Sports Media

[zambonir]

I am pleased about this. ESPN app on Apple TV has this feature but doesn't work on other devices. Two screens is plenty though! (split or P in P).

YouTube TV launches early access to a 'multiview' feature for watching four...

[andyb]

I will give that a try this weekend. Looks like it will be limited to just the NCAA channels for now, but eventually they will let you pick any 4 channels. Hopefully they will let you save that configuration. There are rare instances of 4 channels being useful, but one might want 4 news channels for election night. Or on any Saturday one might have a 4-channel college football selection where the channels would vary based upon the games that week.

[zambonir]

I have found three to be the max, so you get at least one decently-sized (if funnily shaped) main screen. Two college football games and a baseball playoff game, for instance.

[zambonir]

I realize the numbers and the advertising model just doesn't pencil out compared to the cable bundle/streaming subscription $ (flawed as that now is too) but wouldn't it be nice if they could just put local baseball broadcasts on free TV again? NBC or Channel 17, whatever. Heck, remember when those of us who did have cable in the '80s and early '90s could see almost every Braves and Cubs game?

RSN armageddon? What fans can expect as likely Bally Sports bankruptcy looms

[andyb]

That article does imply more free TV games is part of the solution. The existential problem of $30 a month direct streaming for local sports is that few people would subscribe and watch. So the best financial decision for teams would have really low ratings.

That is a dangerous path for any sport to take that is so reliant on local dollars. Without free games one eventually loses the fan base. Fewer people to go to games, buy jerseys, etc.

I do wonder if a combined MLB, NBA, and NHL service is the way to go for paid local streaming. The cost would be like 1.5 times the cost of any one of those sports. Maybe 30% of TV HHs would sign up for that rather than 10% for any one sport.

[BaseballCat]

Thanks for the info. Switched to T-mobile ~3weeks ago. Hopefully I can get access

[andyb]

Apple TV+ games no longer free. You will need a subscription to see them. I was kind of expecting this after the first season was available to everyone. 2 Phillies games on the first half schedule.

Apple TV+ drops its free offering for ‘Friday Night Baseball,’ expands games to...

[andyb]

It is Tmobile MLB day. To get free MLB.TV one needs the Tmobile Tuesdays app. Took about 60 seconds to redeem and link to my existing account. Should work for most phone and internet plans. Only one week to redeem it though.

[zambonir]

I never got around to switching to T Mobile in time for the MLS deal alas. Don't need MLB.

[BaseballCat]

Can you only watch on your phone? I signed up today, but everything I read was phone or tablet. I have not tried my TV yet, but that is where I would like to watch my games. Just figured I would ask those that have had it before. Thanks

[andyb]

Works everywhere. I watch on my TV (Fire TV or Roku apps), laptop, or phone. Subject to blackouts of course but I am not in Philly (though I can't see the Phillies when they play the Nationals or Orioles).

[BaseballCat]

Awesome. Same for me in Virginia with the blackouts. Figured I would ask as everything I read focused on phone and tablets. I will watch on my phone but I don’t want to

[zambonir]

yeah once you have an account/log-in it works everywhere.

[andyb]

I actually like watching on the TV more. On my laptop it often forces you to watch commercials. On the TV I can start the game 30 minutes late, avoid my phone, and fast forward through the commercials. That could be a 90-minute game to watch these days with the new rules.

[zambonir]

I'm going to miss it (I mean, I have it, but I can't watch the Phillies on it). Though I guess I can still do the speedwatching on YouTube TV if I want.

[BaseballCat]

To be clear, if the phone was my only option I would watch at times, but prefer the TV. It would be nice to FF through the commercials. Since I did not think T-Mobile was doing this I renewed MLB audio even though it was ten bucks more. Next year I will cancel and wait and see if they do it again

[zambonir]

you can probably still get a refund on your audio package (though act now!)

[BaseballCat]

Not even sure how to do that at this point, but will look into it

[andyb]

Full Peacock schedule here. Phillies are the first game on 4/23.

2023 MLB on Peacock Schedule: How to watch, live stream Sunday morning baseball...

[schillingfan]

Today’s game was one of those days where I could not watch the season opener as it was on NBC 10 Philly and not Comcast. Comcast did rebroadcast the game at so I put it on at 9: and fast forwarded through the commercials and avoided the game day thread.