Once again, MLB.com Screws the Customer
by dfrancon on Apr 6, 2009 6:19 PM CDT
69 comments
So here I am in Dallas, trying to listen to WGN audio for the Cubs game on Opening Day. I was perplexed because 30 minutes before gametime, when you usually can hear pre-game interviews and such, I kept getting the Astros broadcast despite clicking on WGN. There was no error or warning message letting me know of any issue on MLB's end. I can't watch the game on MLB.com because it is blacked out in Dallas, apparently.
I called MLB.com's customer service line and got a person who clearly had no idea what was going on. She finally put me on hold and asked, then came back with the news that MLB is having trouble with their WGN feed. She had no answer for why they have posted no notice to let their customers understand the annoyance of getting the Astros feed when clicking on WGN. A higher up guy had nothing to offer, other than that they don't know when it will be fixed. I asked about lifting the blackout or refunding a portion of the fee to compensate subscribers for missing--of all games--the Pat/Ron broadcast of Opening Day. That didn't go over so well.
So, here I am on Opening Day listening to the ANNOYING Milo Hamilton. I would boycott MLB.com, but I don't have television and this is the only way for me to follow the team. I posted this so you could save yourself the money and aggravation if you have any other options.
I am not happy, but such is the effect of a monopoly.
ARGH.
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 just bought the audio package and have been trying to get WGN to work, but to no avail. Really annoying not being able to listen to Pat & Ron on opening day.
by JimboJet on Apr 6, 2009 6:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That sucks.
And figures… why they can’t get this right is beyond me. Why on Earth they would black out the MLB.TV telecast in Dallas is beyond me, too.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 6, 2009 6:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They pretty much always black out Astros games
in Dallas.
by dfrancon on Apr 6, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, right.
That’s still stupid.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 6, 2009 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
its blacked out in a few other areas.
ive been seeing a lot of my friends complaining about it being blacked out via facebook. thank god for site that illegally stream games
by Glacier on Apr 6, 2009 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What are some that you know of?
I really don’t like following games on my phone or sitting in a bar for three hours
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Apr 6, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey
if you really want to know let email me dco285 @ yahoo .com
I dont want to throw it up on here. i was told to keep it kind of quite. and i dont need the site getting shut down. it’s my only hope for saturday games since i live out of state and have to deal with them nasty fox blackouts (screw you FOX, Selig ect.)
by Glacier on Apr 7, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have...
digital cable with everything including extra innings. The game is said to be playing on espn 2, 2 channels of EI and foxoklahoma. I’m forced to watch it on fox because of the location crap. Should be able to watch it on any channel I want, namely one with len and bob.
stupid stupid stupid bud selig and his band of clowns
I didn't get the players I wanted in the offseason!! Hopefully I get what I want in the Regular Season---The World Series Trophy!! Go Cubbies!!
by cubsluver22 on Apr 6, 2009 7:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The game was lilsted on ESPN2 in Bloomington IN
but wasn’t broadcast due to blackout rules. Like I might get in my car in Bloomington and drive to Houston to go to the game?
STUPID.
When will MLB figure out that if they allow people to actually watch the games, they will generate more fans and this will mean more money? My 7 and 6 year old sons were disappointed too. The next generation of fans are not being allowed to watch opening day? Way to turn them off, Bud.
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
by Archie on Apr 7, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hamilton is so mean-spirited
he just said he wished Zambrano would strain his ribs while taking one of his trademark “big swings.”
by dfrancon on Apr 6, 2009 7:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He's always been like that.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 6, 2009 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's still PO'd
about Harry Caray kicking him out of Chicago.
by Josh77 on Apr 6, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
True.
That book he wrote was a bitter screed. I have absolutely no respect for Milo.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 6, 2009 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My 1984 brush with Milo
@ then San Diego Stadium, before a mid-season Cubs/Padres game. I’m heading to a seat in the “press” level. He was walking toward me….. it was well before the game, so he was probably going to the booth, located on this level. There are not that many seats on this level, so there aren’t many people. It’s really just myself, my friend, and smilin’ Milo.
I said, “…Hi Milo! How are you!!!”
He looked at me as if I killed his cat, and walked past me.
A few years later, after Harry Caray returned — post stroke — I was waiting for friends outside Dodger Stadium. Again, it was early, well before the game A black town car pulls up to where I am — at the Will Call gate, which is also a media entrance. Harry and his wife, Dutchie….step out of this vehicle.
There are really no other Cubs fans nearby, just some people in Dodgers gear. They don’t recognize him. So, I say — “Hello, Harry — Glad you’re back and feeling well!!”
He steps over to me — shakes my hand — and says: “Thank You, young man! I appreciate it! Now, you enjoy the game!” (I guess everybody looked young to Harry, right?)
I decided not to delay him and ask for his autograph — obviously, he was headed to work and people might start to recognize him, slowing him down.
What a difference in two encounters with two Hall-Of-Fame broadcasters.
I know it’s not the “Hall Of Nice Guys” and Harry wasn’t a saint. But Milo Hamilton — he’s nothing but a bitter, angry man who goes through life with a chip on his shoulder. His book proves that point.
And, in a completely unrelated encounter — I came upon Vin Scully at Petco Park last summer, greeted him in a similar manner — he was very cordial, and signed my ticket upon request.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 8, 2009 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw Milo in San Francisco in 1981.
He was there doing the Cub series, and I was out there to see the games, too. I went to a performance of “Beach Blanket Babylon”, then as now a popular local theater event.
Some of the Cubs were at the show, and so was Milo.
He was wearing his WGN blazer. All I could think was, “This guy can’t wear other clothes when he goes out for the evening?”
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 8, 2009 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i had no idea of the history
however, the radio guys seemed very informed about the cubs (with the exception of thinking we’d see a lot of Hoffpauir in the outfield if Kosuke struggle and/or Bradley was injured). they did their homework, even if you don’t like their style.
by TC Cubby on Apr 7, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
btw Comcast Sports Net feed is down too
this is my first year with mlb.tv because I moved from Iowa (blackout) to Boston (where I can see every game). But the fact that I can’t see len and bob really pisses me off!
"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto
by CubbyBlues on Apr 6, 2009 8:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Another MLB.com grip: video only of Astros on Gameday
The Cubs have scored 4 times, the Astros one time, and the only clip available for review on Gameday is of the play when the Astros scored. Good lord.
by dfrancon on Apr 6, 2009 8:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Totally agree
99% of me thinks: who cares!? CUBS WIN.
That said…
MLB.com has been a subpar product since Day One. Bad customer service, frustrating user interface, overly gadgety and inconsistent performance. I do like the price of the ‘audio only’ package, though. Very reasonable. (By the way, is there a way to log in without starting at the splash screen that is selling the product to non-subscribers? So annoying.)
I used to listen to baseball on XM radio, where the home announcers were the only broadcast available for each game. Milo Hamilton is second worst to Jerry Coleman of San Diego. Not only are they ‘homers’, they also (i) forget to explain what is going on in the game and (ii) aren’t as funny as they think they are.
"These are terrible times, and I shouldn't joke about them." --Warren Zevon
by ExNorthsider on Apr 6, 2009 8:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Probs on Mlb.tv
Today was my first opening day with mlb.tv – not impressed. I spent more time quitting and restarting, trying different browswers, different platforms, etc. than actually watching the game.
I have used gameday audio for the past 8 years or so, and most years when they come out with new versions, which is most years, it sucks for the first few games then seems to work pretty well.
But hey – CUBS WIN!!!!
Eamus Ursuli!
by WGNstatic on Apr 6, 2009 9:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
MLB.tv
had problems today, to say the least.
by Josh77 on Apr 6, 2009 9:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
On the iPhone app....
….they only had the Houston broadcast available. Not like having Pat and Ron by a longshot…..but at least the result was good!
"[I]f we get a Jumbotron, I can't pull the instant replay thing on all the rookies. Every time there's a good play, we're like, 'Oh, look at the replay,' and you get the rookies to look at the scoreboard." - Ryan Dempster, 2 January 2009
by CaughtInTheVines on Apr 6, 2009 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
MLB sticks it to their customers ... hmmm
.. and this is supposed to be a newsflash?
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
by cubnational on Apr 6, 2009 10:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The iPod/iPhone application is doing the same thing
With the new audio feed, Pat and Ron were available for fifteen minutes or so then went away. Why? And they had the broadcasts messed up. I clicked Chicago and got the Houston feed, and then switched. Had the same problem everyone else seems to be having with the one video clip deal
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Apr 6, 2009 10:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Broadcasts
I noticed this too on my iPhone: they had HOU listed for WGN and CHC for whatever Houston’s flagship is, and all the other games had the radio stations switched too (BAL was listed next to WCBS for the Yankees, for example). I was able to get the WGN feed on my phone, at least at about 6:15, and it was only a few seconds behind the actual radio broadcast. Aside from the app crashing a few times, I’m pretty impressed.
"You know, you should be a lot more careful crossing the street like that, otherwise you could die - if that bothers you."
by gauchodirk on Apr 7, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The game was blacked out in Madison on Charter cable...
but I got it on my Dish. Go figure. Why on earth would it be blacked out on cable in Madison (which I thought was strictly Brewers territory)? Am I going to be blacked out of MLB.TV Cubs games this year (I haven’t in the past)?
For some reason all I can do is picture Bud Selig in some dark back room somewhere counting hundred dollar bills. The blackout rules are so absurd, so backwards, and so counter-productive that I get angry just thinking about them.
WE WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR PRODUCT. GIVE IT TO US.
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
by Schwa on Apr 7, 2009 12:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it was blacked out because it was an ESPN 2 game, and not because of location.
Chicago Bulls Blog and Forums. NBA Power Rankings.
by Andrew7 on Apr 7, 2009 12:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No.
ESPN2 games were available in most of the country. There’s no reason on Earth it should have been blacked out in Madison.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 7, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That makes absolutely no sense at all.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 7, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank You.
I was so confused by Andrew7’s comment, I’m glad someone else understood how absurd this blackout was. It’s never happened before. As far as I understood the blackout rules, the only time a nationally broadcast game (ESPN, ESPN2…) would be blacked out is if you’re in the local market of one of the two teams and the game is being simulcast on a local network (ESPN2 would have to be blacked out in Chicago yesterday because the game was also on CSN, much like a Brewers game in Wisconsin would be blacked out on ESPN if the game was on FSN). I guess I’m just lucky I had Dish. Unfortunately, most students in Madison (and a lot are Cub fans) can’t get dishes on their buildings and are stuck with Charter.
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
by Schwa on Apr 7, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are exactly correct sir. The ESPN2 coverage was blacked out in Chicago, but other than Houston, it
should have been available in the other markets that ESPN serves. This makes no sense to me at all.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 7, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Send emails to ESPN and MLB.
Maybe someone will make some sense of this. ESPN2, as you say, should have been blacked out in Houston and Chicago, but available everywhere else.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 7, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't worry, I got a great response explaining it:
Thank you for contacting us.
Per our contracts we are some times not able to televise games in the markets of the teams competing.
In the case of Major League Baseball, ESPN is contractually obligated to protect the interest of the local /regional television outlet that has rights to the game and in these instances ESPN provides alternate programming, usually ESPNEWS, to viewers in those markets.
This will be the case throughout the baseball season on some Monday and most Wednesday telecasts.
Please check your local listings to learn which television outlet is carrying the games in your area.
Our Sunday Night Baseball games are exclusive and seen nationwide on ESPN.
We appreciate you taking the time to write and giving us the opportunity to respond.
Sincerely,
ESPN Viewer Response
Can’t you just feel the sincerity jump off the screen?
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
by Schwa on Apr 7, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a flat-out lie, is what it is.
There were no “local/regional outlets” being protected last night. Only metro Chicago and metro Houston should have been blacked out, because the game was carried on another channel. This has been common practice, as they say, on Monday and Wednesday nights.
But other markets where the game is NOT carried, should have it. The blackout rules are presumably for BROADCAST outlets, not cable channels.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 7, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well it's an automated response is what it is.
I don’t think a ‘person’ sat down and wrote me back. Customer service at its finest.
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
by Schwa on Apr 7, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably so.
Maybe it’s time for another front-page rant by me.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 7, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's time for a sustained series of petitions to our legislators
Since the MLB has an anti-trust exemption they should be held accountable for their actions against consumers.
I have no response to that.
by stelmodad on Apr 7, 2009 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Try Sen. Kerry.
Seriously. He was the one who helped broker the deal that kept EI on cable systems.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 7, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it because
the cubs played houston in Milwaukie last year for Z’s no hitter? Maybe MLB saw that as a reason to black it out. LOL.
by 100yearitch on Apr 7, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well
That stadium IS Wrigley North.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 7, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Typical Opening Day for MLBAM
They usually have some growing pains for the first few days of the season due to not being able to handle the volume of users and a few new features. With the shift over to all Flash based delivery (and as they have documented, a push of Adobe Flash beyond the limit to get things working), it was inevitable that this year would be worse than normal.
The audio feed problems were happening all day long. They never had a WFAN-AM feed for the Reds-Mets game and I don’t think that the Indians home radio feed worked either. On the TV side, there were many reports of delayed audio tracks and accidental mistimings of the TV ad blocks (showing them over the game themselves). They should be taken to task for not having their product ready, but history shows that most issues should be solved in a week or so. Sadly, full screen on a dual monitor setup won’t be fixed due to a Flash limitation.
by Qixotl on Apr 7, 2009 7:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
"Sadly, full screen on a dual monitor setup won’t be fixed due to a Flash limitation."
I tried this Friday with the Yankees game. I had my TV set up as the dual monitor and every time I went to full screen it would hang. Is this the limitation you are talking about? Do you have a link explaining that? Thanks.
by bakester on Apr 7, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not quite
This issue is that if you want to have the video stream playing in full screen on one monitor while you do work of any kind on the other monitor, you can’t do it. The video stream immediately goes out of full screen mode with any action on the other monitor. The last update we got about it is here, stating that they can’t do it without crippling performance.
Your issue sounds more like a video driver issue, the use of an earlier version of Adobe Flash, or the use of a video card without much horsepower. I’d update your driver and make sure that you have the newest version of Flash installed.
by Qixotl on Apr 7, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looking at the MLB.TV support forums...
it seems like the entire Opening Day debut was a failure… not only with the new media player, but even with the radio broadcasts and the regular old non-premium video broadcasts.
But you would never know about all that by reading this article that was posted around midnight ET on MLB.com:
MLB.TV, season off to flying starts
Improved picture, choice of announcers among features
After yesterday’s meltdown, they’ve got some nerve releasing this “article”….. although the 100+ comments that follow it are pretty humorous.
by MillsChC on Apr 7, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The comments are actually hilarious:
“the only flying mlb.tv related to was making me want to fly out of an 8th story window”
I can’t help but chuckle re-reading the title of that article after reading the 100+ comments bashing it.
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
by Schwa on Apr 7, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here in Austin you get blacked out of both areas as well. 2 1/2 hours from Houston and 3 from Dallas. Last year they said the were going to change this???
by _Sean_ on Apr 7, 2009 9:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Bud and Bob are still twiddling their thumbs
Another year, another lie that MLB is “working on it”. The main issue (getting teams to contract their claimed zones if they don’t actually have games broadcast there) is completely under their control and is easy to fix.
Thankfully I was able to sign up for AT&T UVerse this winter, so now I can see Red Sox games again. I am in their claimed territory, but Charter Cable refused to carry NESN here and blacked out the games on EI. MLB.TV blacked me out as well. Getting WGN America again is very nice too.
by Qixotl on Apr 7, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a good article...
… but it doesn’t explain why ESPN2 was blacked out at all yesterday.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 7, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
any word
on MLB network getting picked up by Uverse?
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 7, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really
Some people were claiming last week that the channel finder on the MLB Network website was listing channels for that network on some AT&T systems, but those looked like errors (giving that city’s Comcast channel number). It hasn’t worked for me. Some Tier 1 customer support people are telling people that MLB Network is coming soon, but it is very common for people at that level to make stuff up. If it happens, the channel will show up on boxes a week or two before any announcement. No sign of it so far.
by Qixotl on Apr 7, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Based on years past
expect to spend about a month missing the first few pitches of the game … after that month, though, I’ve never had problems in the past 5 years or so
by TC Cubby on Apr 7, 2009 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This thread should have been titled
How Long will MLB give it to its paying subscribers in the 2 hole.
WOXY.com - The Future of Rock and Roll
by Gibbon Jockey on Apr 7, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Watching the Sox game on MLB.TV right now.
Much more stable, although I’m not sure how much of that has to do with the fact that it’s the only game going on right now and one of the teams is the Royals.
The quality is great in the smaller window (maxed out video quality), but when I full screen it it gets a lot worse. Anyone else experience this?
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
by Schwa on Apr 7, 2009 1:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Similar experience here...
Smooth video in either full-screen or window, but the full-screen looks a little pixelized. Not horrible or anything, just some slightly jagged edges.
by hokie316 on Apr 7, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Gibbons Idea!
The 2 hole is sooo sweet.
by D-Bone on Apr 7, 2009 4:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
FREAKING WGN WON'T COME THROUGH AGAIN!!!
ARRRGHHHHH. So frustrating. Honestly.
by JimboJet on Apr 7, 2009 7:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Insanity
Just absolute insanity. After looking at the blackout map again, I realized its much, much easier to be a fan of a team if you live in a city that hosts a different team. People in Cincy are not blacked out on Cubs games; people in Chicago are not blacked out on Reds games; people like myself, in the Indianapolis area, can’t see either. I was also blacked out of ESPN2’s broadcast last night. I just can’t seem to put words to how frustrated I am regarding this, so I guess I’ll leave it that.
by TheHawk5 on Apr 7, 2009 8:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Definitely.
It seems the video feed is a really stupid buy unless you live out of market, other than that, if you live in Illinois but not in Chicago, you are stuck paying for cable. BS, especially if you live in an area where there is one f’ing monopoly.
by JimboJet on Apr 7, 2009 9:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
CHECK OUT THE CUBS' MLB HOME PAGE FOR A DIRECT LINK TO WGN RADIO
I guess MLB.com lied to me today. I called when tonight’s game wasn’t available on WGN radio through MLB.com, and they claimed it was a WGN feed problem. But the Cubs have a direct link to the WGN feed on the Cubs’ official home page, which doesn’t require you to be an MLB.com subscriber. Kudos to them for (belatedly) making this available, and NO PROPS to MLB.com for lying about whose fault the problem is.
by dfrancon on Apr 7, 2009 9:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for this update and useful info!
Exactly where is this on the Cubs site?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 8, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
While the game was on last night
it was a line of links at the bottom of the top left-hand box regarding the current game—there were links for watching on MLB.TV, listening on WGN radio and linking to Gameday.
by dfrancon on Apr 8, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks!
I’ll post this info in today’s pregame thread.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Apr 8, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I notice that now the Cubs site is back to having the "gameday audio" link
rather than one directly to WGN. It may be that they think MLB.com will have its act together tonight. The WGN link didn’t appear last night until at least a few innings into the game.
by dfrancon on Apr 8, 2009 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Madison Blackouts
Unfortunately, I found out last year that ALL Cubs Monday and Wednesday ESPN games are blacked out here…..no idea why. Certainly can’t get Comcast Sportsnet, the Chicago coverage, unless you buy EI (which I will this year). But anytime the Cubs are on ESPN on a Mon/Wed, Madison is one of the few places in the entire country the game is unavailable.
by ankeith15 on Apr 7, 2009 11:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
NOPE.
Down again, and wgnradio.com is playing the Hawks over the Cubs.
Three games into the season they haven’t been able to fix this.
Ridiculous.
by JimboJet on Apr 8, 2009 7:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No Gameday link again...
The link for WGN on Gameday Audio doesn’t work again tonight (sorry for the late post), but thanks to dfrancon and Al for posting the heads up for the WGN feed direct from the Cubs site.
I have subscribed to Gameday Audio for a few years now, and have had zero issues for the most part until this year…frustrating to say the least since I can’t watch them on TV tonight (I live in Milwaukee). They’d better get this fixed SOON.
by uwwrunner on Apr 8, 2009 9:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's too bad but it also illustrates why MLB.com doesn't change...
…I subscribed in 2005 and I found the quality so piss poor on the radio audio, and the limitations on the video so frustrating that I unsubscribed within 48 hours…I have never reconsidered it. This site provides enough information for me to follow the Cubs from SoCal. (I don’t pay for Cable TV either, so the only time I see games is when I go to the health club (which has TV screens & Cable on the workout machines).)
The MLB.Com issues are similar to the debate over Bowls v. BCS in that until there is an economic incentive to change then there will not be major changes.
by DudeVf11 on Apr 9, 2009 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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