Article on MLB's antiquated blackout list

[Turn2]

Pardon the relevant politics.

 

[KidSilverhair]

"Why would Marquee's leadership not have allowed themselves to stream directly to consumers for a subscription fee?"

This was the comment I was referring to. Does MLB allow the Cubs to take their **** network directly to customers? I don't know.

I’m pretty sure MLB rules don’t allow that - again, purely for the regional protection of the RSNs. Even though Marquee is one of them!

 

[KidSilverhair]

Along these lines, I picture how much MLB threw away with this rule from 2015-2017 when the Cubs were on fire, including the World Series season. At $100/subscription or whatever, there had to be at least a million Cub fans out there (like me) finding ways to watch games that would have thrown our money at them.

This seems like an absolute no-brainer. Throw open streaming subscriptions nationwide, take away all blackout restrictions from mlb.tv and jack up the price … heck, just leave the team contracts with the RSNs and let them market their subscriptions wherever they please. The amount of increased money flowing to the sport would be insane.

 

[4cy16]

MLB has always been behind the time regarding broadcasting the games. For years they hated WGN and TBS because they were showing the games on cable for free. What they refuse to understand is that broadcasting the games actually brings in more fans, not less.

We are 4 hours away from St. Louis, the closest MLB team to us, few people are just going to jump in the car after working all day and take in a game and then drive home that night. I could see it, if you lived in St. Louis and want to black those people out like the NFL do, but 4 hours away its crazy.

We have DirectTV and for years lived in the sweet zone, where I could watch the Cards, Cubs, Twins, Royals, White Sox and the Brewers, all by signing up for the sports pak at $10.00 a month. Couple of years ago they took the Twins and Brewers away from us, who know which one will be next, but I am sure in the next couple of years it will be St. Louis and that is it.

I have Directv and still get all of those teams that you mentioned including the Twins and the Brewers.
I wonder what is the difference.

 

[KnappShack]

I’m pretty sure MLB rules don’t allow that - again, purely for the regional protection of the RSNs. Even though Marquee is one of them!

I'm for whatever kills the Marquee Network.

I used to enjoy catching a few innings after work. Then I went to listening to a few games. Baseball translates well to radio.

Now the sport has totally lost me.

 

[cyfanatic]

I have Directv and still get all of those teams that you mentioned including the Twins and the Brewers.
I wonder what is the difference.

When I first joined YouTube TV we had the regionals that carried the White Sox, Twins, Royals, Brewers and Cardinals. Now we only have the White Sox (which is fine with me as I am a White Sox fan) and I miss being able to turn another midwestern team's games on. Bally/Sinclair screwed up the RSN stuff for Iowa! YTTV finally told them to get bent. The only reason the White Sox/Bulls/Black Hawks channel survived is that they are a Comcast/NBC company and not a Ballys/Sinclair product.

 

[cyfanatic]

After looking into this...if I were to go back to our local co-op for TV (South Slope) rather than YTTV I would get the regionals for the Twins, Cards, Royals, White Sox and Cubs...but I would be paying at least $40 more a month!

Channel Lineup - South Slope Cooperative Communications

See the entire channel lineup South Slope has available for each television plan.

www.southslope.com

 

[ianoconnor]

Another reason "protecting" RSNs is stupid is that the visiting team always suffers for no reason. As a Braves fan, I'm pretty lucky as far as blackouts go, but when they do play one of the ******* seven blacked out teams, apparently I'm expected to purchase a package that allows me to watch the games for 3 days?

Yep. As a Reds fan, games against 3/4 divisional opponents are blacked out. It's ludicrous.

 

[houjix]

Yep. As a Reds fan, games against 3/4 divisional opponents are blacked out. It's ludicrous.

As a Royals fan, all home games are blacked out, the Twins and Chi Sox road games are too, as are the couple against the Cards and any potential ones against the Brewers and Cubs. Prior to the new scheduling for next year, that is a minimum of 102 games blacked out if I wanted to pay MLBTV directly to watch the games. Throw in day games, late west coast games, and games when I am busy and there's maybe 30 games I could reasonably watch on MLBTV. I joked that I was going to become a fan of an east coast or west coast team just so I could see more games.

 

[cyfanatic]

Yep. As a Reds fan, games against 3/4 divisional opponents are blacked out. It's ludicrous.

To me that is the biggest issue! An example, a SD Padres fan who lives in Iowa can't watch his team on the streaming service he/she paid for anytime they play (with the "balanced" schedule now) the White Sox, Twins, Royals, Cardinals, Brewers or Cubs! That policy hits Iowans harder than any other region! Why should Iowans have to pay full price for the MLB streaming package?

 

[ISU22CY]

When I first joined YouTube TV we had the regionals that carried the White Sox, Twins, Royals, Brewers and Cardinals. Now we only have the White Sox (which is fine with me as I am a White Sox fan) and I miss being able to turn another midwestern team's games on. Bally/Sinclair screwed up the RSN stuff for Iowa! YTTV finally told them to get bent. The only reason the White Sox/Bulls/Black Hawks channel survived is that they are a Comcast/NBC company and not a Ballys/Sinclair product.

I'm a Cubs guy my wife never had a team but since we got married and use YouTube TV she's a whitesox gal. That's the only team we can get so our house is fun . Then again she's a Bears fan and I'm a Lions fan abou the only sports thing we agree on is the Clones thankfully.

 

[JM4CY]

This topic pisses me off so much I avoided this thread at first and can hardly read it.

 

[CyCrazy]

This topic pisses me off so much I avoided this thread at first and can hardly read it.

Agree, this rule is absolutely asinine.

 

[2speedy1]

"Why would Marquee's leadership not have allowed themselves to stream directly to consumers for a subscription fee?"

This was the comment I was referring to. Does MLB allow the Cubs to take their **** network directly to customers? I don't know.

I believe yes....but they are still subject to the same blackout rules. So, if you are in Iowa, see my previous post, you are still blacked out from seeing those teams on any platform, except their linear cable channels as always. They would use your IP or billing address or whatever to blackout the games from your location.

This I believe is the problem and they now are finally realizing it, and several teams and networks are raising issues with MLB about it. The Cards for instance are part owners of their RSN and they can't stream their network to Iowa, etc. And they realize as more and more people cut the cord it is costing them a huge amount of money. And several RSNs are in serious jeopardy risking bankruptcy. Which is bad for all involved.

It sounds like there may finally be some changes in the near future. But it is yet to be seen as to what, when and how.

 

[houjix]

I believe yes....but they are still subject to the same blackout rules. So, if you are in Iowa, see my previous post, you are still blacked out from seeing those teams on any platform, except their linear cable channels as always. They would use your IP or billing address or whatever to blackout the games from your location.

This I believe is the problem and they now are finally realizing it, and several teams and networks are raising issues with MLB about it. The Cards for instance are part owners of their RSN and they can't stream their network to Iowa, etc. And they realize as more and more people cut the cord it is costing them a huge amount of money. And several RSNs are in serious jeopardy risking bankruptcy. Which is bad for all involved.

It sounds like there may finally be some changes in the near future. But it is yet to be seen as to what, when and how.

Ballys started their streaming sub last season, but if I recall it was a flustercluck and the gambling overlays were obnoxious.

 

[PSYclone22]

Easy solution is for MLB to end blackout rule for first months. If attendance deviates from the trend in any meaningful way, then that tells them blackout rules have an impact. If attendance doesn't change, just delete the rule.

 

[KnappShack]

I believe yes....but they are still subject to the same blackout rules. So, if you are in Iowa, see my previous post, you are still blacked out from seeing those teams on any platform, except their linear cable channels as always. They would use your IP or billing address or whatever to blackout the games from your location.

This I believe is the problem and they now are finally realizing it, and several teams and networks are raising issues with MLB about it. The Cards for instance are part owners of their RSN and they can't stream their network to Iowa, etc. And they realize as more and more people cut the cord it is costing them a huge amount of money. And several RSNs are in serious jeopardy risking bankruptcy. Which is bad for all involved.

It sounds like there may finally be some changes in the near future. But it is yet to be seen as to what, when and how.

This stuff changes so fast, but here's an article. Maybe this is totally outdated. Baseball has lost me, but the economics of professional sports is pretty interesting. MLB seems to be extraordinary in ******* it up with television

"Marquee is readily available on a number of cable providers, but the only thing that’s really missing is its own standalone streaming platform for games."

Marquee Sports Network Weighs Streaming Options Outside of Bally Sports+

Marquee GM Mike McCarthy said to Sports Business Journal there's no rush, but the network is hopeful they can have something in time for the 2023 season.

barrettsportsmedia.com

 

[cyfanatic]

Easy solution is for MLB to end blackout rule for first months. If attendance deviates from the trend in any meaningful way, then that tells them blackout rules have an impact. If attendance doesn't change, just delete the rule.

Again though...the issue regarding blackouts isn't really attendance at games...it is the amount of money the RSN's can or can't make after securing the rights to televise a team's games.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

My family and I usually get to one or two Twins games a year just because we like the ballpark experience, but go to a lot more St Paul Saints games . With two young kids. It’s so much easier to get in and out. And at 12 bucks a ticket and beers under 10 dollars we don’t feel compelled to stay for the entire game if the little ones get tired.

I loved going to Saints games when we lived there pre-kids, can you still tailgate?

 

[CyCrazy]

Easy solution is for MLB to end blackout rule for first months. If attendance deviates from the trend in any meaningful way, then that tells them blackout rules have an impact. If attendance doesn't change, just delete the rule.u

Attendance hasn't grown during the blackouts, I doubt it will much if blackouts end. I would guess 8-12 ballparks have good attendance.