MLB on Sirius?

by dagwood on Oct 21, 2008 10:20 PM CDT

Am I the only fan who is ticked off that you can't get MLB on your Sirius radio after the long awaited XM/Sirius merger? Will they get this worked out prior to next year's MLB season? Why does MLB constantly restrict access to its product by charging for nearly everything ie. gameday radio on the internet? One would think that you could attract more fans by inundating people with your product rather than making it more difficult to access. IMO, Football and Basketball have really surpassed MLB in this regard. Why wouldn't you want every kid in America to be watching or listening to baseball at all times rather than granting access to those few whose parents purchase satellite radio or dish t.v.? There is more to baseball than just the local market team. Furthermore, many people live a long ways from any major league team.

Finally, I think the character of America's youth could benefit from the slower, team play of baseball rather than the trash-talking showboating that is so prevalent in basketball.

Go ahead, let me have it.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I was under the impression you could now get "The Best of XM" added to your Sirius subscription

that included the MLB channel and the MLB play-by-play channels.

The same “The Best of Sirius” channels are now available on XM, the NFL channel and the NFL play by play channels.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Oct 21, 2008 10:34 PM CDT reply actions

No...the current "Best of XM" deal...

does not include Home Plate or any of the MLB game channels…

This current sharing of certain programming between the (formerly) two services started at the beginning of October… so really no reason to put the remainder of 2008 MLB on Sirius, since out of market people can hear most of the postseason games on free radio stations, although it would be an ESPN Radio broadcast, and not the local team’s broadcast coverage.

by MillsChC on Oct 22, 2008 1:52 AM CDT up reply actions

It should...

…definitely be available by next season as the NFL, Stern, Martha, and Playboy are now available on XM for $4/mo. I’m not sure how you think MLB is limiting their product anymore than the NFL or MLB. Neither one of those give anything away for free.

by jolietconvict on Oct 22, 2008 12:36 AM CDT reply actions

No, but...

… MLB seems to want to restrict its product more than most with its arcane territorial restrictions and blackouts.

Since we are at the end of a season, I’d imagine that they’ll make some sort of deal to get MLB on Sirius by the beginning of the 2009 season.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Oct 22, 2008 4:05 AM CDT up reply actions

that is likely a good guess

I’d say that MLB is refusing to allow XM/Sirius to allow Sirius subscribers to hop onboard without MLB getting a piece of the pie. In fairness I have no idea if NASCAR and the NFL is just allowing XM/Sirius to allow XM subscribers the opportunity to add those stations, if the entities have agreed to a deal or if the originally structured deals that Sirius struck allowed for this all.

by dmlichte on Oct 22, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I talked to a Sirius rep recently

She said that MLB will be offered next season as a result of the merger. MLB, along with a number of other programs, will be made available to subscribers through an ala carte format.

It may have changed or the rep may have snickered as she hung up the phone on me. I haven’t seen anything or heard any updates.

by socalicubsfan on Oct 22, 2008 9:29 AM CDT reply actions

From what I understand.....

You’ll need a new dual radio to get the MLB channels if you’re a Sirius subscriber. I can’t get a date out of anyone at XM about when we might see them on the market but for the time being neither service has the bandwidth to carry more than 5-10 of each others channels on their own service without cutting channels and since both use different compression techniques ala carte can’t work with existing units. My guess is you’re not going to get more than the MLB 24/7 channel till then.

by GSG on Oct 23, 2008 11:14 AM CDT reply actions