They know I am in Toowoomba - they just know

They know I am in Toowoomba - they just know

Really? I have a cousin who goes to USQ, and I visited him there in August. Toowoomba's a nice town, and I really loved Brisbane.

So, how can you beat this system? Or should I ask a couple of Russian hackers for the solution?

Shorter MLB: "We're very proud of the technology we developed to screw people in Des Moines out of watching five different teams".

The system is already technically beat with pirated feeds.

How is doing an IP check so revolutionary?

So, how can you beat this system? Or should I ask a couple of Russian hackers for the solution?

Possibly a proxy IP address?

How is doing an IP check so revolutionary?

My thoughts exactly. I can't believe they got a patent for a geolocater, and then had the audacity to brag about it.

Shorter MLB: "We're very proud of the technology we developed to screw people in Des Moines out of watching five different teams".

The "blackout" circles need to be revisited. I have black out restrictions for teams that my cable company will never carry.

Shorter MLB: "We're very proud of the technology we developed to screw people in Des Moines out of watching five different teams".

I remember when I lived in the Racine/Kenosha area and had a small time cable operators basic cable package that include virtually nothing. I think I could watch most of the Brewers games but there were not to many televised Chicago games. Unfortunately because of my location MLB.tv was totally useless for me. Whereas I got Chicago and Milwaukee channels on my TV so I could watch every single Bears game plus every single Packers game if I so desired.

The "blackout" circles need to be revisited. I have black out restrictions for teams that my cable company will never carry.

I get "blacked out" of Blue Jay games that are not on television, on any station, and I live 4,000KM away from Toronto.

content is content, tv, internet, or otherwise. can't they just let us pay to see the broadcasts we want to see?

For when you want to see a game that's blacked out, due to location or time, you want to download TVants and go to myp2p.eu for p2p pirated feeds.

I've watched a ton of Japanese baseball on those feeds and lots of BBC news.

Really? I have a cousin who goes to USQ, and I visited him there in August. Toowoomba's a nice town, and I really loved Brisbane.

Damn - I always look after any primate who visits here!!

(We own a pub)

the streams at TVants aren't the best.

Damn - I always look after any primate who visits here!!

I can vouch for this. Phil is an outstanding host. Simply outstanding.

Phil was an outstanding "guest" when he visited me in Chicago.

I can vouch for this. Phil is an outstanding host. Simply outstanding.

Seconded.

My thoughts exactly. I can't believe they got a patent for a geolocater, and then had the audacity to brag about it.

Remember, they filed the application in 2004, so it is not like they got a patent for something they developed yesterday. Also, the claims cover something a bit more than a geolocator.

Somewhere on Biz of Baseball Maury Brown speculated that this patent and such may be a first step for a a Mobile version of MLB Extra Innings.

The guy that invented this should be as beloved as the inventor of the automatic-dialing telemarketer device.

Yeah, you have a contractual obligation to both parties and maybe it’s some kind of technical achievement.

But why highlight it on the website trafficked by one of the two parties, particularly for whom the technical achievement serves as only an annoyance? It would be like an airline seatback magazine touting the industry's successful efforts to thwart the passenger's bill of rights. Wrong medium, dudes.

I watch Korean pro gaming channels on TVAnts.

But why highlight it on the website trafficked by one of the two parties, particularly for whom the technical achievement serves as only an annoyance?

Because if it weren't for that technology, MLB.tv wouldn't exist?

Folks, the choice isn't between blackouts and no blackouts. The choice is between blackouts and nothing.

Because if it weren't for that technology, MLB.tv wouldn't exist?

That may be true, but it's a subtlety lost of consumers for whom the blackout primarily exists as an annoyance, not a feature. It's just stupid P.R. on the part of MLBAM, that's all.

That may be true, but it's a subtlety lost of consumers for whom the blackout primarily exists as an annoyance, not a feature. It's just stupid P.R. on the part of MLBAM, that's all.

It is not clear to me that is the message that most consumers will take away. I think a lot are going to see:

"It was a game-changer as far as being able to distribute live sports broadcasting in a new way over the Internet," see that the NFL, NBA and NHL don't have it, and conclude that MLB is really smart, great, etc..

And then you read on and find out the patent is basically a device that helps the vast majority of people in this country from watching games they want to see. Remember the vast majority of baseball fans live within the blackout region of their favorite team.

And then you read on and find out the patent is basically a device that helps the vast majority of people in this country from watching games they want to see. Remember the vast majority of baseball fans live within the blackout region of their favorite team.

Sure, but it's either that or nothing.

Without this technology, there's no way to legally broadcast games over the internet.

The legitimate complaints are with the blackout areas themselves, not with the technology used to enforce the blackouts.

So why would the common fan want to see this PR release? Fans are not happy about the blackouts, this technology allows baseball to keep their blackouts. If baseball wants to argue that because of this technology they can offer MLB.tv that is fine but it isn't an argument that the fans are going to really care about. Consumers expect to be able to get anything and to get it cheaply. This device prevents consumers from getting what they want. Why would they be happy about that?

So why would the common fan want to see this PR release? Fans are not happy about the blackouts, this technology allows baseball to keep their blackouts. If baseball wants to argue that because of this technology they can offer MLB.tv that is fine but it isn't an argument that the fans are going to really care about. Consumers expect to be able to get anything and to get it cheaply. This device prevents consumers from getting what they want. Why would they be happy about that?

I am obviously missing something because I fail to see your point. Fans within the blackout region still get to see the games - they are on television, and most look to be on the basic cable package. I am not aware of a groundswell from most fans wanting to watch games on the computer rather than television, so I don't see what this issue is, or how fans in the black out region are prevented from getting what they want.

If baseball wants to argue that because of this technology they can offer MLB.tv that is fine but it isn't an argument that the fans are going to really care about.

They're not going to care that this technology allows them to get something that didn't exist before?

If I figured out a way to save the newspaper industry, but we had to get rid of the comix section in order to do it, I wouldn't want to hear a bunch of whining from Cathy fans.

I am obviously missing something because I fail to see your point. Fans within the blackout region still get to see the games - they are on television, and most look to be on the basic cable package. I am not aware of a groundswell from most fans wanting to watch games on the computer rather than television, so I don't see what this issue is, or how fans in the black out region are prevented from getting what they want.

I'm not sure you actually understand the biggest complaint about MLB.tv, which is their crazy blackout rules.


I'll also add that not everybody in the world are in a position to stay at home and watch a game on TV, thus the appeal of MLB on the internet.

They're not going to care that this technology allows them to get something that didn't exist before?

No, give them an inch. . . .

I'll also add that this technology is basically a crutch that allows MLB to do what they always which is stick their head in the sand and ignore their customer base. There are other options but MLB took the easy route.

If I figured out a way to save the newspaper industry, but we had to get rid of the comix section in order to do it, I wouldn't want to hear a bunch of whining from Cathy fans.

You wouldn't want to hear but it doesn't mean people won't complain and certainly doesn't mean it is a smart PR decision to go up to Cathy fans and boast of your breakthrough.

Fans within the blackout region still get to see the games - they are on television, and most look to be on the basic cable package.

Problem is, this isn't true. The blackout regions in baseball have nothing to do with what fans can see on television in those regions. You don't really think that Iowa is a magical place where everyone gets to see Cubs games, White Sox games, Royals games, Brewers games, Twins games, and Cardinal games, do you?

Why did they organize blackout regions? Do they have to pay a lesser fee to the broadcasters?
And who decides the blackout zones?

Ahh myp2p.eu . Fun site. Apart from my one stop for cricket, good way to get world news. Al-Jazeera is interesting sometimes!

I'm not sure you actually understand the biggest complaint about MLB.tv, which is their crazy blackout rules.

The thing is, MLBAM doesn't set the blackout rules, MLB does. You can conflate the two, but the folks at MLB.tv don't have the ability to change the rules. I'm sure they would if they could - it would make their lives a lot easier, and increase the value of the package.

They figured out a way to work within the crazy blackout rules and still provide the product. To borrow a phrase, that's bragable.

I'm not sure you actually understand the biggest complaint about MLB.tv, which is their crazy blackout rules.

Your right, this is the first I have seen it brought up. What is the problem?

I'll also add that not everybody in the world are in a position to stay at home and watch a game on TV, thus the appeal of MLB on the internet.

Agreed. But because some sub-set of users does not like it does not mean that most users don't, such as a Detroit Tigers fan located in Washington DC. My impression is that this is the user MLB.tv is really targeting.

Folks, the choice isn't between blackouts and no blackouts. The choice is between blackouts and nothing.

Is there absolutely any reason to believe this is true? This is like the argument of the music companies that legal users should be thankful for restrictive DRM because there's absolutely no way they'd have the music files otherwise. And, of course, we know that this isn't true - anybody can get practically any music they want.

If MLB.TV doesn't exist, there would be no legal way to have MLB.TV. Pirate feeds are a huge problem for the NFL now.

MLB does not have free choice here. They're doing a great job giving people an internet product that they're willing to pay for, but they could do better and as bandwidth available becomes greater and streaming video becomes more and more ordinary, MLB's going to have to keep up with what people can get for free and that's going to mean doing something about the blackouts.

To borrow a phrase, that's bragable.

Not to their customers it isn't.

Agreed. But because some sub-set of users does not like it does not mean that most users don't, such as a Detroit Tigers fan located in Washington DC. My impression is that this is the user MLB.tv is really targeting.

Yes, because they are not allowed to target the vast majority of Detroit Tiger fans.

Why did they organize blackout regions? Do they have to pay a lesser fee to the broadcasters?
And who decides the blackout zones?

You have it backwards - the broadcasters pay the teams for the rights to broadcast the games.

The blackout areas came about as a result of the 30 MLB teams negotiating with one another. Let's say that you're the Boston Red Sox. Normally, you'd want to reserve the rights to broadcast all Red Sox games to yourself, to do with what you please, everywhere and anywhere.

But obviously, that's not going to work, because the teams that you play against have their own broadcast rights - you can't stop the Orioles from selling the rights to broadcast Orioles-Red Sox games. So you work out what geographical areas you do have the exclusive rights to, and where there's overlap with other teams, you work it out with them.

Problem is, this isn't true. The blackout regions in baseball have nothing to do with what fans can see on television in those regions. You don't really think that Iowa is a magical place where everyone gets to see Cubs games, White Sox games, Royals games, Brewers games, Twins games, and Cardinal games, do you?

No, though I suspect you can likely grab at least a couple of those games at some time, or at least the Cubs.

Also, is this the norm for most people. In the DC region, I assume Orioles and Nationals games are blacked out, but that a user can get everyone else. However, you can then go to your cable channel and see either team. I am not saying the system is perfect, just that most fans live in areas where MLB.tv is a good thing, even with the blackouts (as I understand them).

Yes, because they are not allowed to target the vast majority of Detroit Tiger fans.

Because some one has already paid quite a bit of money for that right.

MLB's going to have to keep up with what people can get for free and that's going to mean doing something about the blackouts.

I'm totally willing to posit that the blackout areas are ridiculously big, and the owners might be better-served by shrinking them.

But there's not a whole lot MLB.tv can do about that. They have to work within the guidelines that MLB gives them, and they've done a pretty good job of that.

Do you want to know the terrifying truth? Or do you want to see some dingers?

I live in a city that does not have a Major League team.

I am blacked out from six different teams. The nearest of these teams is a 4-hour drive; the furthest is 9 hours away. Only two of the six teams are actually shown on the "local" FoxSports affiliate. (I put "local" in quotes because there is no true local affiliate, it's just the feed from the nearest city that does have a local Fox Sports affiliate.)

Why I'd be blacked out from a team that's a 9-hour drive away is beyond me. I purchased MLB.tv every year from its inception until I moved to my current location and saw what I'd have to put up with. MLB can kiss my butt.

Yes, I am quite angry about this issue.

NBA is even sillier.

On an south-to-north line:

Oakland--------------------Sacramento-----------------------Chico

Warrior games were blacked out on basic cable in Chico. Kings games were not.

If you think regular blackouts are dumb, try blackouts across different time zones...

As I noted earlier, Blue Jay games are blacked out across Canada. This really sucks for me because I live in BC and thus, games usually start at 4:00 here. I typically do not get home in time to catch more than maybe the last 2 or 3 innings. Also, not all the games are broadcast here. Some games are on "Sportsnet Ontario" but not "Sportsnet Pacific."

MLB.tv, which they frigging advertise on the tv even though they must know that it's useless to 90% of its audience, seems like a great solution. I can watch my Jays even when they're not on TV, and I can actually catch the early part of the game when I have access to a computer but not a TV, right?

I do pay for MLB.tv anyway and am really impressed with it. I wish the NHL would catch up. This kind of video quality online is terrific, and not even close to matched with Myp2p.eu, etc.

No, though I suspect you can likely grab at least a couple of those games at some time, or at least the Cubs.

That's hardly the same as people in the area having access to the games.

MLB's choices will eventually be made for them. As technology gets better, the better the alternatives become for watching MLB online without paying for MLB. When we get to the point at which the choice is stealing a better product than MLB is selling, MLB will lose a crapload of money thanks to their blackout rules.

MLB will lose a crapload of money thanks to their blackout rules.

I think that this is certainly possible.

Didn't Maury write something about how the owners were going to re-visit the blackout areas, but when the economy went in the tank, they got scared of giving up anything?

MLB's choices will eventually be made for them. As technology gets better, the better the alternatives become for watching MLB online without paying for MLB. When we get to the point at which the choice is stealing a better product than MLB is selling, MLB will lose a crapload of money thanks to their blackout rules.

That may be true at some point, but ignores that fact that they are making a crap load of money because of some of these black out rules. I don't doubt some of the details could be changed, but as long as regional channels pay each club lots of money, I don't see this changing.

And as had been said before the blackout covers huge amounts of areas that don't get televised games. The blackout rules are mostly to protect the home team not the TV channels. It is backwards thinking and like usual the teams are decades behind what their consumers want. MLB.tv charges a nifty penny for their service and would get a lot more subscribers if they shrank the blackout zone. They would get even more subscribers if they worked out deals with local stations that covered the games on TV but they have not. It is stupid on their part and I believe eventually they will do this. But like past innovations baseball will be slow to adopt it.

Also as of right now how many subsribers are there to MLB.tv? I know in 2006 it was around 800,000. So how much has it grown? Actual revenue from MLB.tv it would seem would be pretty small when compared to other revenue streams and the fact that it has to be split between 30 teams and the commish.