Local blackout restrictions for MLB games have infuriated fans in recent years, but that could change very soon.
MLB announced that Billy Chambers, a longtime regional sports network executive, will assume the role of executive vice president/local media. Why is this important?
Sports Business Journal says that one of Chambers’ main duties is to figure out how the league can take control of those local blackouts.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center on July 24, 2022 in Cooperstown, New York.
(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
MLB has an Extra Innings cable package as well as the MLB.TV streaming package, each serving as a way to watch out-of-market games. Big fans of baseball and those who live outside the market and want to see every game of their favorite team can be frustrated when local broadcast is the only game available to watch.
An example might be a New York Yankees fan who lives in Baltimore. While most games would be fine to watch on the subscription service, every time they play the Orioles, Washington Nationals, or other teams in the area, it blacks out and only allows that fan to watch on one service. that provides that transmission, if it can. Find them.
5-TIME ALL-STAR RETURNING TO THE TEAM HE WON MVP WITH: ‘WHERE IT ALL STARTED’
Blackout restrictions are designed to protect local TV partners from allowing fans to watch that broadcast instead of streaming the game. However, with streaming being the audience choice of choice for many now, MLB is trying to fix the current setup.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference after negotiations with the players’ union to reach a labor agreement, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
A situation brought this situation to light when an MLB player actually had a problem seeing his team.
Josh Bell, who currently plays for the San Diego Padres, was a Washington National during the 2021 season when he was sidelined due to COVID-19 restrictions. He was forced out for two weeks and was only able to watch his team from home while he recovered.
FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COACH AND OUTFIELDER LEE TINSLEY DEATH AT 53
The only problem was that I couldn’t stream the game due to blackout restrictions.
In this Nov. 21, 2019 file photo, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks to the media at the owners meeting in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
For a single team, MLB.TV costs a fan $119.99 per year, while a $139.99 package is available for each team. The Extra Innings package for cable is also $139.99 per year and comes with access to MLB.TV for streaming.