MLB Play by Play online

[salemjedi54]

I listened to about 30 minutes of the ESPN Radio feed of the Rangers/Rays game online. I thought MLB retained all the online streaming rights. Does MLB only control streaming rights of local teams radio PBP or did ESPN get clearance to stream their national feed of the LDS?

 

[KeithE4]

The only thing I'm aware of is that the local broadcasts may air on the teams' flagship stations only. Everybody else must air ESPN Radio's broadcast.

MLB's Media Center page shows all local broadcasts being available for streaming. I haven't tried it, though.

 

[salemjedi54]

No local broadcast is available online, unless you go thru MLB's Gameday Audio subscription service. But ESPN had their national feed of THEIR broadcast available online for streaming. My question is, does MLB or ESPN control the NATIONAL streaming rights?

 

[KeithE4]

No local broadcast is available online, unless you go thru MLB's Gameday Audio subscription service.

Yes, you are correct. I should have made that more clear.

But ESPN had their national feed of THEIR broadcast available online for streaming. My question is, does MLB or ESPN control the NATIONAL streaming rights?

MLB officially controls it, but ESPN bought exclusive radio rights nationwide, except for the teams' flagship stations. This is no different than in decades past, going back to the days when Mutual was the radio network for the World Series (1939-57). The teams involved could still air their own broadcasts in their own city.

 

[salemjedi54]

Actually last year, the Texas Rangers had their radio network up for the LDS, and the LCS. I think for the World Series, the flagship can only carry the local broadcast, ESPN Radio carried the national broadcast. So last year we could listen to Eric Nadel and Dave Barnett on KRLD-FM(last year's flagship) and listen to the ESPN PbP on KESN. Now this year we will not have that option since KESN is the "flagship" station of the Texas Rangers/ESPN radio network.

 

[salemjedi54]

Here is the link for the MLB on ESPN radio broadcast.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?s=mlb

 

[PTBoardOp94]

The only thing I'm aware of is that the local broadcasts may air on the teams' flagship stations only. Everybody else must air ESPN Radio's broadcast.

This is only the case for the World Series. For the LDS and LCS, the teams individual radio networks retain regional rights to their broadcasts.

 

[DToTheJ]

I recall hearing ESPN Radio actively promote the MLB playoffs "on ESPN Radio, and now on ESPNRadio.com". So the fact that ESPN Radio is streaming their own feed of the baseball playoffs through their website must be new.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I recall hearing ESPN Radio actively promote the MLB playoffs "on ESPN Radio, and now on ESPNRadio.com". So the fact that ESPN Radio is streaming their own feed of the baseball playoffs through their website must be new.

This year's world series was the first with the web option. I suspect the agreement was reached in May or June.

 

[FlyersPhilliesFan]

You should be able to listen to the games online without the MLB fee. I can't get phillies games inside from my house on the radio and my cable company doesn't carry SportsNet to watch the games. Hence, I can't watch or hear the games unless it is Fox, ESPN, or they are playing the Mets on whatever station carries them.

 

[phils07]

You should be able to listen to the games online without the MLB fee. I can't get phillies games inside from my house on the radio and my cable company doesn't carry SportsNet to watch the games. Hence, I can't watch or hear the games unless it is Fox, ESPN, or they are playing the Mets on whatever station carries them.

If you have a smartphone or ipod touch, buy the MLB At Bat app so you can listen to every Phillies game on there.

 

[FlyersPhilliesFan]

If you have a smartphone or ipod touch, buy the MLB At Bat app so you can listen to every Phillies game on there.

Thanks for the info phils07!