way to encourage piracy, as well, by taking away the legal option for the people most inclined to use it.

 

[Skywalker]

The only baseball team in Canada is blacked out in the whole country?!

 

[Starbreaker]

MLB.tv is designed for people who live outside the market. They make it very clear before you buy it that you can't get your local team.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Also they black out the ESPN and Fox broadcasts, plus the postseason.

And by "black out" I mean delay, not eliminate altogether. You can still see these games, just not live.

FWIW, AppleTV owners (the second generation model) can now watch MLB.TV games. I find this massively useful.

 

[clint g]

MLB.tv is designed for people who live outside the market. They make it very clear before you buy it that you can't get your local team.

Which doesn't make it less retarded.

 

[Canadave]

The only baseball team in Canada is blacked out in the whole country?!

Yup. Since Rogers owns the TV rights for all of Canada, the Jays are considered your "local" team regardless of how far away from Toronto you are.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Wonder if this would have been different in the days of the Expos...

 

[DeafPoet]

It is totally useless to most people but it's not surprising considering how byzantine MLB broadcast rights are. The broadcasters actually purchasing these rights should really be offering streaming of their own accord. You'd think they could make money doing it.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If it's Rogers' fault that all Jays games are blacked out from MLB.TV, do they at least broadcast all of said games on cable?

 

[DeafPoet]

Yep. All 162 of them. A few are exclusive to their premium channel though.

 

[Canadave]

It is totally useless to most people but it's not surprising considering how byzantine MLB broadcast rights are. The broadcasters actually purchasing these rights should really be offering streaming of their own accord. You'd think they could make money doing it.

Well, Sportsnet won't be doing that anytime soon. They're a cheapass channel.

And I'm not spending the money on cable just for baseball, myself. Hockey and football I can stream legally online, so why the hell not baseball?

 

[Scout101]

Completely worthless product, if the team you follow is actually anywhere near you. I mean, if you live in California and watch the Red Sox, it's probably great. If you live in New England and like the Sox, though, it's retarded.

I get it for free as part of a Red Sox Nation thing (part of a ticket package I buy), and the only times I want to use is is when I'm at work, vacation, or travel for work. You know, when i can't watch it on TV. But because my credit card says I'm in New England, the blackout rules kick in and block it, to try and get me to watch it on TV. WTF? I've got a 46" HDTV, why would I watch it on my laptop or phone if I was at home?

So pretty much the only times you would WANT to use it, it's useless. Unless your favorite team is out of your local market, don't waste the time/money. Could be a GREAT product, and they go out of their way to kill the usefulness of it to a majority of potential customers...

 

[Starbreaker]

My advice is to get Dish Network and use the Sling function.

 

[tomalak301]

Completely worthless product, if the team you follow is actually anywhere near you. I mean, if you live in California and watch the Red Sox, it's probably great. If you live in New England and like the Sox, though, it's retarded.

I get it for free as part of a Red Sox Nation thing (part of a ticket package I buy), and the only times I want to use is is when I'm at work, vacation, or travel for work. You know, when i can't watch it on TV. But because my credit card says I'm in New England, the blackout rules kick in and block it, to try and get me to watch it on TV. WTF? I've got a 46" HDTV, why would I watch it on my laptop or phone if I was at home?

So pretty much the only times you would WANT to use it, it's useless. Unless your favorite team is out of your local market, don't waste the time/money. Could be a GREAT product, and they go out of their way to kill the usefulness of it to a majority of potential customers...

It's also good if you follow the sport and don't want to just follow your team. I mean this last year I ended up getting NHL Gamecenter Live even though I live about 30 minutes north of San Jose (And my favorite team is the Sharks). I just loved following the game and it was a well worth the price purchase, despite all the blackout restrictions. Also, with the influx of fantasy games, the service is good to keep track of your fantasy team, even though one could do that easily with free live scoring on the services now. Still, if you really really love the sport, I could see one getting it just for that reason.

 

[Starbreaker]

Yeah, most people I know that have it like to watch the other teams. I would get it if it wasn't so dadgum expensive. I'm fine with the free game that show every day. I'll watch just about any NL game if it's on TV.

 

[Kirby]

Too expensive for me, plus I'd probably just sit and watch baseball all the time given the chance and completely ignore my family. That's B.S. that they black out local games, but I'm sure contracts are written to make it that way.
There is a pretty cool (and free) app for MLB.com for the iPhone, I use that to keep up with scores and game progress when I'm at work or otherwise away from my TV.

 

[Starbreaker]

I mentioned this once in another thread and was pretty much called an idiot, but you can look it up. If you live in Iowa, you can't get the Twins, Royals, White Sox, Brewers, Cubs, and Cardinals. Ridiculous.