As season looms, Orioles fans balk over streaming blackout

[Going Underground]

I think someone else mentioned this in a prior thread.

 

till, by the time the season opens on April 2, fans of just three of the 30 teams — the Orioles, Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers — will remain subject to the in-market streaming restrictions.

Other teams have embraced or at least accepted live-streaming their games locally, an important tool for generating increased interest to secure baseball's future. More consumers, especially younger ones, now stream their entertainment, including sports, on their phones or other devices than watch it on television, according to the Consumer Technology Association.

 

In January, NBC Sports Regional Networks announced an agreement to stream in-market games for subscribers of its CSN regional networks showing the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. Terms were not disclosed.

"I would expect that the others would fall into line," said John Mansell, a sports and media consultant based in Northern Virginia.

But no deal has yet been struck with MASN, which is shared by the Orioles and Nationals. Dodgers' fans are in the same situation.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has said the goal is for all 30 teams to have their games streamed in their home markets.

"There are ongoing conversations in an effort to make sure fans of all teams will have access to in-market streaming as part of the commisioner's directive," said a spokesperson for MLB Advanced Media, a company created by league officials in 2000 so its streaming and other online activities could be under one roof.

The Orioles and MASN declined comment because the discussions are continuing.

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-orioles-live-streaming-20170317-story.html

[Spy Fox]

This was especially frustrating when I used to live in North Carolina, which is included in the Baltimore/Washington blackout zone but where Time Warner usually doesn't carry MASN. There's basically no non-bootlegged way to watch the Orioles games there. 

[atomic]

Seems to me to be a non issue as you have to have a cable subscription to stream in market games for other teams.  

[Natsfan17]

5 minutes ago, cimota said:

Seems to me to be a non issue as you have to have a cable subscription to stream in market games for other teams.  

True, but at least you can borrow a friend or relative's cable sign in.   The most beneficial option for cord cutters would be getting on one of the Sling, Vue, Directv Now services, where MASN is also one of the only RSN's not carried.