[CarolinaGuy79]

I guess I still do not understand black out rules, but I am a huge Yankees fan in SC so I decided to get MLB EI this year, ok I hought if the game were broadcast on a national level like fox or ESPN then the game would be black out on EI, well tonights Yankees vs Rangers game is on ESPN but I decided to look on EI and the game is on both 721 and 722 so not real sure how blackout works lol

 

[HGuardian]

I guess I still do not understand black out rules, but I am a huge Yankees fan in SC so I decided to get MLB EI this year, ok I hought if the game were broadcast on a national level like fox or ESPN then the game would be black out on EI, well tonights Yankees vs Rangers game is on ESPN but I decided to look on EI and the game is on both 721 and 722 so not real sure how blackout works lol

That is the one advantage that MLB has over the NBA and NHL packages. Games on ESPN/ESPN2/MLBNet that are on RSN you will almost always get the option of watching the RSN when you have EI.

 

[dpeters11]

I don't think anyone understands the rules. Especially hen they black out old games or non game programming.

 

[Jive Turkey]

I don't think anyone understands the rules. Especially hen they black out old games or non game programming.

This. You will never understand MLB blackout rules. They make them up as they go along. The one consistent aspect is that they are usually NOT in the favor of being fan-friendly. The ESPN situation is about the only way that they are (see how they handle 8 second highlights on YouTube for further evidence of how MLB seems to be against promoting their own product).

 

[yosoyellobo]

Does anybody has any idea why here in Jacksonville we get the Orlando Magic while the Miami Heats are blackout. There is no way I would go down to Miami to watch the Heats while I might go and watch the Magic.

 

[adkinsjm]

Does anybody has any idea why here in Jacksonville we get the Orlando Magic while the Miami Heats are blackout. There is no way I would go down to Miami to watch the Heats while I might go and watch the Magic.

You are in the Magic's market. You are outside the Heat's market. You have to buy League Pass to watch the Heat. Blackouts are based on markets and not on attendance.

 

[adkinsjm]

I guess I still do not understand black out rules, but I am a huge Yankees fan in SC so I decided to get MLB EI this year, ok I hought if the game were broadcast on a national level like fox or ESPN then the game would be black out on EI, well tonights Yankees vs Rangers game is on ESPN but I decided to look on EI and the game is on both 721 and 722 so not real sure how blackout works lol

Only Sunday Night games are blacked out on Extra Innings. The FAQ on MLB.tv explains blackouts.

 

[yosoyellobo]

You are in the Magic's market. You are outside the Heat's market. You have to buy League Pass to watch the Heat. Blackouts are based on markets and not on attendance.

Do they blackout the games if the attendance fall below a certain threshold?

 

[jimbo56]

As far as I'm concerned, blackout rules serve very little purpose. It makes no sense to blackout games that are hundreds of miles from your home because you are in that team's "local" market. If it were up to me, if a blackout were necessary it should be only within 75 miles of the team's city, like the NFL.

 

[jimbo56]

Do they blackout the games if the attendance fall below a certain threshold?

I am of the opinion that showing more games on television (even home games) actually increases attendance by giving the team more exposure. Remember, "Out of sight, out of mind."

 

[trh]

Do they blackout the games if the attendance fall below a certain threshold?

I believe football is the only sport that has blackouts tied to attendance.

I am of the opinion that showing more games on television (even home games) actually increases attendance by giving the team more exposure. Remember, "Out of sight, out of mind."

Chicago Blackhawks is a good example of this. The former (now deceased) owner Bill Wirtz did not allow home games to be televised in the Chicago area -- he said it was unfair to the team's season ticket holders. After he died, his son allowed the games to be aired locally. All sell outs now (of course they made a number of other moves at the same time and are now winning -- that always helps with attendance).

 

[JoeTheDragon]

I believe football is the only sport that has blackouts tied to attendance.

Chicago Blackhawks is a good example of this. The former (now deceased) owner Bill Wirtz did not allow home games to be televised in the Chicago area -- he said it was unfair to the team's season ticket holders. After he died, his son allowed the games to be aired locally. All sell outs now (of course they made a number of other moves at the same time and are now winning -- that always helps with attendance).

yet other teams don't air all there games.

now maybe next year CSN Chicago may run out of slots what will they do if they have to show 4 teams at same time?? dump a game to WGN / WCIU? add a + 3 channel?

now for blackouts WGN and TBS may fall under different rules as they used to be super stations and some cable systems still have them as limited basic channels.

But there should be a way for people who are in the Chicago teams area but not the Chicago DMA to get the WGN 9 (only games) and the WCIU games. Some areas can pick up OTA but don't get Chicago locals on directv.

 

[adkinsjm]

yet other teams don't air all there games.

now maybe next year CSN Chicago may run out of slots what will they do if they have to show 4 teams at same time?? dump a game to WGN / WCIU? add a + 3 channel?

now for blackouts WGN and TBS may fall under different rules as they used to be super stations and some cable systems still have them as limited basic channels.

But there should be a way for people who are in the Chicago teams area but not the Chicago DMA to get the WGN 9 (only games) and the WCIU games. Some areas can pick up OTA but don't get Chicago locals on directv.

It's up to stations in smaller TV markets to sign a deal to show OTA games, or CSN Chicago could set up a feed for the outer markets as FSN North used to do with the Minnesota Twins.

 

[hallrk]

I am of the opinion that showing more games on television (even home games) actually increases attendance by giving the team more exposure. Remember, "Out of sight, out of mind."

Totally agree. It used to be in the 30's and 40's that teams were afraid to broadcast games on the radio for fear it would hurt attendance. They found out differently. Same now with televised games. It can help your attendance. When WGN first came on over the satellite the Cubs drew very little to their games but over time attendance increased and it sure wasn't because the Cubs got a lot better either. IMO, it was the TV exposure everyday on national TV. Of course it didn't help the Braves much but the Cubs do have an antique ballpark that is pleasing to the eye and most fans want to experience Wrigley at least once.

 

[tonyd79]

As far as I'm concerned, blackout rules serve very little purpose. It makes no sense to blackout games that are hundreds of miles from your home because you are in that team's "local" market. If it were up to me, if a blackout were necessary it should be only within 75 miles of the team's city, like the NFL.

You are confusing two different blackout situations.

The NFL's is attendance based and an attempt to get people in the stadium. If it is not a sellout within 72 hours, then the 75 mile blackout occurs. They are trying to sell that last tickets.

All other blackouts are for rights holders only. Makes no difference if the game is sold out or not. What they are doing it protecting local TV rights holders rather than trying to get people into the stadium. No matter how full the stadium/arena is, you will not see out of market broadcasts into the area near the stadium/arena but will see the local broadcast if there is one (some teams are misguided into thinking that home games should be limited or not on at all but those are few and far between these days). Where this falls down is in outer markets when the game is OTA, although many markets simulcast on RSNs in those cases.

 

[Shades228]

MLB EI allows you to watch both feeds of the game so if you want to hear a specific announcer you can when available.

Where MLB gets screwed up is when games are on local stations because local stations have to sell those rights to other local stations. It's just money like everything else but in places like CA and NV it can get confusing fast.

 

[kevintheoman]

Las Vegas is "local" territory for the padres, angels, dodgers, giants, A's, and diamondbacks. It's a pain in the butt.

If mlb was smart they'd get rid of the blackout policy and I would cancel my tv service and just use netflix and mlb.tv. The money wouldn't have to pass through a middleman like directv.

 

[adkinsjm]

Las Vegas is "local" territory for the padres, angels, dodgers, giants, A's, and diamondbacks. It's a pain in the butt.

If mlb was smart they'd get rid of the blackout policy and I would cancel my tv service and just use netflix and mlb.tv. The money wouldn't have to pass through a middleman like directv.

MLB keeps the blackout policy because it keeps RSNs happy. RSN money keeps owners happy.

 

[AquiringSat]

MLB keeps the blackout policy because it keeps RSNs happy. RSN money keeps owners happy.

Ok, that part I completely understand. These 2 Need to be changed!

1: When the game is NOT being shown by the local RSN, but we still get blacked out on the opposing team's feed, or are stuck watching it on the Mix channel. That Drives me Crazy!! I know this only effects some markets, as most major markets have all of their games broadcast on their local RSNs. (At least after Monday, the D♦backs only have 2 non-televised games for the rest of the year)

2: Fox Saturday Baseball. I don't see how it does the Network or MLB any good to only make one game available. The advertisers are the same for all of the games.

 

[dxtrfn80]

Ok, that part I completely understand. These 2 Need to be changed!

1: When the game is NOT being shown by the local RSN, but we still get blacked out on the opposing team's feed, or are stuck watching it on the Mix channel. That Drives me Crazy!! I know this only effects some markets, as most major markets have all of their games broadcast on their local RSNs. (At least after Monday, the D♦backs only have 2 non-televised games for the rest of the year)

They should make any games not covered by your RSN but shown on the opponents RSN have the blackout lifted.

I also hate even with MLB EI you cannot view the opposing teams feed. When the Yankees play the Orioles this week even if I had EI I could not watch the YES feed of the game. All non Orioles games you can watch the Yankees feed on EI. They should but they never will should give the opposing teams feeds as well with a subscription to EI.