You heard about it. The Red Sox and Cubs are wearing a modern version of uniforms worn in 1918 as part of a “turn back the clock” night to commemorate the last time the two teams met in Fenway Park.

If you have MLB Extra Innings, or MLB.TV and were hoping to watch the game, tough luck, you’re blacked out.

And, it’s not just that game, but all the games that ran into the evening on Saturday. That’s because the FOX Game of the Week (for the West Coast, it was between the A’s and Giants from AT&T Park) is in primetime this week. With MLB and FOX having an exclusivity agreement, games that began shortly before the FOX game were blacked out.

So, unless you have access to the game you wished to see via “local listings”, sorry, you’re out of luck.

Thanks, MLB and FOX. Really would have liked to see this once-in-a-lifetime game with the 1918 throwback jerseys being worn by the Red Sox and Cubs. Maybe if the Cubs and Red Sox make the World Series, right? Fat chance.

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Comments (5)

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Well Said
written by bmfc1108, May 21, 2011

I pay for both mlb.tv and Extra Innings and yet MLB has allowed FOX to have this overly broad rule. FOX has the right to ask for it so it was incumbent upon MLB to say no, it's not fair to those that pay $200 to watch every game.

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Angered Red Sox Fan.
written by redsox2004, May 21, 2011

I know! I follow the Sox via MLB.tv and it is so frustrating when they black it out and then do not show it on TV. Hmmm paying money for exclusive rights and then limiting public access...yep, sounds like Rupert Murdoch! Although after seeing the aftermath of Matt Albers on gameday, maybe it is a good thing it was blacked out.

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Here's what gets me
written by Tim B, May 21, 2011

I subscribe to MLB.TV and do not have regular broadcast. I understood the blackout situation when I subscribed (no Yankees or Mets for me). What I didn't know though is that ANY "nationally" broadcast game by Fox would be blacked out. So, if I'm in NY, and they're broadcasting say a Dodgers-Giants game in the west, I'm blacked out. I'm consistently blacked out of probably at least 3 games every weekend. Not counting the Yankees or Mets games.

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...
written by Cosmo, May 22, 2011

Next week Fox controls 6 games in the 7pm window... and USA Today is reporting that Fox wants 10 weeks of primetime games next season.

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If they do...
written by Cla*s Action, May 22, 2011

Expect pressure through litigation regarding blackouts. We will be watching MLB closely.

Signed,
Protecting Consumers

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