Ben-DutkaThe baseball season is in full swing and if you're one of those guys who love our national pastime, you're in need of MLB.TV.
Sony and MLB have inked a deal that will bring the Internet subscription service, MLB.TV, to the PlayStation 3. If you're already a member of the service, you can now connect via the PS3 for free by downloading the new MLB.TV app from the PlayStation Store. If you're not yet a subscriber, you need to sign up; it's $99.95 for a basic annual subscription and $119.95 for the premium service. Both will offer you high-definition broadcasts and archived games, but the premium package boasts your choice of home and away broadcasts for games, DVR controls so you can have full control over your viewing experience, and even split-screen and multi-game viewing. Said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing and the PlayStation Network:
"I can't wait for this because I will be able to check out every Mets game all year long. Let's say I was away from my PlayStation for a while, the games can be archived so I can go back and watch last week's games. There's a menu interface, a scrollable line score they call it, and you can go right to the part of the game that you want to see. It's a pretty slick service. … You can watch MLB games now on your 12-inch computer monitor, but I would much rather put it on my Sony Bravia in my living room."
The Mets? Really, dude? I think you're in for a long season… Anyway, if you're grumbling about the price, bear in mind that a similar service from DIRECTV would cost you about twice as much. But Dille also wants to remind you that "gaming will always be at the heart of what PlayStation is about," and while they're focusing on delivering the best software available, they will also try to give that "It Only Does Everything" campaign more juice. So now you've got the unbelievable exclusives, the still-free online, the reliability, the 20,000 movies and TV episodes already on the PSN, and the fresh addition of MLB.TV. Anything else you might need, Mr. Greedy?
This is really good news. We could see all of the major sports leagues on the PS3.
The PS3 is on pace for replacing my TV should the NFL sign up!!
Yeah, if only.
Hey, maybe they could get something like this for tennis! Wouldn't that be great!?
…anyone?
-Arvis
MLB now, why not the NFL, NBA, and NHL in the future?
It makes too much sense to include all the big time US sports leagues.
I think part of it is because mlb.tv is a much more established internet service than any other sport has for internet viewing.
There isn't an established nfl.tv (at all) or nhl.tv that's as full of a service as mlb.tv. This seems more like a partnership deal.
Interesting question: Is this an NA release only? If it's JA too, that could be part of the reason for a mlb interest. Baseball is huge in Japan.
Underdog015:
The article I read stated specifically that this deal was for North America.
*deep voice*
"ALL YOUR SPORTS LIVE, ONLY. ON PLAYSTATION 3"
I like how you put that Ben… "the still-free online". I guess that is what we call in now a days, instead of towting free online, we have to call it things like "free online for now", and "for the time being, free online".
Great to hear Sony continues to get us more options as PSN members.
Basic online play, what we have now, will always remain free according to Sony.
Wait, Orvisman, you mean you are taking the word of the same folks that said they have no plans to lower the PS3's price, or that the leaked PS3 slim photos were not real?
They will say what we want to hear, until it does not suit their purpose. That is just the way it works. I hope your correct, but I have been trained by politicians not to believe what they say.
YESSSSSSSS!!!!!
It could be worse, though, Ben… I'm a hardcore Jays fan, and I'm pretty sure I'll be in for a long season (or 2!) too.
Anyways, I watch the Jays in person or on TV whenever I get the chance. This will make me seriously consider MLB tv.
One thing to look out for, however, are the blackout restrictions. If I live in an area where a cable provider is playing my game, MLB.tv might not let me watch it due to those restrictions. >.< Best to look into it a little closer before buying.
Jays…hmm…I seem to remember a pretty darn big hit by Joe Carter off a Phillies dude named Mitch….. 😉
They have black out restrictions for this service? Holy crap! For that amount of money you should be able to watch it regardless of who else is showing it.
I realize that's a mlb.tv price, not a ps3 thing, so I'd be miffed with the service if it blacked anything out for that amount of money.
I pay less than that for my dish and I get every channel, including movie packages, and all the hd programming. Paying that for just baseball, I'd have to be making baseball player salary for that.
@Ben
I still have a ball cap honoring the back-to-back world series wins!
@Kraygen
I remember that was the case a couple years ago when I was in university with no cable or anything. It was also only like $40 or something too. Things may have changed since then, but since Rogers owns the Jays, and Rogers Sportsnet is the most local sports station who also almost ALWAYS covers Jays games, they almost always blacked out jays games in my area. >.<
Yes there are blackout restrictions for this service. It's aggravating sometimes, but I just watch other games until the one I want to watch ends. You can usually watch the blacked out games an 1 – 1 1/2 hours after it ends. Still it's great to be able to watch any game for any team at any time throughout the year. I don't check the scoreboards at work anymore now that I can come home and watch the game instead.
So awesome!
Thankfully I live in the city with the best baseball team on Earth, the Yankees. So I don't really need this.
It's great for those whose favorite team play in another state.
Great addition to the PSN
PS: Poor Mets
Me too. Phil Hughes was awesome last night!
Yankees suck!
They don't really but I don't know what word to use describe how I hate them.
Yah… the Yankees are pretty good… but they still opted for our left-over burnetts.
Mets? Bah! I just lost a little respect for Peter Dille.
Let's see if the progeny (Ike Davis) of a Yankees reliever (Ron Davis) can save the Mets season, as many Mets fans are saying on talk radio around here after just a few games.
lol I'm a huge Mets fan. I know they haven't done much since making the NLCS in '06… but living in New York and being the underdog fan that I am… LETS GO METS!
And it's available in Canada? hot diggity dog! Wish I was a baseball fan. Gimme a hockey app!
That's what I'm talking about! I want them to have a deal with the NHL next season. That's something I can get behind.
I Can Watch the Marlins on my Ps3 thats pretty cool!
Sweet. I've been pissed ever since TBS stopped showing Braves games, so I think I'll give this a shot.
Of course, the Braves haven't been much to watch since TBS dropped them. They're off to a good start this season though…
I guess some people really like Baseball. I think I'll keep my hundred bucks though. Spend it on beer and pretzels for those late gaming nights.
Try not to drink beer past 8pm. Got to watch that figure of yours.
How'd you know? Damn internet. Can't keep anything secret anymore.
Not a baseball fan myself but this is great for those who love the sport. Not surprising Sony is taking advantage of this opportunity. The Japanese love American Baseball.
Last edited by Jawknee on 4/22/2010 4:09:04 PM
Take it from me. We have Ichiro, and they go apesh*t over that guy.
Hideki Matsui too.
Ummm…I dislike baseball with pretty much every bone in my embittered body. With that said, I think this is awesome. Also, since I don't enjoy the sport I didn't thoroughly read the article but I think I heard somewhere else on the internets that this was an exclusive thing to the PSN. Anyway, just thought I would bring that up.
Now if they do this for next the season of the NHL I am all in. I loves me some Sharks games.
Grew up with Baseball. I love it. But with the invention of the DVR I love it even more. I can get through a game in an hour.
I think I dislike baseball so much because I grew up with tee-ball. That is one torture I don't think any kid should endure. Spent more time looking at the sun through my glove than doing anything else. Bored me to tears.
I imagine that this is huge news though for people who really love and get into the game. Especially since you get most of the games or whatnot. I really only follow the Sharks when it comes to hockey but I like to watch all the teams. Does it work that way in baseball?
No for me. I think baseball is more of a individual team following. I can't really see watching other games other than the Mariners games. When I was a kid, I did watch other teams though as I was really into baseball cards, and liked watching stars play.
To me, the real fan sport is football when it comes to watching any two random teams play, and that is largely due to Fantasy Football leagues.
Is anyone else not able to download the app? I click on the MLB logo in the store and there is no content to download.
Baseball is so..*yawn*… cool. I can't wait to… ZZzzzz…
Ah, so true!
It's so fun! (no sarcasm. I really enjoy playing it.)
Last edited by Underdog15 on 4/23/2010 10:07:33 AM
Go Jays!! This sounds interesting!
"You can watch MLB games now on your 12-inch computer monitor, but I would much rather put it on my Sony Bravia in my living room."
Who uses 12" computer monitors? And I have a cable running from my video card to the tv so I can watch the games on the tv or monitor. And it's in hi-def also.
I currently have the MLB.TV premium package on my PC, and really enjoying it. Still, for those who don't have a PC, this is a pretty good deal. You'll never miss a game again. Though the blackout still sucks for teams in your market area. But you can watch the games about 90 minutes after they've ended. Will the PS3 have 4 game split screen also I wonder? And will you be able to pay monthly like the PC service allows you, or is the full year package the only one available?
No split-screen (yet).
Monthly rates, yes (it's just one service, though the PS3 driver doesn't have all the features of the PC yet).
Last edited by Fane1024 on 4/24/2010 4:46:56 PM
well being australian this is fantastic!!! see here they show 7 games a week but there on at like 4am or during the day when im at school. I'm seriously considering this. GO RED SOX!!!!!
North America only. Sorry.
Last edited by ffyfe7 on 4/23/2010 2:33:45 AM
so is AU going to be getting this, or is it US exclusive like everything else?
wonder what happened to the video service we were suppose to get it late december last year, than that slipped to feb and have not heard anything since.
why cant sony be more like nintendo and M$?
those 2 can release EVERYTHING! worldwide, so why cant sony?