There was much discussion on this site yesterday in dfrancon's FanPost about various blackouts that were, inexplicably, in place during yesterday's Opening Day telecast of the Cubs/Astros game. (I presume similar blackouts were in effect for other games, but I have no direct evidence of such.)
Maury Brown of Biz of Baseball, who has written intelligently on this topic many times, posted again today on the subject, quoting MLB's blackout rules:
* Local Live Blackout: ALL LIVE MLB.TV games will be blacked out in each applicable Club's home television territory (except for certain home television territories for which MLB.com may offer in-market subscription services) or in Japan.
* National Live Blackout (Regular Season): Due to Major League Baseball national exclusivities, each Saturday until 7:00 PM EST (beginning May 17, 2008 and continuing for remaining Saturdays during the regular season) and each Sunday night (for games that begin after 5:00 PM EST), all scheduled webcasts of games played within such time period will be blacked out.
* National Live Blackout (Post Season): Due to Major League Baseball national exclusivities, during the MLB postseason, if you live within the following nations or territories, webcasts of all postseason games will be blacked out: United States, Canada, Guam, US Virgin Islands, South Korea and Japan.
* NOTE: Due to broadcast restrictions, new MLB.TV and Condensed Game archives are limited to a playing time of five minutes in duration until 6 am ET on the day following that on which the applicable game commenced play.
These rules have been in place for several seasons, but they do not cover the situation that occurred yesterday. ESPN normally blacks out the home markets during its regular season Monday and Wednesday telecasts, but normally that's only the metropolitan area of each team, where a local cable or broadcast outlet is carrying the game. That makes sense -- it "protects" the local outlet's ratings, so they can continue to charge ad rates based on local viewership.
But there were no outlets carrying last night's game in Dallas, where dfrancon was blacked out, or in parts of Iowa, where six teams have blackout "rules" based on this idiotic map:
Why MLB continues to prevent its customers from watching its product is a mystery that will never be properly explained to me (yeah, I know, the Royals need that territory because they're not as popular as the Cubs -- but they don't carry any games in that area, and besides, they were rained out yesterday!).
It's real simple, Bud: if a fan is willing to pay to watch a game, whether it be by local cable, ESPN, MLB Extra Innings, or MLB.TV -- they should be able to do so, whether they are in Chicago, Houston, Iowa, Las Vegas, or on Mars.
There's an easy remedy, Bud. Use your "best interests of baseball" powers, for this surely IS in the best interest of baseball. Do it. Today.
6 recs | 121 comments
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
I'm not sure I understand. Can you repeat that?
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
He looks like he's never even seen a television.
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
Wut?
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
Get that man a hearing aid!
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
Look...your going to have to speak up son!
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
And a new barber
Clutche - April 7, 2009
he looks like
a geriatric Bill Gates.
drewishdrewid - April 7, 2009
Who?
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
MLB
Where if it makes sense… we’ll do the opposite.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
Does he not have a PR person
to tell him that he looks like a grumpy done old man?
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
Absolutely -
Don’t forget to buzz this up.
N Oakley - April 7, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
Good lord
isn’t he wealthy enough to buy a hearing aid? Every freaking picutre shows him not hearing what is being said.
sue369 - April 7, 2009
Good heavens.
How many of those photos ARE there?
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
no kidding
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
awwww
now he’s sulking.
drewishdrewid - April 7, 2009
HAHAHA!
This one really made me laugh.
sue369 - April 7, 2009
This makes me mad also.
I have not looked but it seems like every time comcast broadcasts a game I get the black out. And I live in South Dakota. Not even on the blackout list. Did you here me BUD? Not even on the blackout list, well only for the twins, but who really wants to watch them.
ThisOldCub18 - April 7, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
Onlt thing worse than...........
a two-handed shake is a two-handed can’t hear you
Clutche - April 7, 2009
Talk to the hand
Clutch16 - April 7, 2009
Bud can always pick a winner!
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
Eww!
sue369 - April 7, 2009
Well, walking in the desert for 40 years even Moses had to go in and clean house
tucsoncubsfan - April 7, 2009
That's deep
Clutche - April 7, 2009
TWSS
DMCub - April 7, 2009
This was in reference to a Seinfeld episode called "The Pick"
tucsoncubsfan - April 7, 2009
Sorry Clutche I thought you were responding to me.
I keep getting confused with the indentations as to who is responding to whom. Oh well, I will eventually learn I hope.
tucsoncubsfan - April 7, 2009
Yeah...
It was blacked out in Indianapolis too. I can assure you, it was not available on any local broadcast here. I know, I would have watched it if it had been.
Apparently people who are “in Chicago’s territory” actually get to see LESS games them people outside of Chicago’s territory. Makes perfect sense!
sammysosasboombox - April 7, 2009
If you had AT&T U-Verse
you could have seen it. U-Verse 200 comes with Comcast Sports Chicago. If you can get it on your side of Indianapolis, I highly recommend it.
Bill Potter - April 7, 2009
But if I had U-Verse
I could not get MLB Network.
Why, Bud, Why? Why must you be some evil and make us choose?
sammysosasboombox - April 7, 2009
True.
But if and when MLB Network is added to U-Verse, then you’d have all three (WGN, CSN Chicago and MLB Network).
Bill Potter - April 8, 2009
I ain't gonna change a damn thing, Al Yellon!
Not for you or anybody else. Go Brewers!
daver - April 7, 2009
Think we can get Evil BCB to go with us on this?
Couldn’t hurt.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
Doubt it.
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
Tell me something.
Where have you been hiding this stash of Bud photos all these years?
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
I haven't been hiding anything...
I found every single one today. Check the URL of the pics….none are from my photobucket.
santoswoodenlegs - April 7, 2009
When's
he gonna be done again?
And who’s next? Is it still McFail?
Kegler - April 7, 2009
Psssst
you there? is there a secure connection?
there’s no blackouts here in europe. it rocks. don’t tell anyone.
ii end transmission ii
sanantonecub - April 7, 2009
I will say something positive about MLB . . . .
Back in the day (‘ought four), individual games were available for purchase on the internet. Don’t know why they don’t do that anymore.
Anyway, that’s when I started my (first) long stay in Shanghai, and after explaining that to someone at MLB.com, they sent me a link to use when I purchased games that actually let me watch the Cubs, even though my credit card was billed in the Cub ‘home’ zone.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
MLB player has been giving me lots of problems these first 2 days
I’m not blacked out for the Cubs, or anyone else I want to watch (hate the phillies), but the audio is in and out. I was trying to watch the end of the sox game, but it just said ‘error this media is not currently available". The mlb is getting ready to get asked for some refunds for all the times we wanted to watch and it didn’t work
philadelphiacub - April 7, 2009
OT: Drunky McTightpants just gave it up to the Sox
3-run homer by Thome makes it 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth.
Farnsy should be exhibit A of what Zambrano doesn’t want to become. Hopefully Carlos really is “growed up”.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
DAMN IT
I was JUST typing that and you beat me to it
Doggie Stalker - April 7, 2009
Ah, well -- he'll give you more opportunities, I'm sure.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
True
but being able to post during day games is sort of new. The joys of unemployment. I would never compare Z to Dr. Tightpants though.
Doggie Stalker - April 7, 2009
It's not a comparison
It should be a warning to him . . . Farnsy is Nuke LaLoosh — $1M arm, $0.10 head.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Now your insulting Nuke LaLoosh
A sweet old country boy. He was just dumb. Farnsworth is dumb and mean. Sat next to some Royals fans at the game in
Surprise last week. I tried to warn them about Farnsworth but like Yankee fans before them they will have to learn for themselves.
Doggie Stalker - April 7, 2009
I guess I missed a few stories
I know he’s a womanizer — which isn’t right — but I didn’t know he was belligerent, too.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Biggest jackass in baseball
Sorry I was out at Post Office so responding late. Haven’t time for all of it but the most self absorbed jerk
I have ever seen. Best example ever. He was removed from a game because he was blowing the lead , he was so angry he went back in the clubhouse and punched an electric fan, breaking his hand and ending up on the DL
but it did lead to the singe FUNNIEST POST OF ALL TIME on the old Cubs Yahoo group ( before Al had a blog)
As soon as the news hit someone posted
" Is this a rare literal case of the shit hitting the fan ?" I think I peed in my pants.
Other than groupies NO one liked Farnsworth, not the fans, not his fellow players not the management. I remember watching the Cubs taking BP the day after Maddux got # 300 in San Francisco. Pitchers were mostly in the outfield shagging balls and talking in little groups and they would migrate from one to the other. Farnsworth sat in a corner by himself which I noticed he pretty much did all the time. I have a friend who was a cab drive, a hung over Farnsworth had him take him to Wrigley one morning while beligerantly yelling "don’t you know who I am ? ". Oh and besides the fan he also broke his foot while dropping a ball on it in the bullpen just for fun. Seriously but for Todd Huntley the biggest jerk ever on the Cubs.
Doggie Stalker - April 7, 2009
I wouldn't say "ever"...
… that covers a lot of ground. But in the last 20 years, yes, most likely.
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
I only go back so far
I hear Cap Anson was one racist jerk but a little before my time.
Doggie Stalker - April 7, 2009
Rogers Hornsby.
One of the most hated Cubs ever.
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
Drunky McTightpants - wow
That’s hilarious.
malicedoom - April 7, 2009
I believe Mr. Daver gets credit for that one
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Really?
I must’ve been a little drunky myself.
daver - April 7, 2009
hmmm
Perhaps not, then. It wasn’t me.
Who came up with Slappy McPopup?
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Is that Gathright?
I think Royals fans called him “Slappy Joe,” so I just went with that.
daver - April 7, 2009
Someone called Juan Pierre that
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Ah, OK. Same difference.
daver - April 7, 2009
So that was you, then.
Who gave Farnsy the name, then?
Hmm. Confused. Guess I’ll go home.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
maybe you did make it up
on your own?
i’ve heard several for him but this one was golden.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
I don't think I can take credit for the Farnsy nickname.
You can claim that one as long as I get “Fully K” for Heilman.
daver - April 7, 2009
I as calling him Old Style at the game last night
people (from Chi) were laughing their ass off , and one yelled “he is not from Wisconsin”
Cubbie-Tim - April 7, 2009
I'm surprised I can't hear the crowd from here.
I was listening to that game for a while, but I just fired up the mlb.tv feed for the Brewers-Giants game. Tim Lincecum on the mound.
daver - April 7, 2009
do you get any work done?
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
It's a valid question.
I actually get more work done when I’m watching or listening to the…Ishikawa clears the bases on long triple to right center – 3-0 Giants – YEAH!!!…ahem, as I was saying, I actually get more work done because I’m not slackin’ around here. One of the great things about baseball is there’s so much downtime between pitches and innings that work is a great way to kill time while you’re waiting for something good to happen.
daver - April 7, 2009
I guess theres that
you still spend some time here though. :-P
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
Just a little. Every now and then.
daver - April 7, 2009
its okay
i’d miss you if you went away for long.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
Little known secret is that there is
not just one user “dat cubfan daver.”
He’s franchised the thing and now has 100 people in a basement in Lemont churning out pithy comment on the Cubs and other social issues. All in the name of hitting 20,000 comments on BCB.
N Oakley - April 7, 2009
as someone closing in on 10
i don’t have much room to make fun of him.
this place is sort of addicting.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
That's right. Outsourcing, people. Catch the wave.
Comment No. 19,960. Geez, I could hit 20K today if I don’t slow down.
daver - April 7, 2009
Aw, thanks.
daver - April 7, 2009
Rob Neyer is kind of funny
He tells us exactly why Farnsworth should NOT have been facing Jim Thome in that situation.
mykalmorgan - April 7, 2009
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4050457&name=Neyer_Rob
mykalmorgan - April 7, 2009
The blackouts are annoying
It was not just this game. I live in East Central indiana and last year every Cubs game that was on ESPN 2 was blacked out. Instead, ESPN News also came on in its place. Needless to say, I have never felt the same about Eastern Sports Programming Network.
shastamasta - April 7, 2009
And
I can’t explain it but looking at those pictures makes me want to punch ol’ Bud.
shastamasta - April 7, 2009
All I want is a human being from MLB/ESPN
to explain why the game was blacked out in Madison yesterday. I didn’t think that was asking too much but I have a better chance of breaking camp with the Cubs next year than getting a response.
Schwa - April 7, 2009
you were blacked out?
I watched it on ESPN 2 at a buddies condo last night
Madison Cub Fan - April 7, 2009
I wasn't, but I have DISH.
A friend of mine with Charter called me at the start of the game freaking out about being blacked out. I confirmed with another friend who has Charter and he was blacked out as well. Are you sure your friend doesn’t have DirecTV/DISH?
Schwa - April 8, 2009
Al, I agree.
It makes sense to blackout games in the team’s metropolitan “home” area. But Iowa doesn’t even have a friggin’ MLB team and we have SIX different team restrictions?!
Somebody call Websters…we need to update the definition of insanity.
DMCub - April 7, 2009
Just put one of those photos of Bud there.
I’m sure there’s someone here with a Wikipedia account who can take care of this. Right?
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
Displaced New Yorkers 3, Displaced Seattleans (?) 0
End of 1 in San Francisco
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
When Jeff Suppan is your opening day starter,
you know you’re in trouble.
Schwa - April 7, 2009
No doubt.
daver - April 7, 2009
True, but Gallardo is really their ace
I can see the logic in not starting him opening day this year.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
They're saving him for the Cubs, I presume?
daver - April 7, 2009
No, he's going tomorrow
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Oh. So what is the logic of not starting Gallardo opening day?
daver - April 7, 2009
Well, I'd guess a few things
Coming off of an injury, his age, and the pressure to replace CC. Plus, facing the reining NL Cy Young Award winner.
Of course, I could be wrong and Macha actually thinks Suppan’s the ace. That’d be scary.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Don't think so.
Looks like Looper-Bush-Suppan this weekend.
Schwa - April 7, 2009
Wow, whenever we think we've got it bad...
all we have to say are those three words.
IowaCubs- - April 7, 2009
Seattleites?
Seattleonians?
Suttons?
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Coffe-drinking
lumber-huggers
drewishdrewid - April 7, 2009
works for me
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Applies to...........
Wisconsinites as well
Clutche - April 7, 2009
No
that’d be LAGER huggers.
:-P
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
It does?
I wasn’t aware of the booming lumber trade in Wisconsin.
daver - April 7, 2009
there isn't
Madison Cub Fan - April 7, 2009
Grunge playin'
Flannel wearers.
daver - April 7, 2009
Oh my gahhhhd...
…Jeff Suppan just hit a guess-hack RBI double off Lincecum. 3-1 Giants.
daver - April 7, 2009
Yikes. Now it really is time to log off.
Shanghai Badger - April 7, 2009
Yep, now Weeks hits RBI double.
3-2 Giants. Lincecum seems to be getting off to a slow start. Maybe teams are beginning to figure him out. He didn’t look impressive in spring training vs. the Cubs either.
daver - April 7, 2009
lots of big name guys
have struggled the last few days. Peavy. CC. Cliff Lee.
Don’t know whats up with that.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 7, 2009
I have posted this before and will post one last time
for those with Satalite and a friend/family member in Chicagoland area who will let them, you can use their address as your “location address” and not get blacked out for CSN and WGN Superstation (you lose WCIU and Fox 32 games ONLY.
Now you also lose your locals where you are at. I use Time Warner Cable locals for $10 a month and a good friends address in Joliet, IL. I might not get 15 or so games a season.
With DTV you can just set your bill to paperless, and your friend or family member will not get your invoice for your service, so he/she is not inconvenienced by it.
This is extra handy when the Cubs are on WGN and ESPN, since ESPN will be blacked out, so you cannot give in and listen to Morgan or Buck.
Cubbie-Tim - April 7, 2009
Nice idea.
Thanks!
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
not sure if you want to save this somewhere for future reference
since i have posted it three times.
and a follow up, if you decide to get the NFL Football Package, you have to “move back” to your local area, if you want to see the Bears games, since they are on local Fox they are blacked out on the NFL package if using a Chciagoland address (hope this makes sense).
Cubbie-Tim - April 7, 2009
Game was on in DFW
Actually, it was on in DFW. I had to suffer through the FS Houston feed, though. It was on the channel (FSN 35 and also the HD one) that usually carries the Rangers games.
I rarely get Astros games here, since the time normally conflicts with the Rangers – so it was a bit of a surprise.
Otter23 - April 7, 2009
BUD SELIG SUCKS.
That is all.
dtpollitt - April 7, 2009
OT: Al, how about posting a countdown clock to the Home Opener on Monday????
Zeke - April 7, 2009
Hey, good idea.
I’m guessing the current one isn’t really useful any more. I’ll fix it.
Al Yellon - April 7, 2009
Yeay!
Zeke - April 8, 2009
I live in Dallas...
…and I was able to watch last nights game on Fox Sports SW, so it technically wasn’t blacked out, unless your tv package doesn’t carry that station, but I think most do.
Ryetronics - April 7, 2009
I have been unable to listen to EITHER game on MLB Audio
on either broadcast. And I LIVE IN MISSISSIPPI!
And it’s just the Cubs game. I can listen to ANY other game I choose. It says it can’t “verify my location.” Once it said it thought I was somewhere way northeast – like Connecticut or something. And it STILL wouldn’t let me listen. I was considering purchasing MLB TV this year, but if they can’t even get the Audio package working, why would I give more money to these fools?
They are really gonna isolate a lot of the fans. I’d gladly pay the $100/yr for MLB TV and get ALL the games than my next-best option, switching to DirecTV and seeing 60ish games on WGN. But if they can’t get this junk figured out, I’ll keep listening to hacked websites broadcasting the audio for free.
sparky39762 - April 8, 2009
And the biggest blackout area?
The Toronto Blue Jays. 3,855,102 sq mi.
Seriously. It doesn’t matter if you live in Vancouver (just across the border from Seattle) or Halifax (due north of Boston), or Tuktoyaktuk (about 700 miles north of Fairbanks, AK), you’re in Jays’ Territory.
sniffy the bee - April 8, 2009
For those who are frustrated with the "HD" aspect of MLB.TV (like I am):
know that we’re not alone. You really hope that someone who works for MLB.TV reads this because it’s a very well written summary of everything that’s been going wrong so far, as well as plenty of people agreeing with it experiencing the same problems. Tonight is the first Cubs game we get to watch on MLB.TV and I’m really hoping to watch it in HD, but I’m not holding my breath.
Schwa - April 8, 2009
Madison, WI
The game (opening night) was on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. I have stooooooopid Charter Cable. I only get WGN, and not CSN. Repeat…NOT CSN. I thought “Hey it’s on ESPN2, I’ll be okay”. NOPE. Blacked. OUT. Thank Jesus MLB Extra Innings was running a free preview.
I understand there’s a lot of Cub fans up here, and that DirecTV gets CSN Chicago, but what about the rest of us!?!?! Thanks MLB. Thank you.
HawkVision - April 8, 2009
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