I literally have no way to watch 90% of Orioles games and I live about 50 minutes south of Camden Yards. The local sports channel here, MASN, broadcasts both Orioles and Nationals games. When they are playing at the same time (which is most nights with 7:05 start times), MASN will show the Nationals game (makes sense, considering I'm about 10 miles from Nationals Park). However, under mlb blackout rules, I am considered to be living in both the Nationals and Orioles market. This means through the mlb.tv internet package (or if I bought the mlb extra innings package through cable) I am blacked out of both Nationals and Orioles gamesm, which gives me no avenue to watch the Orioles (and also blacking me out from the 19 Red Sox/O's games each season ).
Apparently this is not an uncommon problem and happens throughout the US with overlapping markets and the tv broadcast not expanding to all of those places.
My question is - in who's interest does it serve to have the current system setup like it is? Why wouldn't MLB want me to be able to watch the O's? I understand giving preference to the local TV station broadcasting the game, but I do not understand not having ANY avenue to view a certain team. Any thoughts?
10 comments:
It makes sense for the Nationals and for MASN, which would obviously be diluted by the ability to watch the other team. Given that the Nationals/MASN contract is probably the majority of the revenue for sad Nats, that's pretty important.
On the other hand, we have two separate RSN's out here for the dodgers and angels - surprising that doesn't exist for you.
Also, 14 K's and no walks. Holy shit.
In theory is makes sense, but I think that the current, rather draconian blackout regulations really don't take into account team loyalty. You're not going to watch the Nationals because you can't watch Sox/Orioles - you'll just find some other way to spend your time.
That's just it - If I am an O's fan, why would I spend my time watching the Nats? I'd just do something else. From MLB's perspective, doesn't it make the most sense to have the most people watching baseball as possible? And isn't it MLB that creates the blackout regions?
After doing some more research, it look like you could get both the Orioles and Nationals feed if you had direct TV. Seems a bit BS though. Can't get both on Cox or Fios.
It could be worse. You could live in Las Vegas.
End the government's arbitrary monopoly status for MLB!
Caleb, oh my god, that's just plain crazy.
Hah, wow that's hilarious.
I think these blackout rules are really archaic and outdated, at this point. With so many people moving from one region to another, the local team isn't going to be your favorite team any longer. The owners just don't seem to understand that they're not losing viewers, but rather enraging fans and diminishing the value of MLB AM (Advanced Media) and the Extra Innings package.
Also, sucks to be Las Vegas. According to my calculations they have 827 games blacked out. That comes up to 34% of all MLB games. Just insane.
The issue for me is that the blackout policy effects really the most loyal baseball fans that pay extra money to watch out of market games. A causal fan is probably not going to pay $150 watch baseball, period. It's the causal fan, not the people paying extra money to get MLB.TV or Extra Innings, that may, overtime, shift fan loyalty.
I would think, in most business, the most loyal customers are the ones that you cater to. There are tons of fans right now that don't watch ANY baseball b/c the team they follow is not available in any format to them. How that is in anyone's interest, I still can't figure out.
If I am the Oakland A's, why in the WORLD would I want Vegas to be blacked out from watching my team when I know there are ZERO stations broadcasting A's games in Vegas? Are the Dodgers paying them off? What gives?
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