“I see no reason why there ought to be so many clubs able to black out in those territories. That’s my intention. That’s my goal. I didn’t get any pushback. The whole thing is about making the game more popular and available.” – MLB President and COO Bob DuPuy in '08 on restructuring the league’s television blackout policy

Long before Bob DuPuy said that the owners were willing to adjust MLB’s television territories, fans had been left in a lurch. There has been thousands upon thousands of dollars spent by fans that make up MLB’s most loyal fan base, only to be told each year, “We’re working on it.”

Those fans – MLB Extra Innings and MLB.TV subscribers, depending on location – continue to pay for the right to see out-of-market games, only to click through to games that are blacked out.

DuPuy’s plan in 2008 was that if a club is not broadcasting in a geographic location for at least one season, the club would lose the right to claim that location. This would help many, but not all fans, but it would certainly be a start.

But, nothing has been discussed in the two years since there seemed to be some long overdue talk of getting the blackout policy at least remotely corrected. Whether it’s been the economy – what have you – the topic has not surfaced. Bud Selig has created an “on the field matters” committee to discuss pie-in-the-sky topics such as “floating” realignment, but the owners aren’t willing to pay respect to those putting money into your coffers.

MLB, you have given up on your most loyal fans. You don’t care. Actions speak louder than words. Subscribers, welcome to the figurative middle finger.

"We're trying to make this real simple: a club is going to need to be in that market to claim that market," DuPuy said to the SportsBusiness Daily in ‘08. "It does not make sense to have as many clubs claim these areas as they have. And in the end, the goal is simply to have more baseball available for more fans, which in the end can only help us. Assuming we tie up some remaining things and this is approved by the Executive Council (on Wednesday), I would expect some action on this (from the owners)."

Wake us all up when that “action” comes, Bob. And, MLB, your welcome from your best fans helping you reach record revenues in a down economy. I’m sure you’re “working on it.”

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

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Comments (15)

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written by Greg Ioannou, May 01, 2010

I've looked into subscribing to MLB.TV the past two years, but each year decided not to because the games I wanted to see -- ones that aren't being televised locally here in Toronto -- are being blacked out. To make it even more irritating, the Jays' own website wrongly advertises that you'll see those games if you subscribe.

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Who else is discussing blackouts
written by coffeewithian, May 01, 2010

Maury,

I have been reading your network for the past few years, and what I have noticed is that NOBODY else in the media has been discussing this blackout issue. Why is it only you, and why haven't other sportswriters jumped on the bandwagon?

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Policy contrary to decent customer common sense
written by Jeff Quade, May 01, 2010

I couldn't agree with you more. I can't imagine any other business that would so blatantly ignore their most loyal customers.

Try living in what I call a no-team zone. I live in Las Vegas and follow the Cardinals. I subscribe to mlb.com and the cable package. When the Cardinals play the D'Backs, Padres, Dodgers and Giants those games are blacked out. Does Arizona, San Diego, San Francisco EVER broadcast their teams games in Las Vegas? NEVER! The Dodgers do. I have no problem agreeing that Dodgers games be blacked out but the other teams have no established right to be blacked out.

For the life of me, I don't know why more people of influence don't question the policy and why MLB can't improve the situation immediately for the areas of the country in non-team zones.

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I go to games not because they aren't on TV...
written by Brandon, May 01, 2010

I got fooled into buying the MLB.TV thing once so I could watch games from work.. and then quickly discovered I couldn't.

Today, I'm sitting at home not watching the game on TV or MLB.TV (which I don't subscribe to because of blackouts of my favorite team), because I wouldn't be able to get it on either. Yet, I'm not going to drive 2 hours to go try and get crappy upper deck left field tickets for the next blacked out game on the schedule either.

I go to games because I can get a group of people interested in making the long trip up and back, and we don't pay attention to if it's going to be on TV that day as part of our decision... and I'd be surprised if there is anybody who actually does... maybe one sports nut who happens to live within walking distance of the park.

Basically I'm starting to really get pissed off about this year after year, and just losing my interest in baseball bit by bit because whenever I start following my team I hit these black out days that just upset me.

The real kicker for me, is I can't get the radio broadcast in my area because we're too far, and when I try to listen to the radio station online, I find they always black out internet broadcast of the game. But MLB is selling me the ability to get AM radio broadcast of the game over the internet (Ha!)... yeah, I'm really going to pay to listen to AM radio game broadcast, that will happen.

Screw the MLB and screw Bud Selig and screw baseball... I'm done. I'm boxing up all my gear I've bought over the last decade and setting it on fire.

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zones
written by Jason Collette, May 01, 2010

the blackout zones are just ridiculously large. Seattle's extends to the North Dakota border and they do not even broadcast out there. It should be done within a 75-100 mile spot from the stadium and not by broadcast. MLB doesn't air commercials online but we also don't tune into the commercials at home anyhow. Most of us who have Extra Innings or MLB.TV are flipping to another game at a commercial break.

If MLB were to offer a blackout-free option at a higher price point, I think it would sell very well.

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written by Padman Jones, May 01, 2010

I spend most of my time in New Orleans, where they blackout both the Astros and Rangers. I haven't tried mlb.tv in Fort Wayne, but I imagine I won't be getting the Cubs/White Sox, and possibly might miss out on the Reds, Indians, and Tigers as well.

And the price points are already pretty high - maybe not relative to the the TV packages, but such is life when you watch on the computer. So I wouldn't want them to charge any more for blackout-free editions.

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written by Fly, May 01, 2010

Does Arizona, San Diego, San Francisco EVER broadcast their teams games in Las Vegas?

Yes, virtually every game, on DirecTV.

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written by Friendly Helper, May 01, 2010

The blackout issue is serious and is hurting the enjoyment of MLB for many fans. It is clearly something individual clubs have written into their television contracts, and are unwilling to change at all.

For people that are suffering from blackouts for the streaming, there are ways around the issue if you mask your IP and go through a proxy. I do not normally recommend doing something of this ilk, but MLB has forced honest customers into it.

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written by Robert S., May 02, 2010

Bonehead Selig cannot retire or die fast enough! Hopefully the new commish will be someone like Mark Cuban who gets today's sports fan and technology and can explain to the owners why a change in blackout policies would be beneficial to the operation of their clubs.

I am glad for one thing - the in-market archive delay seems has changed to 90 mins after the game ends so it doesn't seem to bad to be able to get to watch a Rockies game on MLB.TV later in the evening compared to having limited playback until the next morning when full playback kicks in.

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written by nomorespin-sports.blogspot.com, May 03, 2010

Fortunately, I live near Atlanta where only the Braves are blacked out. So I don't miss a thing. But looking at the blackout map there is a ridiculously large amount of areas with three or more teams blacked out. For example, Iowa is blackout territory for 6 teams (Minnesota, Milwaukee, both Chicago clubs, St. Louis, and Kansas City).

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written by bmfc1, May 03, 2010

Thank you for your strong comments. In addition to the overly broad blackout rules, FOX had too big of a command on our Saturday viewing. I know that the 4 hour window was lessened by an hour but that doesn't change another 2 problems: 1)even if you subscribe to EI and/or mlb.tv, you only see the game that FOX has decided to show in your area (it's not on EI and it's not on mlb.tv). If FOX is concerned about our not seeing their commercials, the games not shown in our local market should be on EI and mlb.tv with the national ads; 2) The iPhone app does not include FOX games. Really--who would watch a game on their mobile phone if they could watch it on their TV?

These are ways when MLB blindly agreed to whatever FOX wanted in exchange for the cash even if it hurt some of their most loyal fans.

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re: written by Fly, May 01, 2010
written by espnjason, May 03, 2010

Does Arizona, San Diego, San Francisco EVER broadcast their teams games in Las Vegas?

Yes, virtually every game, on DirecTV.

Wrong. If you live in Las Vegas, you should know that any Padres games are a Cox Cable-only exclusive, like a similar situation in the San Diego area.

And if one has Cox Cable, they do not get the Giants, A's, and Diamondbacks broadcasts whereas one does with DirecTV.

So to Put it in short in Las Vegas,

Cox Cable = Angels, Dodgers, and Padres.

DirecTV = Angels, Athletics, Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks.

And in all cases, the Over-The-Air broadcasts are blacked out here as well.

And until the blackout policy changes, the only way the Las Vegas DMA blackout will change is if Las Vegas gets a team.

And I will concur with those who also live in multi-team blackout areas that I would much rather deal with a one or two team blackout than SIX F'n teams.

Until then, I will just refuse to purchase MLB-EI and mlb.tv

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overly large areas
written by Tunin, May 07, 2010

We live in northeastern louisana. I grew up in Dallas and like to watch Rangers games on occasion. Oops, nope. They don't broadcast anywhere near us, but we're considered in their blackout area. We're 230 miles from Dallas. Come on guys. The blackout zones should be 75-100 miles from your stadium. One should be able to drive to a game in less than 1-1.5 hours to be in a blackout zone.

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Not even with MLB extra innings
written by Will, May 08, 2010

I'm sick of MLB and the networks. Specifically FOX. I live outside of Atlanta and pay for MLB extra innings just so I can watch the Yankees games. But today, Saturday, Yankees vs. RedSox, I can't even watch it with MLB extra innings because these jerks black it out on the 2 extra innings networks YES and NESN and then carry the Braves/Phillies game in the market so you can't watch it ANYWHERE. Yankees/RedSox. It's not the A's vs. the Royals.

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yankees-jays MLBNetwork game blacked out tonight in Rays Territory
written by charlie katz, May 24, 2011

Is it possible that blackout rules are broader than before ? That if the Rays are playing at the same time as the Yanks-Jays, that the MLB network showing has to be blacked out to avoid competition that could draw fans away from the Rays game ?

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