Swine gain flight; MLB.tv appears to not be half-baked product

by thatshortkid on Feb 15, 2009 6:10 PM CST

In a boon to those of us that use the internet to view the yearly 162, it looks like MLB actually tried to put out a decent product this year. Perusing over this year's ads and FAQ, it looks like the product this go-round is going to actually be something to get excited about.

Highlights that interested me:

Switching from Microsoft Silverlight as the streaming technology to Adobe Flash. Yes, this was covered before, but it still is the biggest piece of news IMO. Rather than sticking with a crappy reinvention of the wheel, MLB went for the, uh, wheel. Flash 9.x req'd, Flash 10.x rec'd. (Crossing fingers for it to work on PS3)

HD Broadcast quality available. If your intertubes can take it, the highest bandwidth feed offered is 3Mbps, with a resolution of 720p. I couldn't find any information on whether it will be combined with some form of 5.1 audio or not.

Live Game DVR. Now the same convenience that everybody that has a TV has.

Live Radio Feed. I would half-ass this with Gameday audio by pausing the feed to allow the muted video to catch up, but now it's built-in. Feature not useful for White Sox fans, however.

There's some carryovers from last year (multi-game view, Home and Away feeds, player/game info), some enhancements (PIP, Chat), but not a bad product overall. Contrary to tickets, the price went down ($10) from last year.

I was going to renew anyway, but it kind of feels like it's going to be worth it this time.

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Comments

silverlight was a shitter, but i still got a ton of use out of mlb.tv

it’s worth it even with the stupid ass blackout crap.

Sober, I was appalled at the women. Drunk I was told I danced with them all.

by colintj on Feb 15, 2009 7:18 PM CST reply actions

Thank god. Silverlight garbage bloatware from MS. No windowed play? GMAFB

Actually MLB.tv, if it actually delivers on these promises with solid uptime and customer support, will be an incredible product in 2009.

That said, I have been with it from the start, and last year was a step big step in the wrong direction IMO. The “next def” feeds were plagued by problems as was trying to setup my account month to month.

There was a point where I actually could not literally pay MLB.tv to turn on the service thanks to a problem with their database.

However!

If in 2 months I’m lying on the sofa after a day’s work watching a 720P feed through my HTCP on the big screen I’m going to be one very happy consumer.

by madvillian on Feb 15, 2009 7:28 PM CST reply actions

I disagree...

Admittedly Silverlight sucked but the improved picture quality and the addition of home/away feeds made 2008’s product a lot better than years prior. Granted I didn’t have this mysterious problem with their database.

by The Big Hurt on Feb 15, 2009 7:46 PM CST up reply actions

I do some of this back end database work as a living, so I can understand how it happens

but trying to watch a game, then upon login a screen says I need to re-up, then submitting the shopping form and being told I’m already paid, then calling a human and having them tell me they will “reset the system” and then not being able to watch the game until I use a different (friend’s) CC is horrendous customer service.

And I probably tried to watch 50% of the games last year via MLB.tv, at least 1/4 of the time the next def (not HD by any standard) was not available.

In fact, the disclaimer upon receipt of payment for the Next def pretty much said as much (that it didn’t guarantee any availability), so I guess I should have been prepared for many games not available in the next def.

by madvillian on Feb 15, 2009 9:00 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

really hope it works on PS3, would make my summer much more bearable

"KenWO
no point in arguing with people who are blinded from reality..."
by Where Triples Go to Die on Nov 29, 2008 6:49 PM

by Illini0509 on Feb 15, 2009 8:32 PM CST reply actions

firmware 2.50 had flash 9, so here's hoping

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Feb 15, 2009 8:47 PM CST up reply actions

That would be fantastic. Nothing like watching it on a 52" Plasma.

My president is white.

by JoeCoolMan24 on Feb 16, 2009 1:05 AM CST up reply actions

/removes silverlight from PC

by 3E8 on Feb 15, 2009 8:54 PM CST reply actions

Dilemma

I subscribe to both Extra Innings and the basic MLB.tv package. I’m wondering if the in-game DVR makes an upgrade worth it.

EVERYBODY PICK US FOR 3RD OR 4TH SO I DINK WE DOIN POOTY GOO
Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Feb 15, 2009 9:28 PM CST reply actions

Sox Machine is worth almost $18k

you can spring for it

by 3E8 on Feb 15, 2009 10:38 PM CST up reply actions

This pleases me. TY, TSK.

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Feb 16, 2009 10:58 AM CST reply actions

I'm surprised I haven't gotten emails from MLB yet

asking me to renew my subscription for the upcoming season.

"Carlos Quentin? Where's Hamilton?"
"I ate him."

by HappyHuman on Feb 16, 2009 9:48 PM CST reply actions

true that. i got a notice last year on valentine's day

but the page for buying a new subscription says starting 2/25, so i guess we’ll know soon

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Feb 16, 2009 10:30 PM CST up reply actions

They are not automatically renewing?

Pusses. Assume the sale.

the post wasn't for you. fuck off.
by larry on Feb 10, 2009 12:43 PM EST

by winningugly on Feb 17, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions

i didn't go through with it, just clicked the link looking for data

that said, i’m clearing room on the debit for auto-renew figuring that they aren’t complete morons.

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Feb 17, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

Not complete.

The don’t have the Sox marketing/sponsorship staff working for them. So there’s hope.

the post wasn't for you. fuck off.
by larry on Feb 10, 2009 12:43 PM EST

by winningugly on Feb 17, 2009 2:29 PM CST up reply actions

I unchecked the "automatic renewal" box when I bought it last year.

So if they bill me for this year before I order it, I will be rather annoyed.

"Carlos Quentin? Where's Hamilton?"
"I ate him."

by HappyHuman on Feb 17, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions

added today: bundling

an additional $30 for access to NHL Gamecenter Live for the rest of the season: [link]

NHL® Product Features:

    * Streaming TV quality video of all live out-of-market games
    * Inside-the-glass camera angles for select games
    * Multi-game view for up to four games at once
    * Complete access to the REPLAY archive

NHL® Content:

    * Regular Season: Watch every remaining out-of-market game LIVE
    * Playoffs: Watch select games LIVE

$20 gets your subscription bundled with espn.com insider: [link]

ESPN Insider Features:

    * Fantasy tools and analysis to keep you at the top of your league
    * Pick Center – game simulations and projections
    * Rumor Central – the latest buzz on MLB and all sports
    * ESPN the Magazine – digital edition sent to your inbox every two weeks
    * Special access to discounts, services and other member benefits

ESPN offer not extended to current subscribers of insider, NHL offer not extended to foreigners (sorry, hoodie).

I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.

by thatshortkid on Feb 16, 2009 10:25 PM CST reply actions