MLB Network (merged: Costas to the MLB Network); see reply #188ish

[phxMILWfan]

All I want is to be able to turn on my tv and watch classic baseball games. If this channel is it, I'm thrilled. I agree with an earlier post about how ESPN Classic shows poker and bowling but no baseball. There are hundreds of thousands of hours of footage of baseball games, just throw them on and let us enjoy.

[kramnoj]

where will this network (studio) be based? New York because of the NY offices of MLB? That will kinda sorta determine if the broadcasts will be NYY-BOS centric or not.

 

ESPN has lots of staffers that are NY and Boston fans, but that's not why they focus on those teams. They focus on those teams because those teams have the largest fan bases (with the addition of the Cubs). Large fan bases equals ratings equals add dollars.

 

It will be interesting to see how fair the MLB network will be to all teams. With the NY teams and the Red Sox having their own networks, you could make the argument that the MLB network really shouldn't cater to those audiences, that it should be more broad based.

[JimH5]

This will be terrific, if only for the offseason opportunities to watch baseball and baseball-related programming.

 

The current MLB.com has some video content that might become part of the lineup, along with other shows. I'm very excited about it.

 

It's likely going to be East Coast-centric at least at the start, mostly because of its location, and the huge numbers of Yankees and Red Sox fans there are nationally. Plus with Tampa and Philly in the WS, and all of Florida Spring Training, the opening of Yankee Stadium & Citifield, etc. they'll have an excuse to hit the East Coast markets pretty hard.

 

Regardless, I'm thrilled. This has the potential to be awesome!

[Patrick425]

I'm confused by this. They are having a network devoted to baseball and they are showing 26 out of 2430 regular season games? Wouldn't you think they could show a bit more than 1 game a week?

That's not that much different than the NFL network...right?

 

I'm just hoping they show a lot of classic games, like ESPN classic use to do. Oh, and by classic, I don't mean Game 3 of the 2006 World Series or something like that. I'm talking about games from 70's and 80's, or earlier.

[Fatter than Joey]

Regardless, I'm thrilled. This has the potential to be awesome!

 

Agreed -- I like what the NFL Network has done so far. I am sure it will surpass anything ESPN can or will do.

 

I'm confused by this. They are having a network devoted to baseball and they are showing 26 out of 2430 regular season games? Wouldn't you think they could show a bit more than 1 game a week?

 

The NFL Network shows 0 games a week (usually) with perhaps a game or two near the end of the year IIRC. I'd be happy if on Tuesday they showed condensed versions of Monday's games, so you could see a pitcher pitch or something like that.

[owbc]

I have high hopes for the Baseball Tonight-like show. I expect that Harold Reynolds will be on it and that it will be more balanced towards the small-market teams than ESPN.

[Patrick425]

I would love to see them have a one hour weekly (or more) program dedicated to youth baseball instruction. Maybe have guys like the Ripken brothers on there - or other guest MLB players. Similar to the golf channel and their instructional programs - only geared towards kids. Or even just a show that discusses baseball strategy.

 

I'll be disappointed if it's mainly just a continual loop of baseball news that recaps games from the previous day.

 

There is so much they could do to appease every type of baseball fan. I hope they don't blow it.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

This was way overdue as the NBA, NHL, NFL, Golf, and Tennis all have their own channels. It's about time, MLB!

[craigharmann]

I hope they do a lot to bring out the history of the game. That's something that we don't usually get to hear about as much. Like reviewing classic games from the 40's, 50's and 60's and talking about those players. Would be interesting to me.

[pitchleague]

maybe they'll show some winter league action. That'd be nice to see some baseball in the winter that is going on in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, or wherever.

[ELCABALLO45]

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/network/network_logo.png

 

The show at the end of the night I belive will be called MLB Tonight. Here is a video mlb released.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/network/index.jsp

[Invader3K]

Well, if it is similar in coverage to MLB on XM, it could include a lot of things people on here are looking for. MLB Home Plate (the main XM channel) reports on all 30 teams. Yeah, there are sometimes where it seems like they still talk about the Yankees/Red Sox a lot, but it's much more balanced on XM. They have the Ripken Brothers on talking about youth baseball, there's a fantasy baseball show, etc. If they follow that template and expand on it for TV, it could be a really nice channel.

[BrewCrewForever]

This will be terrific, if only for the offseason opportunities to watch baseball and baseball-related programming.

 

Amen to that! That is going to be one of the best parts of the MLB Network. And like others have said the Baseball Tonight like show that will air nightly will probably be much better then the ESPN version.

[Patrick425]

They have the Ripken Brothers on talking about youth baseball

The Ripken show on XM is not really dedicated to youth baseball. Occasionally on their show they discuss it.

[Invader3K]

They have the Ripken Brothers on talking about youth baseball

The Ripken show on XM is not really dedicated to youth baseball. Occasionally on their show they discuss it.

Yeah, I guess you're right. To be honest, I don't catch their show too often.

 

You know what would be really fun? If they could show re-runs of the old MLB Saturday morning show (the one that was geared toward kids). I'm guessing they probably don't have the rights to it, but you never know.

[davego]

Some theme orientated programming would be interesting, like 'biggest comebacks' and instructional stuff (as mentioned) like different theories on hitting or the slide step.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Any word on whether an HD channel will be released?

[raven2479]

According to the article from last week I found MLB Network HD Plans they are going to have a huge video system installed. With that system installed they will be able to monitor over 500 inputs coming into MLB Network over 60 high quality multi image display outputs. Long story short, they can watch over 500 things on high quality tvs.

 

That doesn't say for sure that it will broadcast in HD, but you gotta imagine with a system like that they'll have an HD output, and if not, what a shame!

 

Edit:

I hope they are able to show this on Dish, I just signed a damn 2 year contract with them and I'll be angry if i can't watch this on DISH.

 

Also I hope they hire Harold Reynolds. I miss him from BBTN and he'd add a great deal to the MLB Tonight show they plan on launching.

[pitchleague]

You know what would be really fun? If they could show re-runs of the old MLB Saturday morning show (the one that was geared toward kids). I'm guessing they probably don't have the rights to it, but you never know.

The Baseball Bunch? I remember that show with Johnny Bench, Tommy Lasorda, the San Diego Chicken, and the miscellaneous MLB star every week. Ted Simmons taught kids how to switch hit. I went out and tried it right after the show.

[Invader3K]

The Baseball Bunch? I remember that show with Johnny Bench, Tommy Lasorda, the San Diego Chicken, and the miscellaneous MLB star every week. Ted Simmons taught kids how to switch hit. I went out and tried it right after the show.

Yep, that was the one. I remember seeing guys like Gary Carter and Ozzie Smith on there. I was pretty young when it was on, but remember it a little bit. I definitely remember the Chicken being on there every week.

[pitchleague]

I wish I could get an mp3 of the theme song from the show, but any searching I have done comes up empty. It was a pretty catchy tune (especially when you're 8-years old).

[nate82]

Also I hope they hire Harold Reynolds. I miss him from BBTN and he'd add a great deal to the MLB Tonight show they plan on launching.

Wasn't Reynolds on Fox or TBS during the playoffs I remember seeing him on one of the channels during a pregame or the post game show.

[BrewCrewForever]

Also I hope they hire Harold Reynolds. I miss him from BBTN and he'd add a great deal to the MLB Tonight show they plan on launching.

Wasn't Reynolds on Fox or TBS during the playoffs I remember seeing him on one of the channels during a pregame or the post game show.

Harold was on TBS, but I believe he works for MLB.com hence why he would be part of MLB Network.

[BrewCrewForever]

Just read a post at awfulannouncing.com that MLB Network is in serious talks about adding Bob Costas to the team. Personally I would love that. Costas was great when he covered baseball on NBC back in the day and he has a real love for the game and knowledge of the history.

[BrewCrewForever]

I read on the MLB Network Wikipedia page today that Matt Vasgersian, Hazel Mae and Trenni Kusnierek would be part of the on screen personalities at the network.