MLB/FOX "Baseball Night in America" fails the paying fans

[Warner2BruceTD]

Paying subscribers of MLB Extra Innings and MLB.tv should be exempt from the Saturday blackouts. I understand the idea behind MLB protecting their broadcast partner, but the blackouts do not lead to me watching the FOX game, they lead me to seeking out an illegal stream of the game I want to watch.

Tonight, for example, I looked for a stream of the Reds game, and when I couldn't find one, I listened to the radio broadcast through MLB.tv (which oddly they allow you to do), and put the UFC fights on the TV. When the fights ended, I put on the NBA game. When that ended, I turned off the TV. At no point did I watch whatever the FOX game was.

I can understand protecting FOX by giving them exclusive rights to the NON paying customers, but if you are a paying customer or either package, you should have access to all of the games. I pay for both services and could not choose my game. The NFL & NBA never deny a paying customer to watch any game.

[Goober]

Fox broadcasts are always terrible too. I'm not sure how people like Joe Buck still have a job with such a negative fan reaction. But, maybe that explains why his voice has been sounding weird lately...

What Fox/MLB should do is set up the schedule so that there is only one game on during Fox's broadcast, so no one misses out on watching their favorite team. Similar to ESPN on Sunday nights.

[Swarley]

Agree. What really irritates the hell out of me is that they always choose like 4 games to televise. And b/c I live near KC, it's always the fucking Cardinals or Cubs that get put on FOX here. No, I do not want to watch them. I paid over $100 to watch the Red Sox every night, that's who I want to watch.

The blackouts actually aren't what bugs me the most. It's that they always have multiple games for the "game of the week," and then regionally broadcast them. Such bullshit.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Fox broadcasts are always terrible too. I'm not sure how people like Joe Buck still have a job with such a negative fan reaction. But, maybe that explains why his voice has been sounding weird lately...

What they normally do, is use Buck for the #1 game, then use the local play by play or color guy from the home teams in the other games, paired with a FOX/MLB Network play by play or color man.

It ends up producing awkward pairings of guys who are not used to working with each other.

[Goober]

Agree. What really irritates the hell out of me is that they always choose like 4 games to televise. And b/c I live near KC, it's always the fucking Cardinals or Cubs that get put on FOX here. No, I do not want to watch them. I paid over $100 to watch the Red Sox every night, that's who I want to watch.

The blackouts actually aren't what bugs me the most. It's that they always have multiple games for the "game of the week," and then regionally broadcast them. Such bullshit.

This is another good point. The Fox broadcast essentially helps no one. Since you always get the regional game you're forced to watch the game you're usually forced to watch. So people who don't pay for mlb.tv aren't able to experience watching other teams, while the paying customers are just fucked over.

[Golden Taters]

I enjoyed the Fox coverage for the Mariners game today, way better than what I'm use to. I just have hated ROOT/FSN baseball coverage for years.

[Rudi]

Be thankful you didn't have to listen to Thom Brennaman and Mitch Williams announce the Reds game.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Be thankful you didn't have to listen to Thom Brennaman and Mitch Williams announce the Reds game.

No man, I wanted to hear Mitch Williams say stupid things in the worst way. Very disappointing.

Was Thom in professional mode for this game since it was semi-national, or was he doing his emo bit?

[Rudi]

Nah he was professional for a change. He doesn't show any emotion towards the Reds like he does for home broadcasts.