4 ms·

This is an area where MLB is way ahead of the rest. There was even a nice article linked here a while ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9416565 https://

by wrsh07 11y ago

This is an area where MLB is way ahead of the rest. There was even a nice article linked here a while ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9416565 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9416565

happycube 11y ago
Yup... to the point where (as mentioned before) MLB is running HBO Now. (HBO's attempt at doing it inhouse with a bunch of ex-Microsoft peeps failed...)
slg 11y ago
The problem is that like a lot of other streaming content, sports has to follow archaic rules designed to protect the broadcasters. Specifically for MLB, you are not able to stream any game from your local market's team(s). This nullifies the biggest market who would be interested in streaming games.
- jonknee 11y ago
  The funny thing is they actually stream the local broadcasts (you choose which one you want) and then cut out the commercials. If they showed the commercials I don't see how it's different than watching locally on TV, except there's even more money involved because you paid a lot more than the carriage fee for MLB.tv. It's even a nice compliment to watching it on TV because you can watch on a mobile device. ESPN lets you stream stuff if you have a cable subscription, but you can't stream local games with MLB.tv regardless of your cable subscription.
  - kodablah 11y ago
    "If they showed the commercials I don't see how it's different than watching locally on TV..." I have always wondered about this. I have to assume television broadcasters (e.g. the regional Fox Sports networks) who pay billions over decades to have broadcast rights want to protect their hegemony on TV. But in general you would think that they could sell their advertisers on the fact they are also being viewed by online subscribers. Maybe the advertisers don't want their otherwise local commercials broadcast, but then that doesn't explain why I can watch commercials when I watch a regional channel from another state. "ESPN lets you stream stuff if you have a cable subscription, but you can't stream local games with MLB.tv regardless of your cable subscription." But ESPN doesn't really let you stream local stuff of the US's big 4 leagues. It is unfair to compare the professional sports streaming options of ESPN3, Fox Sports Go, NBCSN, etc with those of the 4 leagues considering that none of the broadcasters can broadcast ANY games, much less be blackout-stricken.
- frankbattaglia 11y ago
  I was always under the impression that those rules were designed to protect the venues, not the broadcasters. I.e., if you're local and want to watch the game, you should come to the ballpark and watch it live. As I recall, there was a time when a game would be blacked out on local broadcast as well if the stadium wasn't sold out.
  - remarkEon 11y ago
    Since baseball stadiums rarely sellout (unless you're AT&T Park) I think it's more to protect the broadcast agreements with whatever local cable network it is that caries the game. The NFL used to have agreements like the one you mentioned, where the game was blacked out unless the stadium sells out - but I think they got told they couldn't do that anymore.
    - frankbattaglia 11y ago
      I did a bit of reading and apparently it varies by sport. I.e., the NFL blackouts work as I understood them to protect the stadiums, but the MLB and NHL blackouts work differently and are designed to protect the local broadcasters. TIL.
  - slg 11y ago
    Maybe initially, but the markets carved out are so huge to make attending a game from most of the market impractical. For example, Iowa is in the local market for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins. [1] That means that people in Iowa on any given night might only be able to watch 9 of the 15 games on MLB.tv. [1] - http://deadspin.com/mlbs-awful-blackout-rules-are-finally-under-attack-in-c-1683259431 http://deadspin.com/mlbs-awful-blackout-rules-are-finally-un...
rplst8 11y ago
Their customer support is top notch too. I had noticed a video quality issue after the All-Star break and at first, figured it was just some crappy old standard definition cameras at one of the baseball parks. When it continued to the next location, I realized something else was up. I emailed MLB.tv support and they had the problem fixed during the game in about 20 minutes.

by wrsh07 11y ago

This is an area where MLB is way ahead of the rest. There was even a nice article linked here a while ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9416565 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9416565

happycube 11y ago

Yup... to the point where (as mentioned before) MLB is running HBO Now. (HBO's attempt at doing it inhouse with a bunch of ex-Microsoft peeps failed...)

slg 11y ago

The problem is that like a lot of other streaming content, sports has to follow archaic rules designed to protect the broadcasters. Specifically for MLB, you are not able to stream any game from your local market's team(s). This nullifies the biggest market who would be interested in streaming games.

jonknee 11y ago
The funny thing is they actually stream the local broadcasts (you choose which one you want) and then cut out the commercials. If they showed the commercials I don't see how it's different than watching locally on TV, except there's even more money involved because you paid a lot more than the carriage fee for MLB.tv. It's even a nice compliment to watching it on TV because you can watch on a mobile device. ESPN lets you stream stuff if you have a cable subscription, but you can't stream local games with MLB.tv regardless of your cable subscription.
- kodablah 11y ago
  "If they showed the commercials I don't see how it's different than watching locally on TV..." I have always wondered about this. I have to assume television broadcasters (e.g. the regional Fox Sports networks) who pay billions over decades to have broadcast rights want to protect their hegemony on TV. But in general you would think that they could sell their advertisers on the fact they are also being viewed by online subscribers. Maybe the advertisers don't want their otherwise local commercials broadcast, but then that doesn't explain why I can watch commercials when I watch a regional channel from another state. "ESPN lets you stream stuff if you have a cable subscription, but you can't stream local games with MLB.tv regardless of your cable subscription." But ESPN doesn't really let you stream local stuff of the US's big 4 leagues. It is unfair to compare the professional sports streaming options of ESPN3, Fox Sports Go, NBCSN, etc with those of the 4 leagues considering that none of the broadcasters can broadcast ANY games, much less be blackout-stricken.
frankbattaglia 11y ago
I was always under the impression that those rules were designed to protect the venues, not the broadcasters. I.e., if you're local and want to watch the game, you should come to the ballpark and watch it live. As I recall, there was a time when a game would be blacked out on local broadcast as well if the stadium wasn't sold out.
- remarkEon 11y ago
  Since baseball stadiums rarely sellout (unless you're AT&T Park) I think it's more to protect the broadcast agreements with whatever local cable network it is that caries the game. The NFL used to have agreements like the one you mentioned, where the game was blacked out unless the stadium sells out - but I think they got told they couldn't do that anymore.
  - frankbattaglia 11y ago
    I did a bit of reading and apparently it varies by sport. I.e., the NFL blackouts work as I understood them to protect the stadiums, but the MLB and NHL blackouts work differently and are designed to protect the local broadcasters. TIL.
- slg 11y ago
  Maybe initially, but the markets carved out are so huge to make attending a game from most of the market impractical. For example, Iowa is in the local market for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins. [1] That means that people in Iowa on any given night might only be able to watch 9 of the 15 games on MLB.tv. [1] - http://deadspin.com/mlbs-awful-blackout-rules-are-finally-under-attack-in-c-1683259431 http://deadspin.com/mlbs-awful-blackout-rules-are-finally-un...

rplst8 11y ago

Their customer support is top notch too. I had noticed a video quality issue after the All-Star break and at first, figured it was just some crappy old standard definition cameras at one of the baseball parks. When it continued to the next location, I realized something else was up. I emailed MLB.tv support and they had the problem fixed during the game in about 20 minutes.