Who Subscribes to MLBTV.com?

[steveox]

I do. For $20 a month you cant beat that! Its a whole lot cheaper then watching it on Direct tv.Plus you get the replays whatever you wanna watch your favorite team play.

[yankees-chick]

sometimes I pay per game when they're blacked out on TV, but sometimes they are blacked out there too! I do, though, subscribe to the mlb radio, which is great at work.

[Justing1051]

Can't beat MLB Extra Innings...but pretty soon I'll be moving and don't know if my provider will carry it. In that case, is the quality of video bad or is it pretty good? I wouldn't want to buy it and see fast-moving, colored pixels.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Haven't considered it. Is it any good

[sschirmer]

I subscribed last year. It was pretty awesome. The only thing I didn't like was their billing. They want to continue to bill you through the offseason. That's a great deal, from Nov to March I watch nothing, but still pay. You gotta love that...if you're MLB.

[steveox]

You dont have to to keep pay the offseason you can cancel until next season starts.

[Jibbs67]

When I get my laptop I will likely subscribe to that so I can watch the early games during class. It's really only 20 dollars a month? Thats a good deal, hopefully extra innings ends up being on cable though. It's looking like that may happen, I can't see my parents switching to DirecTV.

[Green Monster]

I did last year, but it was only for a couple of months. I'll probably go ahead and subscribe for the entire season. On a scale of 1-10, I thought the picture was about a 7 or 8. Better than nothing.

One thing for people to remember is when whenever you want to quit subscribing to a month or year subscription is that you call MLB.TV and tell a service rep that you want to cancel your subscription or else you will be automatically billed every month regardless if you want that month or not.

[2Chance]

What about size? Does it fill your computer screen?

------------------
A few Jacksons to spare for a good cause:gt

[cardsfanatic]

I've had MLBTV the past two seasons but I'm not sure if I'm going to get it a third. I'll give you a "hold no punches" review of the service though. Instead of the vague "dude, it's good" variety.

GOOD THINGS
1) You get a ton of games. That goes without saying but it's the number one draw, IMO.

2) If you spend the extra 5 bucks per month you also get the "archives" and "one pitch mode" games. I love the "one pitch mode" games. Especially if I'm out of town and miss a week of Cardinal games. I can come back and queue all of the games and then watch them in one pitch mode. You just see the pay off pitch of each AB. A game that'd normally take 3 hours to watch is reduced to about 35 minutes. GREAT feature. And the archives rule. Although I've watched most of them. But they have games dating back to the 1960's archived that you can go back and watch.

3) It's pretty reliable. My service was only down once in two years and it was because some ******* at MLBTV.com accidentally did something and canceled service for a bunch of people who were still paying for the service. More on their techie guys later.

4) MLBTV Mosaic is a great little tool. You can watch 6 games at a time, get a scrolling count of every AB going on in the MLB at that time while watching a game, zoom in and watch just one game or whatever you wish.

NOW, THE BAD:
1) Their billing is ridiculous. They charge you during the off-season without ever telling you this. They renew your account without telling you this. Getting a refund is damn near impossible, too. Because of their "if you use MLB TV once post-billing then you cannot get a refund" clause. I exchaged words with one of their stooges on the phone over that when they charged me $40 for the off-season before I realized it. That's also the reason I think I'm going to pass this year. I like the product but it's the sheer principle of their rather shady business tactics.

2) They never, and I mean, _NEVER_ respond to tech support or billing support e-mails. I have multiple friends who have used the product too and sent e-mails to them -- same story, each time. They _never_ answer a customer support e-mail.

3) When you are forced to call the to cancel or talk to them about something they keep you on hold for -- no joke -- 30 minutes. I have never gotten through to them any quicker than that. Flat out ridiculous.

4) During September you might as well not even have MLB TV. They black out _every_ freaking game that is of any playoff importance. I'm not kidding you, either. If it is an important game in a division or wildcard race it is blacked out. I went on there the 3rd week of September last year and out of 12 games that day I could watch _four_.

5) The picture and sound is only meh. It's not totally horrible but it's certainly not good... or even solid. It's passable and watchable but if there were a better option on the table I'd take it. Since I can't get any of the DirectTV packages (no dish, only HDTV Cable here) it's my only option. But if there were a better option there's no way I'd settle for the picture MLB TV gives you. Some of the archived games have such bad video quality that it gives me headaches and I can't watch them. I literally get queasy watching them because the picture is so bad.

6) If you're a fan of your local team then you might as well not get it. Every game will be blacked out. And if you live in Iowa or either one of the Dakota's then you definitely should NOT get it. They consider some absurd amount like 8 teams to be "local teams" for Iowa with every one of those teams games blacked out.

7) I really can't stress enough how absolutely horrible their customer service is. And I'm not just speaking for myself here. I know a lot of people who have had the same issues as me with their customer service. It's just horrendous. There's no other way of putting it, honestly.

8) Finally, some of their games are shot on home camcorders with no announcers at all. It's only a few games... maybe one or two a week that aren't being broadcast (usually early games). They'll just set a camera up on a tripod and let it film. No crap. It's at such a bad angle and zoomed so far out you can't see crap all that's happening.

Overall, it's a solid service and honestly, the product is worth $20 a month if you have no other option or you can live with the video quality. But, don't say I didn't warn you when you have to deal with their horrible customer service. I'm not lying and would swear an oath that they have worse customer service than Jet Blue. :)

[Erik Bedard]

Which is better: MLB.TV, or XM Satellite Radio?

[Jibbs67]

alot of stuff

At least with the camcorder games, you get to see them. The Devil Rays only have like 150 games televised by their 2 stations each year, so therefore theres like 12 games that don't get on TV. Usually they occur during 4 game series's, typically when at home against a bad team when the game starts early.

Last year I believe it happened against the Blue Jays, A's, and Mariners. So actually a bad camera angle is better than nothing, obviously thats one of the cases where i'd just listen to it on the radio.

They actually bill during the offseason? That's pretty stupid, maybe I wont get it then. Is it at least fairly easy to cancel, like can you just press a button or something or do you seriously have to call and wait 30 minutes just to cancel?

[RBi]

I've had MLBTV the past two seasons but I'm not sure if I'm going to get it a third. I'll give you a "hold no punches" review of the service though. Instead of the vague "dude, it's good" variety.

GOOD THINGS
1) You get a ton of games. That goes without saying but it's the number one draw, IMO.

2) If you spend the extra 5 bucks per month you also get the "archives" and "one pitch mode" games. I love the "one pitch mode" games. Especially if I'm out of town and miss a week of Cardinal games. I can come back and queue all of the games and then watch them in one pitch mode. You just see the pay off pitch of each AB. A game that'd normally take 3 hours to watch is reduced to about 35 minutes. GREAT feature. And the archives rule. Although I've watched most of them. But they have games dating back to the 1960's archived that you can go back and watch.

3) It's pretty reliable. My service was only down once in two years and it was because some ******* at MLBTV.com accidentally did something and canceled service for a bunch of people who were still paying for the service. More on their techie guys later.

4) MLBTV Mosaic is a great little tool. You can watch 6 games at a time, get a scrolling count of every AB going on in the MLB at that time while watching a game, zoom in and watch just one game or whatever you wish.

NOW, THE BAD:
1) Their billing is ridiculous. They charge you during the off-season without ever telling you this. They renew your account without telling you this. Getting a refund is damn near impossible, too. Because of their "if you use MLB TV once post-billing then you cannot get a refund" clause. I exchaged words with one of their stooges on the phone over that when they charged me $40 for the off-season before I realized it. That's also the reason I think I'm going to pass this year. I like the product but it's the sheer principle of their rather shady business tactics.

2) They never, and I mean, _NEVER_ respond to tech support or billing support e-mails. I have multiple friends who have used the product too and sent e-mails to them -- same story, each time. They _never_ answer a customer support e-mail.

3) When you are forced to call the to cancel or talk to them about something they keep you on hold for -- no joke -- 30 minutes. I have never gotten through to them any quicker than that. Flat out ridiculous.

4) During September you might as well not even have MLB TV. They black out _every_ freaking game that is of any playoff importance. I'm not kidding you, either. If it is an important game in a division or wildcard race it is blacked out. I went on there the 3rd week of September last year and out of 12 games that day I could watch _four_.

5) The picture and sound is only meh. It's not totally horrible but it's certainly not good... or even solid. It's passable and watchable but if there were a better option on the table I'd take it. Since I can't get any of the DirectTV packages (no dish, only HDTV Cable here) it's my only option. But if there were a better option there's no way I'd settle for the picture MLB TV gives you. Some of the archived games have such bad video quality that it gives me headaches and I can't watch them. I literally get queasy watching them because the picture is so bad.

6) If you're a fan of your local team then you might as well not get it. Every game will be blacked out. And if you live in Iowa or either one of the Dakota's then you definitely should NOT get it. They consider some absurd amount like 8 teams to be "local teams" for Iowa with every one of those teams games blacked out.

7) I really can't stress enough how absolutely horrible their customer service is. And I'm not just speaking for myself here. I know a lot of people who have had the same issues as me with their customer service. It's just horrendous. There's no other way of putting it, honestly.

8) Finally, some of their games are shot on home camcorders with no announcers at all. It's only a few games... maybe one or two a week that aren't being broadcast (usually early games). They'll just set a camera up on a tripod and let it film. No crap. It's at such a bad angle and zoomed so far out you can't see crap all that's happening.

Overall, it's a solid service and honestly, the product is worth $20 a month if you have no other option or you can live with the video quality. But, don't say I didn't warn you when you have to deal with their horrible customer service. I'm not lying and would swear an oath that they have worse customer service than Jet Blue. :)

A couple things... #1 there is a little check mark when signing up that you pick if you want to have payments "auto charged" if checked you will be billed from march-october.

I checked mine and here is what their email stated:

PAYMENT: The credit card on file with us will be automatically charged $19.95 with monthly billing during April through October.

2nd point, I already hinted on. You are not charged on the off season (i have not been over the past 2 anyway) it is clearly stated March through October (the comment above was taken directly off of my March payment email, so it says April-October because I already paid for March.)

Plus I get monthly emails telling me I was charged, so I am aware of the charges being made.

I can not comment on the support, simply because I never had to deal with them.

Moving on...

Quality of the games... I am going to go on the record and say this "it beats reading the box scores" and listening to XM. (I have both)

Now, they are offering a new level to their services this season.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/premium.jsp?c_id=mlb

MLB Mosaic will allow you to watch 6 games at the same time, and listen to one while viewing all 6. in TV quality video. 700K video is 2 times the quality. but that might not improve on the "camcorder like" video on some games.. because there are games where their are not TV cameras there so they make due with lesser quality of cameras. (this is not that often by the way.)

You can goto the link above and see a demo of the quality that will be offered...

Blackouts- I did not have issues with blackouts at all last year.. other than when i tried to watch games that were played in ATL... (my local market) and they offer a black out list.. which to the best of my knowledge, does not change depending on if teams are in the play off push, so i am not sure why you had issues there.

MLB.tv v/s XM?

I have both and use the both alot. XM is handy for when i am at the gym or to and from work... but let's face it most of us would rather watch the game than listen to audio... MLB premium offers gameday audio as well.. but XM is mobile. so I have both..

Plus the MLB baseball shows are 2nd to none... you really get a feel on the game by listening to these guys just talk baseball...

my 2 ¢.

[cardsfanatic]

They may have added that check mark in this year but I assure you it was _not_ there the past two years. And they do charge during the off-season. Other than that (the only fact or non-fact I could debate) you're certainly welcome to your opinion on the service. As I have my own.

[AutographCollector]

Which is better: MLB.TV, or XM Satellite Radio?
XM. With XM ALL games are heard. No blackouts, no restrictions. All baseball, all the time.

[cardsfanatic]

Here's a thread at a board I frequent about MLBTV. If you don't trust my opinion then here's about 100 opinions on it. The overall opinion seems to mirror mine. The product is just fine... the customer service and unscrupulous ways they bill your credit card is about the worst on the planet.

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?t=139493

EDIT: Forgot to put the link in there.

[RBi]

We can stick to the facts. This is straight off of their site:



- Automatic Renewal and Refund Policies for Certain Services:
For certain Services purchased on a monthly basis (e.g., MLB.TV Premium Monthly and MLB.TV Monthly subscriptions), the term begins when you purchase and ends on October 31 of that year, with monthly billing during each of March-October at the then prevailing monthly rate. Unless you signified otherwise at purchase, the subscription will automatically renew on March 1 of each subsequent year and end on October 31 of each subsequent year, with monthly billing resuming during each of March – October at the previous year’s rate. To cancel your monthly subscription or this automatic renewal feature, send an e-Mail to cssubscriptionfeedback@website.mlb.com or call Customer Service at 866-800-1275. Cancellation will become effective as of the next monthly billing cycle following receipt.

For Services purchased on a yearly basis (e.g., MLB.TV Premium Yearly, MLB.TV Yearly and MLB.com Gameday Audio Yearly subscriptions), the term begins when you purchase and ends on the last day of February of the next year, with one-time billing immediately following your purchase. Unless you signified otherwise at purchase, the subscription will automatically renew on March 1 of the next year at the previous year’s rate. To cancel this automatic renewal feature send an e-Mail to cssubscriptionfeedback@website.mlb.com or call Customer Service at 866-800-1275.

It defaults as auto renew. (let's face it they are a business who wants to gain money.) 2 years ago when I signed up it clearly said. "keep this checked if you want to be billed..." I wanted auto renew, so I left it checked. and I did indeed get billed monthly. I have been a monthly paying customer for 2 full seasons and 2 off seasons... I have NEVER been billed for the months of November, December, January or February. As it clearly states above. "with monthly billing resuming during each of March – October at the previous year’s rate."

I am not saying that you are not being billed, but I have not.. and that is FACT. and also it is FACT that their T.O.S. clearly state that you should not be billed. So that issue is an issue that you might be having. I would suggest you calling them.


EDIT: As I wrote this I called the number provided on their site (shown above) and I got a Representative on the line after waiting for 7 minutes and 36 seconds... (then I simply hung up... ha ha) So that really isn't that bad... for a Saturday.

In closing, it is not perfect... but if you would rather watch the games I think the services would work for you. Obviously not the same if in deed you end up getting over billed.

[redlegsfan21]

I just get Gameday Audio. I think it's pretty neat and cheap. $15 for one year. Plus, baseball isn't a TV game, it's a lot more enjoyable on the radio.

[Spieluhr]

I had MLB.tv last, a couple of things. The blackouts are fairly easy to get around using a simple proxy outside of the blackout area.I believe this year Mosaic is only available on MLB.tv premium. They are also saying the premium is offering 700 kbs/sec while normal is offering 400 kbs/sec.

[captsapp]

I had the Premium package last year and was very happy. A couple of times I have had issues where they either blacked out games that I should have seen or the service was down. They've always helped me out very nicely. And I don't know about anyone else, but I was NOT charged during the off-season. They sent me an e-mail 2 weeks ago warning me that my service would start being charged again in April. The video quality wasn't all that great, but my computer is crap. I'm hoping with a new video card it will improve, though. I can't run Mosaic right now b/c of my computer. Overall, though, I was pretty happy. Especially to get to watch Dodgers games from Georgia.

[M'sfan4ever]

I subscribed last year. It was pretty awesome. The only thing I didn't like was their billing. They want to continue to bill you through the offseason. That's a great deal, from Nov to March I watch nothing, but still pay. You gotta love that...if you're MLB.


The best way to avoid the off season billing is to pay for the whole season in advance rather than choosing the monthly billing option. I have subscribed for two years now, and have done it both ways. The monthly billing option was a nightmare that way, but last year I paid for the whole season in advance and never had a problem once the season ended.

For those that are curious the picture quality is quite good, if not TV quality. I'm really looking forward to seeing if the MLB Mosaic works this year. I downloaded the Beta version last year, and never could get it to work. This years version looks way superior, and I only hope that they are ready for the April 2 rollout. Last year they kept announcing it, and never actually released it until 2/3 of the season was over. Anyways, for Canadians like myself, or for those that don't have DirectTV, MLBTV is a great way to see the games. I watch all of or parts of 3-4 games every day. I love it and highly recommend it.

About the only good thing about living in Canada, no blackouts. Well except for the Blow Jays, and I mean who cares about the Blow Jays?

[Blowfly]

I subscribed last year and it was great. I will this year also and I understand that a lot of the cable companies are offering a full rebate to any of their customers, so basically it is free and EVERYBODY likes free.

[Padday]

The best way to avoid the off season billing is to pay for the whole season in advance rather than choosing the monthly billing option. I have subscribed for two years now, and have done it both ways. The monthly billing option was a nightmare that way, but last year I paid for the whole season in advance and never had a problem once the season ended.

For those that are curious the picture quality is quite good, if not TV quality. I'm really looking forward to seeing if the MLB Mosaic works this year. I downloaded the Beta version last year, and never could get it to work. This years version looks way superior, and I only hope that they are ready for the April 2 rollout. Last year they kept announcing it, and never actually released it until 2/3 of the season was over. Anyways, for Canadians like myself, or for those that don't have DirectTV, MLBTV is a great way to see the games. I watch all of or parts of 3-4 games every day. I love it and highly recommend it.

About the only good thing about living in Canada, no blackouts. Well except for the Blow Jays, and I mean who cares about the Blow Jays?
I'm seriously thinking about it. It doesn't seem too expensive and I really don't have a choice as to where I get my games from. In fact, it's a lot better value than if I was to subscribe to the only channel that shows baseball here and even then I wouldn't be given the choice of what games I want to watch and I therefore would maybe get only a few Mariners games. Also, absalutely no blackouts.:D

[M'sfan4ever]

I'm seriously thinking about it. It doesn't seem too expensive and I really don't have a choice as to where I get my games from. In fact, it's a lot better value than if I was to subscribe to the only channel that shows baseball here and even then I wouldn't be given the choice of what games I want to watch and I therefore would maybe get only a few Mariners games. Also, absalutely no blackouts.:D


If you love baseball, and don't live in the States, it's absolutely the way to go. $100 to be able to watch every game, plus the replays, plus the audio, plus the classic games, plus the Mosaic, is a pretty sweet deal in my opinion.

[The Dude]

I just get Gameday Audio. I think it's pretty neat and cheap. $15 for one year. Plus, baseball isn't a TV game, it's a lot more enjoyable on the radio.

You've convinced me to buy Gameday Audio. I spent all of today relistining to last years World Series, and that alone was worth the 15 bucks.

[bluezebra]

Can't beat MLB Extra Innings...but pretty soon I'll be moving and don't know if my provider will carry it. In that case, is the quality of video bad or is it pretty good? I wouldn't want to buy it and see fast-moving, colored pixels.

Why wouldn't you continue your DirecTV in your new location?

Bob

[bailiff]

I had MLB TV last season and I enjoyed it. Was it as good as watching it on the big screen, NO, but I do a lot of work on the computer in my office, so it's great to be able to watch games at work. It's worth the 20 buck.

[joe_knowitall]

How can we get around our local teams getting blacked out on mlb.tv? Send me a pm if you know. We all need to help fight blackouts.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Is what would be a good idea is if DirecTV or an InDemand Shareholder (i.e. Comcast, Time Warner, Cox) would let EI subscribers watch the games on their websites...that way that when I travel I can still catch games when I travel with out purchasing MLB.TV...I spend about 300 bucks a year just to watch baseball, now lets add the gambling to the cost of the product.