MLB.tv- would you recommend?

by redrey on Mar 10, 2008 1:37 PM EDT Comment 19 comments

Hi vebers,
I've moved away from STL recently and am debating whether or not to bite the bullet and buy a mlb.tv subscription. I realize many of you are blacked-out, but I'd appreciate any advice out there from those with experience. Recommendations? Premium or standard? Any system requirements found to be different than those listed...specifically, is a 768kbs dsl line truly adequate for the full-features of the mosaic stream? I've heard and read of many complaints over the years, but is this year much improved?

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Well

The picture isn't very clear on the lower quality options, and the best quality option disconnects a lot, but it's not horrible.

Mosaic sucks. It's hard to explain, but it's just a really crappy program. I had mosaic but ended up using the website all the time.

I bought mlb.tv last year and probably will again. Even though the picture quality isn't that great (although, they are advertising as upgrading it this year, so maybe it'll be better), it's still the only way to see Cards games all year long. If you're away from STL, t's worth the money, in my opinion.

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Mar 10, 2008 1:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, another annoying thing

Because of Fox apparently owning the rights to saturday baseball, you can't watch saturday games on mlb.tv.

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Mar 10, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mlbtv

Had it since its inception and I love it. It works great for me and the picture is excellent nowadays.

by sjoshi on Mar 10, 2008 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

same here

I complain a lot about it, but it's a cool service and really isn't that expensive, less that you'd spend for the equivalent cable package. I've got my laptop wired to my tv and it works really well.

The Saturday thing is really annoying though, since that is the best day of the week to watch baseball and they take it away from you.

by SleepyCA on Mar 10, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

which level?

Do (did) you guys have the standard or premium mlb.tv package?

by redrey on Mar 10, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i had the premium

I couldn't really tell the difference between the 400k and the 700k or whatever it was last year, and I think they've both been increased this year. Even the 700k was grainy on the big screen, but it was very watchable imho. I never used any of the features like mosaic.

But then again, I'm more of a content-over-presentation kind of guy. ymmv.

I also used it on linux and it was a bear to set up, and the hacks I did last year to make it work do not seem to work consistently this year, which is a bummer. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually though.

by SleepyCA on Mar 10, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Few Years

I have lived away from St Louis most of my life. Lived in VA for the last few years and my Dad and I have split mlb.tv for the last three or so. He's a big Yankees fan (my family is filled with them), so we can both watch our teams every night.

The premium does look better, but still not that great. I also had some problems with the mosaic but will give it more of a shot since I didn't use it a lot last year.

As far as Saturdays - that definitely gets annoying. The only time you can watch a game is if they happen to play after 7 pm ET which is very rare

by brafi on Mar 10, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Recommend.

If you live away from the Lou, it is the only way to go. I have had it for three years now. The picture quality is alright on the standard. I have never had the premium, so I can't address the quality of the picture on it.

by cardsgirl95 on Mar 10, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm in Indy

and it blacks out the Cardinals games that feature either the Reds or the Cubs, so that sucks, but if you are into fantasy baseball, you can watch alot of your guys play.

And almost every marquee game you can't see on TV can be found there...its a lot of fun and a pretty good value.

The hot stove is burning...

by cardzfan24 on Mar 10, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've had it for three years

Last year I used in in the UK and it was great, no blackouts and was able to see all the post season too. I've found that you can have about 4 computers connected before it cuts you off, so it's nice to split.

by davethebutcher on Mar 10, 2008 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

question

when you do split it, do the computers have to be on the same network....in other words, can I split it with someone who doesn't live in the same town/state as I do?

by Irishman on Mar 10, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i've had good luck

splitting it both locally and nationally.

by sdesserman on Mar 10, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

both

I also have been able to use it across the country. I actually have never run into a problem with having to many IP's access one account, but have a friend who did.

by davethebutcher on Mar 10, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gameday Audio

I don't have the TV, but can recommend the audio subscription whole-heartedly if you choose against the video package. It's only $15. I work in a basement where I can't get radio signals and travel some in the summer... couldn't be happier with it.

by liam on Mar 10, 2008 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If you have DSL Lite

and 768KBS would be lite, I don't think you could go premium and I don't know if the regular MLBTV (400 kbs) will work well. You might get a lot of still pictures while the signal is buffering. I have had MLBTV for 3 years and I have cable at 2mbs and it works ok.
I have a 20 inch wide screen monitor and it looks great at about 8 feet away. If you are up close, it looks a little grainy and spidery, but if you back off, it is clear. Sounds funny I know.

I have not tried the premium, because as some people have expressed here, I have also heard it is not really better.

What concerns me more about your inquiry though is the 768 KBS speed. Speeds do vary according to bandwidth and I don't think at all times you will be getting the full 768KBS. and you do need a good cushion. Go to some free movie sites and see if you can watch them without buffering. They usually stream at about 350 KBS. You can try MLBTV regular but better be prepared to step up to a higher speed DSL.

by ridgesee on Mar 10, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also

I don't know how far you have moved from STL, but better check to see if you are still in their local area. For instance I live 145 miles from Atlanta, but their home games are blacked out to me because I'm considered local...not that I care.

by ridgesee on Mar 10, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs