MLB 2024 – Better Access for Cord Cutters
In Market Streaming of MLB Games
Over the years we have talked to tens of thousands of people looking to save money on TV and Internet. But one of the legacy features that kept people trapped in overpriced cable or satellite subscriptions was regional coverage of baseball. Many people could not give up their satellite dishes because they wanted access to the Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) that held exclusive rights to air the local MLB teams.
However, over the last few years, as more and more people “cut the cord,” the Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) have lost a significant number of viewers. In many cases, the RSNs have gone bankrupt. Turns out that when your business model depends on cable and satellite subscriptions with their monthly Regional Sports Fees, your business model will fail when lots of people who don’t watch baseball stop paying those fees.
Enter MLB.TV. While baseball fans could previously stream out-of-market games, they have never been able to do in market streaming. Essentially, in past years, if the Rockies were playing in downtown Denver, fans could only watch those games with a cable or satellite subscription. Now, with the financial collapse of the RSNs, the MLB has taken over the bulk of distribution for three teams in particular via streaming.
While these three teams represent only 10% of the 30 total MLB teams, its a start. While other teams will not doubt adopt this distribution model in the future, for now Rockies, Padres, and DBack fans can now pay $99 per year to get in market streaming. And if they want to see most of the Rockies games, both in and out of market, they can pay an annual fee of $199.
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