More MLB.tv problems...

by MillsChC on Apr 6, 2008 12:28 AM CDT Comment 21 comments

Anybody know how to fix this problem?

With the old MLB.tv player last year and all through spring-training this year, if I made it full-screen, it would use every inch of my monitor, truly making it "full-screen". Even though I click on "Use the original MLB Media Player" (not the Silverlight one), it now looks to be using an updated version of Windows Media Player. With this version when I click on full-screen mode, it still leaves a black border about 2" wide on top and bottom and about 3" wide on the left and right around the video image.

I have a 17" widescreen laptop monitor, and I've tried every resolution setting to try to make it "truly full-screen" without the black borders...but without any luck.

One other thing, the 5-min archive rule, doesn't seem to be active, cause I watched Saturday's entire game from the archive during the evening tonight. So that's some good news I guess.

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 don't know if this is on topic

for BCB, since it probably only applies to very few of us, however, I have the exact some problem. It really bothers me, because I pay extra for the "premium" version, but the smaller screen this year really decreases the value a lot.

I have not been able to find an MLB.TV dedicated user forum online, and I can't afford to call tech support and sit and hold forever because it's an international toll charge for me.

It really bothers me that after five years of offering this service there are problems every year, and worse, they have zero user communication outside of their one FAQ. MLB.TV, with the different kinds of user environments and different user issues with the different flavors of service, should have an active, and interactive online communication program for their customers so that users can get quick answers on problems, and--more importantly--MLB.TV can get active feedback on the issues that their users experience.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 6, 2008 4:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sure, it's on topic.

It involves baseball, and I know there are many people here who rely on MLB.TV, like JohnM who lives in Europe.

It's typical of MLB Advanced Media that they put out a product that doesn't always work the way it's supposed to, and they don't give it any support.

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

by Al on Apr 6, 2008 4:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, there's a point....

A lot of subscribers are outside the US - this service is in fact marketed to baseball fans outside the US - yet, they provide no regional help line. Other tech/media companies with an international customer base have local or regional support in various countries.....all it takes is a local phone number that can be routed back to New York, or whatever high cost location their tech support is based in....

(As far as topicality, I'm aware that this is the fourth or fifth fanpost on this general topic in recent weeks...)

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 6, 2008 5:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't even mess with the full screen

But I see the same thing. I also bought the premium package thinking I would be able to do the cool little multi-game screen, but of course, no dice. Mlb.tv/Gameday/everything mlb.com offers usually has so many problems I stopped caring years ago. Mickey Mouse operation if ya ask me.

"The Cubs can't be stopped" -- Me

by lilkimmer77 on Apr 6, 2008 7:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's sad, really...

MLB is always talking about how they need to broaden their brand internationally. Here's one of their best chances to do so, and they completely Do Not Get It when it comes to domestic customer service, let alone international.

As noted in another recent post, I gave up on the MLB TV this year, after having a bunch of games that were on Fox blacked out even though they weren't being shown by Fox in my area. Really irritating,

My solution has been to get the radio package, and do the old-fashioned thing of having Pat and Ron on in the background while I read, work on my computer, make dinner, etc. The MLB audio is not without glitches, but there are way fewer than with the video, and at $15 for the whole season it's pretty reasonable. And even my wife has gotten to enjoy hearing Ronnie's exclamations, observations, and muttered complaints - it's very companionable.

"Eighty-five percent of the world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here." - Lee Elia, 1983

by CaughtInTheVines on Apr 6, 2008 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

When are we going to learn?

ALL Saturday games are blacked out until 6pm (Central). It doesn't matter if its on YOUR Fox or not. They are all blacked out. It's been this way for years. It has nothing to do with mlb.tv. They're not offered on Extra Innings either. Fox pays for exclusive rights every Saturday that they show a game. ESPN does the same thing with Sunday Night Baseball. You cant watch Sunday night baseball on mlb.tv OR Extra Innings. Every once in a while there's a 2nd game on Sunday night and you can't watch that one either unless you are in the region of those two games. In that case, you STILL can't watch it on mlb.tv or Extra Innings. You would have to watch it on your local television channel.

Exclusive Rights.

Formerly Big Red (victim of the SBNation upgrade)

by Tackle Box on Apr 6, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same here.

I'd tried MLB extra innings, but it's too expensive, I travel a lot and miss many games, and 70-80 games are on free tv anyway.

Last season I did monthly subscriptions to mlb tv but was turned off by the low quality. So this season I'm back to Pat and Ron for $15. The best deal going.

by Clark Addison on Apr 6, 2008 10:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My Gameday Audio is still not working,

but the last time I called (the 4th) I was given a blog address for help. It's actually the help blog for MLB.TV, so it doesn't help me but it might help you:

http://mlb.ensequence.com

There is supposedly a tech guru moderating the site.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Apr 6, 2008 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for this

it looks like there's a thread about this issue on that forum.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 6, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

On my 5th call (this evening), I spoke with a supervisor. After he got through not helping me with my problem -- which he admits is on their end -- I mentioned your plight. He said that on the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page, there is an international phone number (don't know if it is free or not) and an email address for tech support. I don't know whether the email is read by customer service know-nothings or tech gurus.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Apr 6, 2008 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

Yes there's a number that international subscribers can call. It's a regular US phone number, so not free. I don't mind calling, I just mind sitting on hold for a long time and racking up charges without making progress. I emailed the email contact and got an auto-reply requesting that I be patient due to the "volume" of correspondence. I also got an invitation to log into their "support site" which looks like it should have previously asked questions and answers, etc. but actually appears to be an empty wasteland. If you click on "See All Popular Answers", you get "No matches"......

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 7, 2008 4:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Times to call

My experience (and I've had a lot recently!) is that there is no waiting time if you call in the morning (U.S. time), or at a time when no games are going on. Last night, I called during Sunday Night Baseball -- the only game going, shown on ESPN -- and only waited a minute or two. Calling during a weekday evening when 6 games are going yields a 10-15 minute wait.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Apr 7, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i live in nyc

and i've used mlb.tv for a few years now. it definitely has it's problems, but since i would get zero cubs game without it, i use it. it has it's advantages, nobody talks cubs around here, so i can easily ignore the scores until the game is archived and i'm back from work, which gives me the opportunity to watch most games "live". and i have to say, the 1.2m resolution setting this year is pretty good. it's almost as good as tv, and as for having a problem with the size of the screen, if you have a 17 inch laptop monitor, put it on your lap, how big does the screen have to be if you can put it right in front of your face?

by dogcatratcheese on Apr 6, 2008 10:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I output the video from the computer...

so it's mirrored on my big-screen TV, for the non-WGN games that Extra Innings blacks out (as was the case with Saturday's game). WIth this new black border configuration for the media player, it's like turning my 60-inch TV into around a 25-30" inch TV. You're right...it didn't stop me from watching the entire game.....it's just sorta annoying that they would switch to a media player version that gives you less of an image than with the older version.

by MillsChC on Apr 6, 2008 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How do you do that

My laptop doesn't have an S-video output, only an external monitor port (VGA?). I've tried using a VGA to S-video adapter, then converting to RCA A/V inputs into my analog TV. Doesn't work, but it could be one of the cables or connectors is faulty. My next attempt was going to be using the S-video output on a desktop PC which is nowhere near the TV to connect to a wireless "video sender" doo hickey. That will cost, however, and adds more hardware junk and clutter.

It's a shame, because three years ago I succeeded doing this with an older laptop (now broken) that had an RCA video out.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 7, 2008 4:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My laptop does have an S-video output...

so that's what I use.... along with a audio cable that goes into the headphone jack on the laptop and connects to an AUX input on my stereo.

by MillsChC on Apr 7, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I usually use a laptop

with a 15 inch screen, but I'd rather sit a few feet away than have it right in front of my face. The picture's about 30% smaller than last year. And the MLB tech rep on http://mlb.ensequence.com/ seems to have no clue why.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 7, 2008 4:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs