Re: MLB 2012, Part 1 - It's here
I don't understand how we fans have a case. MLB makes a product, major league baseball. They contract with broadcasters to distribute that product, and exclusivity is part of the value of those contracts.
I could see a class action challenging MLB's anti-trust exemption -- MLB should not be allowed to control "professional baseball" -- but it sounds like this challenge specifically avoided that. So what grounds are left? Any lawyers in the crowd?
IANAL, but like Shirtless guy said, distribution rights are given to those regions, but the carriers in that region refuse to carry those games.
So, someone who has spent money on MLB's own product to watch those games, gets "blacked out" from watching those games even though the cable-co in the area refuses to carry the games.
The blackout rules were enacted to "protect the local product" in an era where ESPN and FOX carried games nationally while local providers potentially aired the same games locally. Thus, you were blacked out from ESPN and told to watch your local channel. This carried over to the Extra Innings product, again, to force you to watch your local provider's coverage instead of the out of town feed of the opponent. The local carriers argued for these blackout rules to protect their broadcasts, and for the advertising revenue (because, let's be serious, this is always about money).
My take on the lawsuit: The online product is a product of MLB, not the local providers. MLB gets the money from it, and they should portion out their take to the local providers (which, I'm sure is how they get the broadcast feeds anyway).
What SHOULD happen: MLB.tv should be locally blocked out within a 60 mile radius. Hell, even 75 mile radius. (Similar to the NFL broadcast rules, right?) There is no *ing way in hell a Cubs, White Sox, Brewers, Twins, Royals, or Cardinals fan can reasonably attend a game in any of those cities if they're in DesMoines. MLB.tv should be available to all outside of the home market radius.
Baseball owners approve stupid playoff format. Higher rated seeds no longer have "home field advantage" until game 5 of the divisional round.
The AHL did that for their first round this season. The top teams were allowed to chose to either open with two games, then go on the road, or start on the road and finish with potentially three games at home. All the "Home Field" teams opted to start their season on the road (except for Norfolk due to building scheduling). Only two of the eight top teams couldn't continue on under that format.
