MLBTV's Blackout Policy

[ETSC]

So I just dumped Direct TV and bought a ROKU thinking I would be able to purchase MLB TV. I live in north east Texas, widely considered Rangers territory, so I thought they would be the team I would be blacked out from. I was wrong. MLB TV blacks out both the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. I live 4 hours from Minute Maid Park.

I've seen some sites that suggest using a free web based proxy server. Does anyone go this route?

[pskell02]

There is a class action lawsuit out right now against MLB regarding their blackout policy. Either it pressures them into fixing the antiquated system or the courts do it.

As for your issue, yes, a proxy server should do the trick. I have never had to do it, but know others that have and it works.

[WhacksPacks]

I am a 'puter novice..how exactly does one run this here interwebz proxy server?

TIA

[vwnut13]

Black Outs on MLB.tv will be the same as blackouts on any other service.

[jesseg1111]

The blackout system is complete bs. I have a friend in central Oregon and he bought mlb.tv to watch the Giants. It's blacked out. For those of you not familiar with the drive, it's a good 10 hours from san fran to central Oregon. They gotta fix it.

[mikmouse24]

haha mlbtv- what a joke...lets say im a cardinals fan..i live 3 hrs away...why in the friggin world would i buy that lame a$$ product if i cant even watch my fav team on it??
/facepalm
just dont get it

[vwnut13]

The blackouts aren't because they expect you to drive 10 hours to go watch a game there.

They are to protect the Networks carrying the games. If everybody watched the games on MLB.tv there would be zero ad revenue for the Networks.

If you can get the game on TV, you won't get it on MLB.tv, even if you don't have TV.

[Ooosh]

I live in Toronto, so Blue Jays games obviously get blacked out -- but they also get blacked out ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF CANADA.

[marklemerchants]

The blackouts aren't because they expect you to drive 10 hours to go watch a game there.

They are to protect the Networks carrying the games. If everybody watched the games on MLB.tv there would be zero ad revenue for the Networks.

If you can get the game on TV, you won't get it on MLB.tv, even if you don't have TV.

This is correct.

[mikecancelliere]

I was blacked out from every inter league game the other day

Never blacked out from cubs or sox games though

[catcherball]

I live in OKC.....my blackouts include Kansas City, St Louis, Texas, and Houston

[jsherber85]

here i was thinking of getting the monthly subscription to it i might have to rethink this i just use my xbox to watch the games

[cardinalscards4]

I hate the blackouts. I understand blacking out ESPN & Fox games, whatever. But what if I'm in St. Louis, no TV access, and want to watch the Cardinals on my laptop. Blacked out.

Nevertheless I love MLB.TV and use it every day.

[7290morint]

I was blacked out from every inter league game the other day

Never blacked out from cubs or sox games though

If you are in the "market" of one of the teams playing you will be blacked out. I live in MN and watch the Brewers, but when thy play the twins the games are blacked out because I can watch the Twins broadcast. As far as the proxy server, does it go fast enough to allow for HD feeds?

[CharlieHustle]

They are to protect the Networks carrying the games. If everybody watched the games on MLB.tv there would be zero ad revenue for the Networks.

If you can get the game on TV, you won't get it on MLB.tv, even if you don't have TV.

Even if you can't get the game on TV, it's still blacked out if you are considered in the "market". I live in Vegas and am blacked out of Giants, A's, Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Rockies, and Diamondbacks games.
The only games they show on TV here are Dodgers, Angels and Padres, so why are they also blacking out Rockies, Giants and A's? Because they're stupid, that's why.
This is another case of a Big Company, not fully understanding how to utilize the internets. I would pay for a full subscription every year without hesitation to watch the Giants, but they won't let me. It's frustrating to throw your money at a company and say, "please take it" and they wont.

[ETSC]

And...now back with Direct TV. Great way to spend the day off. Bottom line, got to be able to watch my Astros.

[kinar]

File:MLB Blackout Areas.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MLB_Blackout_Areas.png)

Iowa - worst state to live in for MLB...entire mid-west blacked out.

[T-Roy]

Hmm... what about the fox sports channels. Seems I get to watch every Tigers Game on there... and they replay it 3 hours later. I know there are other FS besides FSDET, but most don't work for me, guessing just need a different channel package for all, be nice if you could order them individually by the teams you wanted.

[marklemerchants]

Hmm... what about the fox sports channels. Seems I get to watch every Tigers Game on there... and they replay it 3 hours later. I know there are other FS besides FSDET, but most don't work for me, guessing just need a different channel package for all, be nice if you could order them individually by the teams you wanted.

Even if you order them, they'll be blacked out. I get every fox sports channel with the sports pack on u-verse and I can only watch Reds, Chicago teams, and Pacers.

[Footsteps]

I live in San Diego and am thankfully only blacked out of Padres' games. As a Red Sox fan, I'm thrilled.

[nofrills]

I live in Toronto, so Blue Jays games obviously get blacked out -- but they also get blacked out ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF CANADA.

Pretty sure you can thank Rogers for that..

[georgewashinton]

They are to protect the Networks carrying the games. If everybody watched the games on MLB.tv there would be zero ad revenue for the Networks.

If you can get the game on TV, you won't get it on MLB.tv, even if you don't have TV.

Even if you can't get the game on TV, it's still blacked out if you are considered in the "market". I live in Vegas and am blacked out of Giants, A's, Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Rockies, and Diamondbacks games.
The only games they show on TV here are Dodgers, Angels and Padres, so why are they also blacking out Rockies, Giants and A's? Because they're stupid, that's why.
This is another case of a Big Company, not fully understanding how to utilize the internets. I would pay for a full subscription every year without hesitation to watch the Giants, but they won't let me. It's frustrating to throw your money at a company and say, "please take it" and they wont.

Wow that's rough man, the Padres at (70mi) are closer to where I live than the Angels and Dodgers at (90mi) are, yet the Angels and Dodgers are the only teams blacked out for me. Like you said though it's definitely worth it if you can watch your favorite team. Luckily for me Diamondbacks games are only blacked out when they play the Dodgers so I just watch it on cable and even though I despise the Dodgers, it's always good to hear Vin Scully call a game.

[CalJr3000]

For those of you wanting to get around the blackout on a PC (but unfortunately not a Roku, which I also have, like some of you), I recommend Easy Hide IP (http://www.easy-hide-ip.com/). It's not free like many of the proxy lists you can find online, but it takes all the guess work out of getting a working IP in a state outside of the blackout. What's nice is you can get the free trial to see if it works for you, then decide if you want to buy it or not. I can tell you that it worked for me here in Michigan when I wanted to watch blacked-out Tigers games. I'm still working on a solution for my Android phone and tablet, plus my Roku, but for my PC desktop and laptop, that program works great.

[Ooosh]

Pretty sure you can thank Rogers for that..

That is okay, I get all the games by paying for extra cable.

[Boo]

I live in Toronto, so Blue Jays games obviously get blacked out -- but they also get blacked out ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF CANADA.

I thought you said that Toronto was Canada, that nothing else mattered?

[Ooosh]

I thought you said that Toronto was Canada, that nothing else mattered?

Excuse me?

[kinar]

Excuse me?

did you fart? It's ok, we can't smell it.

[Boo]

Excuse me?

It was supposed to be a joke...must have been a bad one.

[ETSC]

Just to update, when I called Direct TV back they gave me a bunch of discounts that total almost $700 within a year.