MLB's TV Blockout Policies Defy Logic

I awoke at 5:00 a.m, knowing that a replay of the Indians-Athletics game was cheduled to air on STO. Getting to watch a baseball game in late November is a special treat, even if it is just a replay of a game from July between two teams I really don't follow. I went out in my slippers to get the morning paper, expecting to read the news during the re-broadcast. The paper was there in the ditch right where it always is, but the ball game was nowhere to be found.

The program note informed me that this game had been blocked out and was unavailable to me. Similar blocks had happened on NESN and MSG, well after the season had ended. I sent an email to the website of MLB.com that morning, and later I received a reply. The excuse for the blockage was the same tired one about territorial restrictions that MLB has been using for the past half decade. That same excuse is offered for blocking out game 5 of the 1969 World Series on SNY during Thanksgiving and blocking out a Red Sox celebration telecast on NESN earlier in the month.

I understand the logic of the territorial restriction during the season. The powers who run baseball would rather you attend the home team's game rather than stay at home and watch an out of market game. If you are going to stay home and watch a game, the local advertisers who pay MLB would prefer you watch the home team's game.

They do offer the Extra Innings package for those who are diehard fans of out of market teams, but you can only view those games during the season. Those games are blocked to subscribers of the complete sports package, which at $5.99 per month includes all of the Fox sports affilates and most other sports channels. That is good business. If you truly want to see baseball, then you need to pay for it.