MLB.tv

[whippoorwill]

Hot Corner said recently and I’ve been mulling it over 

“I went to watch this game on MLB.  I had forgotten that I am blacked out for allWashington Nationals and Baltimore Oriolesgames.  Likely spared me a night of frustration”

I don’t understand how they can black out the teams that are geographically clostest to you and say ‘catch every game’

 

 

 

[Frayed Knot]

If the channel carrying a particular team's games, usually meaning a regional cable outlet rather than just old fashioned over-the-air TV, is available, or potentially available, in a particular area then that area gets blacked via mlb.tv in that region. The idea is to 'protect' that channel (several of which have been on the brink of insolvency lately) by not giving potential subscribers a work-around to paying for the service.

So, for example, a western Pennsylvanian fan can't get Pirates games via MLB.tv because he/she can get them through the Pirates channel. But if that same person is in an area that also has access to the Ohio sports channels then Reds & Guardians games might also be blocked.

[Edgy MD]

It's annoying as liquid poo to me, and I don't really understand why MASN can not find a way to profit from allowing me to see their broadcast through MLB.tv.

[The Hot Corner]

before signing up, check to see what teams they would block you from seeing due to your location.  For me, that block me from any Mets games (home & away) against the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles.  You would likely be blocked for all games against the Philadelphia Phillies  and/or Pittsburgh Pirates.  

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, the real crime of his is the not-quite-in-market teams that wind up on the banned list. That Hot Corner, 230-some miles from D.C. and an additional 40 or so from Baltimore, has those teams blocked on the basis that he could potentially get the MASN network in his area (varying wildly on which cable/satellite packages he does or doesn't subscribe to) reeks of short-sightedness. 'Protecting' MASN in the DMV area is arguably one thing in the attempt to keep regional sports network partners viable. But then extending that umbrella all the way out to eastern N.C. and therefore placing him square in the Nats/Orioles 'fan base' because those are the closest teams to him goes way overboard in the idea to keep MASN from potentially losing some of 'their' customers.

[Gwreck]

7 hours ago, Edgy MD said:

It's annoying as liquid poo to me, and I don't really understand why MASN can not find a way to profit from allowing me to see their broadcast through MLB.tv.

SNY started in-market streaming last year through the MLB.tv app….seems like something any other network could do too.

[Frayed Knot]

But in-market streaming is a different situation.

Here, both Edgy and Hot Corner are paying for NYM games via mlb.tv but are getting blacked out of more than 10% of them*: all 14 Nats games (used to be 18) plus three more vs the O's (was occasionally six). 

 

 

* with network and 'alternate' platform games included, it's around 11-12% (17 of 150?) or around one game in eight. And of course with no discount for the missed telecasts.

[Gwreck]

9 hours ago, Frayed Knot said:

.Here, both Edgy and Hot Corner are paying for NYM games via mlb.tv but are getting blacked out of more than 10% of them

Except they’re not paying for the in-market games.  MLB.tv has always been advertised as providing access to out-of-market games only.

if MASN would sell them in-market streaming (the way SNY does) then they’d have easier access to those 17 games.

(This clarification is not an endorsement of MLB’s broadcast strategy.

[Edgy MD]

[Cowtipper]

It's about time for it to go on sale for $69.99 if anyone is interested. Last year it went on sale on 5/11.

[Chad ochoseis]

You're saying I could have missed the past six weeks of crap baseball AND saved eighty dollars???

[The Hot Corner]

53 minutes ago, Chad ochoseis said:

You're saying I could have missed the past six weeks of crap baseball AND saved eighty dollars???

My thoughts exactly.

[Cowtipper]

Usually for me, the season really starts in May for that reason. I don't wanna pay the full amount, so all I have to get me by until it goes on sale are clips on Mets.com.