MLB.TV via Roku

I am curious if any other BCBers have watched MLB.TV via a Roku device. This is all new to me and I'm considering the purchase of the device for the upcoming holidays.

Apparently, Roku has three channels: Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand and MLB.TV. The Roku hooks up to your TV and then connects to those channels (wirelessly) via your home Internet connection.

I'd love some feedback on how well it works and if it's worth the investment. My local cable providers don't offer EI, so this could be a good alternative to catch some more Cubs games.

about 2 years ago wrigley_boy 10 comments 2 recs |

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Might be worth it...

if you have a computer and/or TV that can’t connect to each other with a $15 RGB or S-Video cable & a $5 audio cable. Still have to purchase the MLB.TV subscription as well.

And I can’t help but roll my eyes at the 1st line of that pitch:

“With Roku and MLB.TV Premium, you can now watch your favorite team no matter where you live.”

Where’s the *blackout policy still applies disclaimer?

by MillsChC on Nov 11, 2009 11:06 AM CST reply actions

Yeah, really - talk about mistruths in advertising.

Still, this Roku thing sounds cool.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Nov 11, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

This seems a bit different thank using $15 cables

because I infer that you can get the HD Roku and then watch the HD broadcasts of the games from MLB.TV on your TV—hopefully resulting in better quality. Does that make sense?

Total BS about the blackouts.

Eamus Catuli!

by wrigley_boy on Nov 11, 2009 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

It looks to have an HDMI input on the back of the unit, so technically it could produce an HD picture…. but, at least with my experience with MLB.TV this past year, most games would rarely be streaming at a good enough quality rate for it to produce an HD picture for more than a coupla minutes at a time.

My point with the $15 cables was, why spend $70 bucks on the Roku, when you could buy a cable that would connect your laptop/desktop to your TV for much less, and probably get the same picture quality most of the time….. however, if you would want to use your laptop for posting during the game, or if your computer isn’t capable of output to an external TV, then it might be worth forking over the cash for it.

by MillsChC on Nov 11, 2009 9:34 PM CST up reply actions

Rec'd

I think this thread bears watching. I am a PC technician, and I am really curious as to the quality of the streaming image.

Might just invest in one, you know, for, uh, support purposes! There are a lot of Cubs fans in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"I lof to hit de home ron!"

by Tekboy on Nov 12, 2009 12:25 PM CST reply actions

Will do.

I’m leaning toward getting one. I just need to find more information on if the HD model supports full HD (video and audio) from MLB.TV. If it does, then it’s a huge (and less expensive) alternative for people whose cable providers don’t offer EI.

Eamus Catuli!

by wrigley_boy on Nov 12, 2009 6:52 PM CST up reply actions

If you do get one...

… please let us know how it works out.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 13, 2009 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

Found this link.....

to a review page of the Roku, and it has a nifty little demo video of some guy trying out a couple of MLB.TV games from back in August using the Roku on his home TV. Looks like it might be worth checking into after all, if the quality he shows, is the quality it is the majority of the time.

Linky

by MillsChC on Nov 16, 2009 2:56 AM CST reply actions

Great find!

I’ve got one on order. Seems like it’s more than sufficient quality.

Eamus Catuli!

by wrigley_boy on Nov 20, 2009 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

Cool...

If you happen to have had a yearly subscription to MLB.TV this past year, you should be able to still access the past season’s archived games… if you do, go back and try out a few games & let us know how the quality looks with whatever internet speed you have.

by MillsChC on Nov 21, 2009 10:13 PM CST up reply actions