MLB.tv - Worth it?

You’ll notice a bit of a bumpy ride the first week or so of the season as they usually roll out a new version and there’s some kinks to work out. But afterward, it’s smooth sailing to nightly Rangers bliss.

Where did you end up staying? In the city? How are you liking the Bay Area?

I bought it with the intention of going back to catch things I missed, but I didn’t use it as much as I thought I would

if you’re a die-hard and live outside DFW. I’ve been using it since it’s inception, so I’m in the camp that recommends it. Premium is worth it, especially since it’s only $20 more and offers more features to have fun with.

Also, premium is worth it (IMHO) because it offers the choice of home and away broadcasts.

MLB wanted my money enough where I didn’t have blackouts.

You might also try the radio package that they offer. I’ve gotten it the last two years and really enjoy being able to listen to the broadcasts at my desk at work. It’s a cheaper alternative, but it may come included in the TV package.

If it’s available to you.

If MLB.tv is your only choice, it’s fantastic.

I spent half of the 2009 season in Salt Lake City and enjoyed watching most of the games on MLB tv that season. This season I will be in Livermore so I’ve already purchased it again – I might as well use it for the whole season. The best part about it is I have an iphone with an unlimited data plan so when I go to CA I will be able to watch the games on my phone if I’m out or about or I can listen to them on the radio while I go out for my jog. It is completely worth the money spent.

Also, I paid a little extra to get the home broadcasts for each game – it reminds me of being at home, but I can choose to listen to the other broadcast if I want and I also enjoy putting on the KRLD overlay during the game to listen to it as well.

First, let me say that I have shitty Dishtv, which doesn’t offer extra innings. Even if it did, though, I doubt I’d choose EI over MLBtv.

The good: you never miss a game. It’s easy to forget to set your DVR, or have a higher priority recording preempt it. Also, if you see news about an incredible pitching performance by some other team, you have that game recorded, too. I also really love the fact that I can watch it on my TV through my ps3. Another bonus: I occassionally like to change it to the opposing team’s announcer’s feed after a colossal meltdown by their side. That can be pretty amusing.

The not so good: if the game goes to extra innings, you miss out (solution – tape the Rangers postgame), Also, you can’t pause it during the middle of an inning. And I don’t know if this a ps3 thing only or not, but occasionally the games wouldn’t load. Last year was their 1st yr on ps3, so you’d think that issue would be less of a problem this go round.

But you have to have at least like a 200kb connection rate for downloads…

But if you have access to MLB Extra Innings, might want to consider that too…

But, then again, if you have a PS3 that essentially is MLB Extra Innings, and plus you will be able to watch games while away from home.

too many stream sites, and, depending on your connection, there mostly good streams. So unless you have money to waste, I wouldn’t do it.

The Bay Area is A’s/giants territory, so when the Rangers play the A’s, the game will be blacked out on mlb.tv. You’re expected to watch it on the local A’s TV broadccast, but anyone who’s ever spent any time at Athletics Nation knows that not every game is shown on TV. I run into a sort-of similar problem in San Luis Obispo (Angels/Dodgers territory)… I’m far enough north that KCAL isn’t considered my local station so Dish and DirecTv don’t carry it in my area, but thanks to blackout rules, I can’t stream it when the Rangers play the Angels, so if it’s on KCAL instead of Fox Sports West, I’m out of luck.

Note that archived games are not blacked out (just when they’re live), and gameday audio (included with your mlb.tv subscription) also is never blacked out. I actually used gameday audio a lot more than mlb.tv last year because I could listen at work.