Sports Media

[zambonir]

No TMobile MLS Season Pass this year.

[bkox]

[andyb]

The MLB deal is through 2028 with T-Mobile so no chance of it going away in the near term like the MLS deal.

[BaseballCat]

Is there some reason T-Mobile only gives you a week to sign up? Why not start now and end April 1st? Just curious on how these things work.

[zambonir]

It's just the way they do things, every week they have a new promotional thing (usually something much less exciting like 40% off movie tickets or a $4 Little Caesar's).

I was really hoping the MLS deal would stay because I do want it but I don't really want to pay for it, and I did switch to T Mobile pretty recently. MLB.TV no longer important to me since I live in the Phillies' region, plus I get it for free as a partial season ticket holder to boot (which I will never use unless I'm bored and want to watch a Mets game, or maybe in September when there are playoff implications).

Still getting a good rate from them though, plus free Apple TV (sans MLS) and Netflix. Hulu also now available. And free airplane wifi though I think they have cut back on that benefit too.

Meanwhile, aren't MLB.TV games free during spring training, or at least last year's subs are still good?

[andyb]

I just assume they make it a little harder to get (i.e. one week) so fewer people will sign up. Saves them some money though I imagine they are probably paying MLB a fraction of the regular price per signup.

The Netflix discount plus MLB plus Apple is a nice bonus (and the bundling of home internet and cell phone is a pretty good deal too that gets me another $10 off Youtube TV). Hulu is kind of useless because I already have the Disney bundle and it doesn't apply to that.

[zambonir]

yeah I haven't figured if it's worth unbundling my Disney. I almost never use Disney itself and honestly barely use ESPN + either at this point, but I do want the latter.

If you are over 55 (as so many are here!) T Mobile's also hard to beat. I'm still on Comcast for Internet but it's only $30.

[BaseballCat]

I have the over 55 deal as well for the past year. I have used the MLBTV, Netflix, AAA discounts. Seems I signed up for Apple TV but I don’t remember and I have not used. Hulu seems to be only available in the plan where you can upgrade your phone every year (Go5g?). I would do Hulu if they let me. I have not heard great things about their internet service. Still stuck with Comcast currently, but might try Glofiber as my neighbor loves it. Being in VA, I like being able to see the Phillies when I want (except Orioles / Nats - stupid blackouts!).

[andyb]

I am on the Magenta Max 55 plan and that gets Hulu too. I just keep phones for 4+ years so those upgrade plans are not that valuable to me. $95 a month gets me home internet, cell phone, and all the add ons.

[BaseballCat]

Weird, Hulu is not showing up as on option for my Magenta Max55.

[andyb]

Apple first half schedule has 2 Phillies games:

“Friday Night Baseball” returns to Apple TV+ on March 29

[andyb]

Maybe some hope for DC area sports fans. In the last 2 weeks MASN has cut a deal to be on Comcast's second tier (not the basic tier) and now on Fubo which is the first non-Direct TV streaming service to have it. Hopefully YTTV will follow suit before the season starts. This is rare as MASN was never on these services in recent years like all the Bally networks. Guessing the sale of the Orioles last month has helped these deals along.

Fubo expands position as home for local sports with MASN carriage agreement

[andyb]

Looks like the prospect showcase games are all on ESPN+ and not MLB.TV. There is a wraparound show as well. Phillies-Tigers at 1 PM tomorrow.

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/03/mlb-spring-breakout-milb-spring-training-prospect-showcase-games-coming-to-espn-march-14-through-17th/

[zambonir]

The Phillies themselves will still be on MLB.TV and local TV at the same time so kind of makes sense even if they didn't also get some $ from ESPN (or as part of overall deal). No blackout either.

[andyb]

ESPN will start to integrate RSNs into their app. I always thought this was the direction they were going. They want to be the hub for sports viewing even if the event is not on ESPN or one of their networks. This combined with their joint venture with Fox and TNT really shows their goal. I am actually OK with this. I prefer one app that has most of the sports out there.

ESPN Integrates Pathway To Regional Sports Network Streams Into Its Main App And...

[zambonir]

For some reason I have never warmed up that. Whether it's Roku or my TV or my computer seems just as easy to use the individual apps. Like, I could have my MLB.TV integrated with my YT Tv but I've never thought to do it (and I guess I actually can't if I'm not buying it through YT anyway).

I'm not real optimistic that any of this will end up working out in a way that's truly user-friendly (financially).

Also Comcast will presumably never do this with ESPN (and Bally won't either for as long as they survive, since they're with Amazon now).

[BaseballCat]

Remember to redeem your T-Mobile access to MLB-TV if that is your cell phone provider

[julio]

Done this morning. Tested and verified on the Roku.

[andyb]

Remember to redeem your T-Mobile access to MLB-TV if that is your cell phone provider

FYI it works for home internet accounts as well. 1 week to redeem the offer.

[BaseballCat]

Still trying to get mine to work. All I am getting is audio on games that are not “free”. Logging out and in has not worked. Guess I have a few days to figure out. Think this happened last year.