Sports Media

[zambonir]

Incidentally the MLB.TV site appears to be non-functional. I'm still showing as "current subscriber" even though it expired on 2/28/2022. My auto-renewal is off but there's no option to change it. Or buy it fresh.

Okay, I think I found the "upgrade" button that works. Is there a month-to-month subscription usually? Obviously would cost more in total but we are actually moving back to Philly soon.

[julio]

Okay, I think I found the "upgrade" button that works. Is there a month-to-month subscription usually? Obviously would cost more in total but we are actually moving back to Philly soon.

Yeah, and unless you want to watch other teams' games (or archived games), there's little in-market reason to pay for mlb.tv. I did it for a while, to watch games delayed - but didn't use it all that much, given that I already knew the results.

The current model is, in-market you're expected to spring for a cable service. Which means you get to pay through the nose to subsidize a whole boatload of absolute garbage channels (including some that you might find actually offensive, not just useless). MLB clearly still doesn't understand what cord-cutting is all about.

[zambonir]

Well, my needs are very different than yours. I'm a cord-cutter, but with a full streaming TV package. I need ESPN and HBO (which I get for free) and other channels, and also the networks, since I only get half the local channels without constantly moving the antenna. Unfortunately I'll have to give up my longtime heavily discounted Directv Stream service for Hulu or YouTube to get NBC Philly. I won't rule out Comcast either, at least not while there's an introductory rate.

But none of that helps me for the next three months! Actually my best play might be to get a PA billing address now and just make the change to my service. At least based on my current experience that, not actual location, determines the channel package (i.e. when I'm visiting family in PA I am still watching the Portland regional sports network on my cord-cutter service. Whereas MLB.TV also uses IP addresses. Which I guess suggests another possibility, lol).

And MLB doesn't really have much control over this stuff. It is dictated by the huge boatloads of money they get from Comcast (as well as Fox etc.) until those contracts (or the companies willingness to pay for that level of control) run their course. Half the reason they paid the Phillies for those rights is to try and force people like you and I to subscribe (much more than simply viewership and advertising). And the cord-cutting/lack of a la carte is an industry-wide problem (i.e. we could just as easily say that Fox News or the Cartoon Network or ESPN doesn't understand what cord-cutting is all about).

[julio]

Which I guess suggests another possibility, lol

That other possibility is a pain, though, if your location actually matters for...well, pretty much any other service.

And of course, my solution to this is...streaming audio. Scott Franzke is far and away the most talented member of the Phils' broadcast team. Add to that, not having to put up with the inanity of "sideline" nonsense stepping on actual game coverage... and my computer screen is fully available for doing other things while listening to games.

My real conflicts are: 1) dinner, on days where that encroaches on 7 pm starts (common - wife's frequently not home from her studio until after 6); 2) evening conflicts (organizational meetings, etc., which typically START around 7 pm). I would delight in Saturday afternoon games, if those hadn't gone the way of T. Rex.

[schillingfan]

Yes and no. I had it with Hulu. I switched to Sling when Hulu raised its rates. Sling is only $30.00 and has everything I want, but NBC sports Philly. I have had the Phillies on TV since the days of Prism! So I’m going to to figure out the cheapest way to get everything I want. Like a lot of people, I swap out my streaming services depending on what I want.

[schillingfan]

That’s an alternative. I don’t have an actual radio anymore! How do you do streaming audio?

[xogfog]

You can go to Audacy.com and listen to both 94.1 for Phillies and Eagles and 97.5 for Flyers and Sixers. Just search by city and choose Philadelphia and you will see those stations.

[julio]

That’s an alternative. I don’t have an actual radio anymore! How do you do streaming audio?

MLB Gameday Audio, on my computer. I unsubscribed to prevent the auto-renewal during the lockout, but will most likely re-up.

I'm not currently finding any page on mlb.com that allows subscribing only to audio - but an indication that you can do that from the Gameday page of an ongoing game. I can't test that now.

If that fails.. at least last year, WIP (the Phils' flagship broadcaster) was available at audacy.com...without a game blackout.

[xogfog]

Here are the links so you don't have to search

SportsRadio 94WIP - Philadelphia's Sports Leader - LISTEN LIVE | Audacy

97.5 The Fanatic - Philly’s Best Sports Talk! - LISTEN LIVE | Audacy

[zambonir]

That other possibility is a pain, though, if your location actually matters for...well, pretty much any other service.

I just meant using a VPN, which I have never tried for MLB.TV (no reason to) but have to catch the occasional Eagles game (since it is almost never my local game). If I did the full address change I would get those too! Should have also thought of this before I bought the rest of the NBA package this year.

I could also just settle for audio only (and national games) for April and part of May, which might be fine.

Having not lived in town for so very long I still can't get used to the fact that either of those radio stations - or anything on FM - are sports. Back in the day WPST (the former 97.5 station) was even more important to me than WYSP (which I still can't even think of as WIP).

Given the 20 bucks a month I was already paying for MLB.TV (approximately) and the other features, I will pay the price difference between Sling and Hulu. It's also about the same as what I'm already paying Directv stream (which would also be higher if my rate wasn't grandfathered).

[julio]

I just meant using a VPN

Yeah, I knew that, z. For me, using a VPN has its own issues, because sometimes you WANT your local network's real location to be seen by a server.

[zambonir]

I have only ever used browser extensions, which are easy to toggle on and off (if not, I assume, the most secure or easily configured option).

[julio]

I have only ever used browser extensions, which are easy to toggle on and off (if not, I assume, the most secure or easily configured option).

Hmmm....

[andyb]

Gelb has started a podcast outside of the Athletic. Phillies Therapy.

Phillies Therapy | a podcast by Paul Boye & Matt Gelb

[zambonir]

So, I just started a YouTube TV free trial using a PA zip code and billing address, and am currently watching the Phillies on NBCSN. I'm not even sure they would have checked my billing address, since it goes through Google pay rather than the credit card per se. The system did note that I can't use the service out-of-area indefinitely, but the limit is three months, and that only seems to affect the local broadcast channels (i.e. when you are travelling, if you watch NBC or FOX, you get the feed for the city you are in, not the home area, which I'm sure has to do with their network affiliate agreements and the advertising).

If you're interested/willing in purchasing a $65-70 cord-cutting service and live in one of the MLB.TV blackout areas that is still in the general region, might be worth checking whether NBCSN is available in your zip code (and if it isn't but you have family in a zip code that is close to Philly, also an option, depending on the billing zip code factor).

[andyb]

My 5G router makes YTTV think I am in wrong market already (Baltimore instead of DC) so I have to set my location using my cell phone every 3 months. If you have relatives in Philly I imagine you could get them to do that for you to keep the Philly stations. I admit I just don't watch local news any more because there are so many ways to get the weather forecast and local sports highlights, so I mainly care about getting local sports channels.

[zambonir]

Yeah it doesn't matter to me. In fact for now I'd rather be able to see my actual local channels, but I am getting NBCSN Philly instead of Root Sports NW (which YouTube doesn't actually carry anyway). Timbers are mostly on local TV here, of course I can just use antenna for that too. And by June I will actually be in Philly.

And yeah I assume the three months is resettable anyway. Like, if I'd thought to do this last year my trip back to PA in May would have started the clock again.

Obviously paying $65-70 a month is still too much if all you want is something MLB.TV sells out of market for $120 a year. And this hack wouldn't work for me if I still wanted my local RSN (whether for a month or indefinitely).

[andyb]

The thing you get the streaming package for is really national sports these days. All the stuff on the broadcast networks and ESPN and TNT and FS1 that are not on streaming packages. The day will come when we can get that stuff on apps like ESPN+, but we are still a few years away from that.

[zambonir]

Well, it's not just about sports for me, though unlike for sports (and news) many of the other channels (AMC, FX, obviously HBO and all other premiums) now have a la carte options. As do the networks if you want on-demand/streaming (Hulu for ABC, Peacock for NBC, Paramount for CBS). But there's also a point where bundling starts to look pretty good! But if you're only into one sport and not into entertainment channels, not so much.

[andyb]

I just get lots of those for free. Paramount+ free with Tmobile. Peacock free with AMEX (though that was just an Olympics special). Disney Bundle ($12.99 version) free with AMEX. HBO $25 off the annual with AMEX.

Definitely check your credit card offers because they have lots of these little discounts there.