THIS BASEBALL SEASON, I DECIDED that it was time to pull the plug on my cable tv subscription and instead opt for MLB.tv to watch my local Angels battle it out for another A.L. West title. My new setup consists of a $120 subscription to MLB.tv, $100 for a Roku box that allows me to stream online games to my tv, and a $30 over-the-air antenna to pick up local channels for both FOX11 and KCOP13 baseball broadcasts. For all that planning, boy, did I get a rude awakening on Opening Day a couple of weeks ago. Not only did MLB & ESPN blackout the Yankees/Boston opener nationwide (though you could watch it on ESPN3), but I realized after reading the fine print that I would be blacked out from watching my Angels LIVE.
While some fans are very much aware of MLB's blackout policy that prohibits users from watch ing LIVE, in-market games, the majority of fans aren't aware of this arcane restriction. For $120, most fans expect to be able to watch their local teams play LIVE. In fact, I would gladly pay the $120 to watch ONLY Angels and Dodger games. Unfortunately, I was one of the duped. As a result, I'm forced to watch archived games 90 minutes (yes, nine-zero) after their conclusion. That means that if an Angels games ends at 10 PM, I must wait until 11:30 PM to begin watching it. For most fans, 11:30 PM is bedtime, NOT prime time — at least not that same day.
So, without cable or satellite, I quickly came to the conclusion that MLB.tv does NOT replace cable or satellite, where I can watch an additional 130 odd games on FoxSportsNet, but instead serves as a supplemental tool for those who wish to follow teams outside their market area. Anyone considering buying MLB.tv, should seriously consider this.
However, where it doesn't seem fair is that MLB.tv inadvertently rewards fans who live outside their team's market area, rather than the majority of fans who live in the same market as their favorite team. So, an Angels fan in New York can watch every single game live on MLB.tv (except when they play the Yankees or Mets), but an Angels fan in L.A. cannot watch any of their live games (nor the Dodgers) on MLB.tv because he lives in the Angels' and Dodgers' market area. This silliness is just one reason why the blackout policy is bad for MLB. The whole MLB blackout controversy is well documented on the web, so I won't go into that, but what I did want to share is how many games an Angels fan can watch up until the end of prime time, both live and archived.
In taking a closer look at the Angels 2010 Broadcast Schedule, WITHOUT cable/satellite, here 's the breakdown for watching LIVE Angels games:
KCOP13 (26 games)
FOX11 (6 games)
ESPN3 (2 games online)
That's a total of 34 games or 21%. Paltry to say the least.
Then, I remembered that since the Angels play at least 23 day games on FSN and at least 2 day games on MLB.tv (starting by 1:10 PM), this means that these games will most likely be archived by MLB.tv before 7 PM prime time, give or take a 17-inning nailbiter. Awesome. I could fire up the archive version and watch the game after dinner and still make it to bed on time. So, in terms of prime time or LIVE viewing, I can watch a total of 57 games (2 other games on FSN have start times pending).
So, 57 games or 35%. Not happy, but I'll take it for now.
But there's a big caveat as I write this. Currently, Roku has had numerous issues delaying the launch of their MLB Channel, now already two weeks into the season. So right now, it's either wait for those rare KCOP13 broadcasts or FOX's Saturday Baseball Game of the Week or watching games via my desktop or laptop. As much as I love watching baseball every day during the regular season, perhaps a longing makes the heart grow fonder.
Now, I could resubscribe to cable for 6 months and pay $300 just to follow every Angels game or stick with my current setup and watch 35% of the games at $120. In this current economy, it's a no brainer as on those blackout dates, I can immerse myself in the art of listening to baseball on radio, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with Terry Smith in the booth.
2010 Angels Baseball TV Schedule
----------------------------------------------------
MLB.TV EXCLUSIVE Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6/20 CHC (TBD)
8/22 MIN 11:10 AM
9/19 TB 10:40 AM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FSN Cable/Satellite Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/11 OAK 12:35 PM
4/13 NYY 10:05 AM
4/14 NYY 10:05 AM
4/17 TOR 10:07 AM
4/18 TOR 10:07 AM
4/25 NYY 12:35 PM
5/1 DET 10:05 AM
5/2 DET 10:05 AM
5/22 STL 11:15 AM
5/31 KC 11:10 AM
6/3 KC 11:10 AM
6/6 SEA 1:10 PM
6/10 OAK 12:35 PM
6/18 CHC 11:20 AM
6/19 CHC 10:05 AM
6/27 COL 12:35 PM
7/8 CWS 11:05 AM
7/21 NYY 10:05 AM
7/28 BOS 12:35 PM
8/11 KC 12:35 PM
8/25 TB 12:35 PM
9/26 CWS 12:35 PM
9/29 OAK (TBD)
10/3 TEX 12:05 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FOX Channel 11 (6 games)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/24 NYY
5/29 SEA
6/5 SEA
8/21 MIN
9/4 OAK
9/11 SEA
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ESPN3 (2 games free online viewing)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5/3 BOS
7/4 KC
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KCOP Channel 13 (26 games)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/2 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
4/7 Wed MIN 7:00 PM
4/11 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
4/18 Sun TOR 10:00 AM
4/25 Sun NYY 12:30 PM
5/9 Sun SEA 1:00 PM
5/16 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
5/23 Sun STL 11:00 AM
5/30 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
6/11 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
6/12 Sat LAD 7:00 PM
6/13 Sun LAD 1:00 PM
6/23 Wed LAD 7:00 PM
6/24 Thu LAD 7:00 PM
7/3 Sat KC 6:00 PM
7/11 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
7/18 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
7/25 Sun TEX 5:00 PM
8/1 Sun TEX 12:30 PM
8/8 Sun DET 10:00 AM
8/15 Sun TOR 12:30 PM
8/29 Sun BAL 12:30 PM
9/5 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
9/12 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
9/18 Sat TB 4:00 PM
9/25 Sat CWS 6:00 PM
While some fans are very much aware of MLB's blackout policy that prohibits users from watch ing LIVE, in-market games, the majority of fans aren't aware of this arcane restriction. For $120, most fans expect to be able to watch their local teams play LIVE. In fact, I would gladly pay the $120 to watch ONLY Angels and Dodger games. Unfortunately, I was one of the duped. As a result, I'm forced to watch archived games 90 minutes (yes, nine-zero) after their conclusion. That means that if an Angels games ends at 10 PM, I must wait until 11:30 PM to begin watching it. For most fans, 11:30 PM is bedtime, NOT prime time — at least not that same day.
So, without cable or satellite, I quickly came to the conclusion that MLB.tv does NOT replace cable or satellite, where I can watch an additional 130 odd games on FoxSportsNet, but instead serves as a supplemental tool for those who wish to follow teams outside their market area. Anyone considering buying MLB.tv, should seriously consider this.
However, where it doesn't seem fair is that MLB.tv inadvertently rewards fans who live outside their team's market area, rather than the majority of fans who live in the same market as their favorite team. So, an Angels fan in New York can watch every single game live on MLB.tv (except when they play the Yankees or Mets), but an Angels fan in L.A. cannot watch any of their live games (nor the Dodgers) on MLB.tv because he lives in the Angels' and Dodgers' market area. This silliness is just one reason why the blackout policy is bad for MLB. The whole MLB blackout controversy is well documented on the web, so I won't go into that, but what I did want to share is how many games an Angels fan can watch up until the end of prime time, both live and archived.
In taking a closer look at the Angels 2010 Broadcast Schedule, WITHOUT cable/satellite, here 's the breakdown for watching LIVE Angels games:
KCOP13 (26 games)
FOX11 (6 games)
ESPN3 (2 games online)
That's a total of 34 games or 21%. Paltry to say the least.
Then, I remembered that since the Angels play at least 23 day games on FSN and at least 2 day games on MLB.tv (starting by 1:10 PM), this means that these games will most likely be archived by MLB.tv before 7 PM prime time, give or take a 17-inning nailbiter. Awesome. I could fire up the archive version and watch the game after dinner and still make it to bed on time. So, in terms of prime time or LIVE viewing, I can watch a total of 57 games (2 other games on FSN have start times pending).
So, 57 games or 35%. Not happy, but I'll take it for now.
But there's a big caveat as I write this. Currently, Roku has had numerous issues delaying the launch of their MLB Channel, now already two weeks into the season. So right now, it's either wait for those rare KCOP13 broadcasts or FOX's Saturday Baseball Game of the Week or watching games via my desktop or laptop. As much as I love watching baseball every day during the regular season, perhaps a longing makes the heart grow fonder.
Now, I could resubscribe to cable for 6 months and pay $300 just to follow every Angels game or stick with my current setup and watch 35% of the games at $120. In this current economy, it's a no brainer as on those blackout dates, I can immerse myself in the art of listening to baseball on radio, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with Terry Smith in the booth.
2010 Angels Baseball TV Schedule
----------------------------------------------------
MLB.TV EXCLUSIVE Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6/20 CHC (TBD)
8/22 MIN 11:10 AM
9/19 TB 10:40 AM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FSN Cable/Satellite Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/11 OAK 12:35 PM
4/13 NYY 10:05 AM
4/14 NYY 10:05 AM
4/17 TOR 10:07 AM
4/18 TOR 10:07 AM
4/25 NYY 12:35 PM
5/1 DET 10:05 AM
5/2 DET 10:05 AM
5/22 STL 11:15 AM
5/31 KC 11:10 AM
6/3 KC 11:10 AM
6/6 SEA 1:10 PM
6/10 OAK 12:35 PM
6/18 CHC 11:20 AM
6/19 CHC 10:05 AM
6/27 COL 12:35 PM
7/8 CWS 11:05 AM
7/21 NYY 10:05 AM
7/28 BOS 12:35 PM
8/11 KC 12:35 PM
8/25 TB 12:35 PM
9/26 CWS 12:35 PM
9/29 OAK (TBD)
10/3 TEX 12:05 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FOX Channel 11 (6 games)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/24 NYY
5/29 SEA
6/5 SEA
8/21 MIN
9/4 OAK
9/11 SEA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN3 (2 games free online viewing)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5/3 BOS
7/4 KC
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KCOP Channel 13 (26 games)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/2 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
4/7 Wed MIN 7:00 PM
4/11 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
4/18 Sun TOR 10:00 AM
4/25 Sun NYY 12:30 PM
5/9 Sun SEA 1:00 PM
5/16 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
5/23 Sun STL 11:00 AM
5/30 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
6/11 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
6/12 Sat LAD 7:00 PM
6/13 Sun LAD 1:00 PM
6/23 Wed LAD 7:00 PM
6/24 Thu LAD 7:00 PM
7/3 Sat KC 6:00 PM
7/11 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
7/18 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
7/25 Sun TEX 5:00 PM
8/1 Sun TEX 12:30 PM
8/8 Sun DET 10:00 AM
8/15 Sun TOR 12:30 PM
8/29 Sun BAL 12:30 PM
9/5 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
9/12 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
9/18 Sat TB 4:00 PM
9/25 Sat CWS 6:00 PM
Same thing happened to me too. I contacted "support" and asked for a refund. We have no options for watching the games w/o cable, as our Atlanta Braves games are only carried by cable channels and not local ones. Even if they were on local channels, we live outside of the ATL area in the uppermost part of GA near the TN line (near Chattanooga) and can't get any of the ATL channels. Total rip-off at $120!!! They need to make the blackout information more clear. I wrongly assumed that since this was an MLB-sponsored channel, they would have the rights to the games.
ReplyDeleteJan, it sounds like you are one of the few in that "no man's land" -- outside of the local ATL area, yet technically within the Braves' MLB.tv region. That's extremely frustrating. It really is disappointing that the networks/MLB contracts have the stipulation of exclusive broadcasting rights to live games. I understand that $10-90 million per year is hard for teams to turn down from the networks. Money speaks the loudest in this case and the consumer is the one who loses out. Yet, you, too, can speak with your wallet.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just out in no-man's land... I'm blacked out of Braves coverage on MLB.tv in Birmingham as well. The blackout area for the Braves is ridiculously huge because it's the only Southern team (Texas and Florida being their own geographic regions, imho).
ReplyDeleteClay, are you unable to get Braves coverage on local or cable in Birmingham (Alabama?)? If so, you would be in one of those areas where the Braves management would probably want to know about and therefore make an exception. I would contact MLB.tv if you haven't already tried to see if they will lift the blackout in your area.
ReplyDeleteI live in eastern Iowa, here we are blacked out from Twins, Cubs, White Sox, Brewers, Cardinals, and Royals games. It only rubs salt in the wound that I live 5 hours from the closest stadium. Last year I bought a proxy service for $30/year that did the trick quite nicely for watching on my computer. Unfortunately that does not fix watching games on my iPod, PS3, and other computer.
ReplyDelete