MLB.tv 2011

[bthurley19]

I have recently relocated to Lincoln, NE for work and was wondering what everyone's opinion on MLB.tv is.

The research that I did seems to point to it being a great deal for me. I have both a PS3 and iPod Touch, and both these work with MLB.tv. So, I can stream games through my PS3 to my HDTV and also watch games wherever I can get wifi after purchasing the additional app for iPhone/iPod Touch.

My first question is, does anyone currently use MLB.tv through these two systems and if you do is it reliable?

Secondly, is it worth it to purchase premium for the extra $20, so you can get both teams feeds?

[COBrewerfan]

I moved from Milwaukee a couple years ago and MLB.tv has been great. I simply HDMI from my computer and it works great. I will say however that a strong internet connection is huge. There are times where the system must be busy and I do get some glitches. But overall it has been great. I get the premium just to have the option for both broadcasts and sometimes both teams are not broadcasting. And I guess the DVR option is ok as well. Other than that it is great to have the ability to watch the crew for 162 games.

[theavrock]

I have had it for a year and just renewed. I had the premium and only got the basic this time. The DVR never seemed to work and I could really care less about the home and away broadcasts.

I'll second the need for a good internet connection. I watch mine through an app and its great so I can only assume that the PS3 app will work great as well. I've watched it on the iPhone and it looks good, but I can't handle watching it on such a small screen.

Overall I have been pleasantly surprised by the experience thus far.

[eanelson4]

This year will be my 4th year with MLB.tv.

 

It's a fantastic service. If you have a good internet connection, get the premium one. It's great to be able to watch 4 games at once and stream games in HD. Might be the best $120 I spend every year.

[Principessa21]

I love it. No technical issues and great picture. Plus I can use it if I'm on vacation and I like the updates from other games. You also have multi-game view, so it's nice not to have to switch from the game. Plus you can access old games, I think from 2006, which I don't really know how else to do.

I had extra innings and it was good. Sometimes (actually more than I thought I would like to) I liked listening to the other team's broadcasters. But with mlbtv I paid the extra money to be able to choose. Now I just prefer listening to my home team's broadcast because 1. I think they're better than most and 2. living out of market, I prefer the extra attention.

Also when I moved, even though I stayed with Comcast, they terminated my extra innings. I had to fight with them to put it back on at no charge. I don't know if that happens with every cable provider though.

 

 

[pitchleague]

I'm currently contemplating renewal of my Extra Innings package on Directv vs. signing up for MLB.TV which can be streamed through my LG Blu-Ray player, which has the MLB.TV app.

 

Seems like the MLB.tv would be cheaper, although currently I run the blu-ray apps through the wireless network, which works fine for netflix but I guess would not do so well with live broadcasts. The player does have a LAN port but I'd have to run it through power line adapters rather than stringing ethernet cord 40 feet across the house.

[Point Beer Is Best]

I don't have cable, but would like to watch the Brewers so I thought this would be an option since we're living in Green Bay. Unfortunately, I'm still part of their "blackout" area which irks me since it's not exactly a short little drive to get to the ballpark from here.

[owbc]

I'm considering MLB.tv this year. Is a 12 mbps wi-fi connection fast enough? I can usually get ESPN3 to work but sometimes it has problems. Does anyone else have a similar comparison?

[greeg35]

same boat here, point beer. Is there any "way around" the blackout restriction?

[DocBrewPack]

I'm considering MLB.tv this year. Is a 12 mbps wi-fi connection fast enough? I can usually get ESPN3 to work but sometimes it has problems. Does anyone else have a similar comparison?

12 mbs is about average which is actually quite fast. I havnt used MLB tv but i would guess that is sufficent. Just out of curiosity, did you watch ESPN3 on your computer or through your TV. If on your computer, it was probaly you computers graphics card not being able to keep up rather than your Internet. You would want to stream it through your TV unless you have a expensive or built your own computer with good graphics.

 

[lcbj68c]

Does anybody use mlb.tv over their ipad? I used it last year with my iphone and was extremely happy with the service, except for the small picture. I did switch to a droid, but am considering buying an ipad. If I do so, is there any way to get the signal from my ipad to my hd flat panel tv? I could save a ton of money over paying for the darn Extra Innings package.

[RightFieldCoder]

same boat here, point beer. Is there any "way around" the blackout restriction?

The blackout restrictions are to force you to watch the channel, it has nothing to do with whether you can physically get to the game. It sucks for places that don't have a channel that broadcasts the Brewers, but the Brewers still have the right to broadcast in that area (IA, etc.). Although illegal, I have *heard* of people using an anonymity program like JAP to mask their IP settings. I would not recommend this illegal route http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[dadofandrew]

You used to be able to put in another zip code to get around the blackout, but I hear they know use your billing zip code on your credit card. That said, get an out of stater to put it on their card and reimburse them, it might work. If not...change it back to yours, no harm in trying.

 

I'd go with Extra Innings easily if it was a choice, you're always going to have internet issues that keep you from enjoying a game or three.

[igor67]

Too bad they won't stream it through the Wii. I don't really want to pay that much to be stuch watching it on my computer.

[GormanHarvey]

I'm planning on getting the Extra Innings package for the first time this season...anyone know what it costs?

[dadofandrew]

Get it early and save $20-40. I think it's $149 or so.

[GormanHarvey]

I just looked it up on the directv website and it said the Extra Innings package is $209.94. That seems really high. I wonder if there is a way to get a lower rate...

[brewers19]

You used to be able to put in another zip code to get around the blackout, but I hear they know use your billing zip code on your credit card. That said, get an out of stater to put it on their card and reimburse them, it might work. If not...change it back to yours, no harm in trying.

They use your IP address, not your zip code.

[lcbj68c]

You used to be able to put in another zip code to get around the blackout, but I hear they know use your billing zip code on your credit card. That said, get an out of stater to put it on their card and reimburse them, it might work. If not...change it back to yours, no harm in trying.

They use your IP address, not your zip code.

Yep. I can never get the Rays on MLB.tv when I am at home. I don't know of any way around it either. The damn thing always knows where I am when I travel on business too!

[Schlitz001]

Using the IP address gets interesting. While working on location I used to get internet through a satellite from a Canadian company in Alberta. So Blue Jays games would be blacked out while I was working in New Mexico. And even at home in Montana, the Mariners are blacked out, even when previously the local cable provider was playing Rockies games on TV. The whole system is screwed up.

[RobDeer 45]

Anyone experience what happens when you move after you start your subscription? I'm moving to Cincy in the next few months and am going to be getting MLB.tv for the first time this year. I'm really excited! I would like to watch the twins (I'm currently in MN) as well from time to time and just wondering if I will be able to watch their games once I move.

 

If your internet speed is good enough is the picture pretty close to HD?

 

I'd also like to hear anyone's experience with the iPad. It looks like it would be a lot of fun to watch games on!

[Polish Falcons]

Does anyone know, if I have mlb.tv am I able to use this subscription to listen to MLB radio on my iPhone? Or do I have to seperately purchase at bat or something? I was trying to figure this out today but couldn't. I know when you buy mlb.tv that also gives you MLB audio on the computer, but do mobile devices may require something else???

[And That]

I have MLB.TV premium, and I can get radio feeds on my iPhone, or at least I did last year.

[Polish Falcons]

still extremely confused by this, and the product descriptions on mlb.tv and/or At Bat are not very helpful. Also, what if I want to watch live games on my iphone? How does that work / what do I need?

[RobDeer 45]

Here's my understanding. If you buy mlb.tv you obviously get the games video and audio on your computer. Now if you buy the At Bat app for your iphone (that's my only experience but I know it's on other devices) you will now be able to access all video and audio. You do have to pay for the at bat app though. If you don't have mlb.tv and you buy the At Bat app you get all the audio but no video except their "free game of the day." So the only thing that links between the two is the video access. I didn't buy audio for my computer last year and just used my phone and that was great.