ESPN, MLB at war again

[chisox]

We may all hate ESPN but they are our main source of out of market games. Selig screwed them over for the TBS deal

ESPN not happy

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.main&articleId=56446&requestTimeout=900

ESPN and Major League Baseball are having their second major skirmish in just two months, a fight that could see the league restrict the network’s access to postseason games and that further shows a deteriorating relationship between baseball and one of its biggest media partners.

The current dispute centers on ESPN’s refusal to run on-air spots promoting postseason telecasts on Fox and TBS. This is the first time in years that ESPN will not run ads promoting playoff games on other networks, and, not coincidentally, also marks the first time since 1996 that ESPN will not have postseason baseball on its schedule.

[Game4Tino]

We may all hate ESPN but they are our main source of out of market games. Selig screwed them over for the TBS deal

ESPN not happy

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.main&articleId=56446&requestTimeout=900

ESPN and Major League Baseball are having their second major skirmish in just two months, a fight that could see the league restrict the network’s access to postseason games and that further shows a deteriorating relationship between baseball and one of its biggest media partners.

The current dispute centers on ESPN’s refusal to run on-air spots promoting postseason telecasts on Fox and TBS. This is the first time in years that ESPN will not run ads promoting playoff games on other networks, and, not coincidentally, also marks the first time since 1996 that ESPN will not have postseason baseball on its schedule.

Screw em'. At least we don't have to listen to their garbage announcers tear apart everything the Yankees do, win or lose. Watching a regular season game where the announcers are openly rooting for the opposition is one thing, but when it happens during the Playoffs it really lessens your enjoyment of the telecast. At least Sutcliffe can binge drink and not go on the air this October.

[JJazz]

Screw em'. At least we don't have to listen to their garbage announcers tear apart everything the Yankees do, win or lose. Watching a regular season game where the announcers are openly rooting for the opposition is one thing, but when it happens during the Playoffs it really lessens your enjoyment of the telecast. At least Sutcliffe can binge drink and not go on the air this October.

I have to say, I don't have a problem with announcers having rooting interests. As long as they tell it like it is and don't exult too much, a bit of personality is usually welcome.

[b-ball-lunachick]

Ugh, I wonder if this has anything to do with ESPN's decreasing baseball coverage in general. I thought it was that football was so popular and that's why it takes up 75% of SportsCenter even in their offseason while MLB is playing...maybe this stuff is part of it...

I think the two sides are just fed up with each other but sounds like someone should get in and smooth this over..MLB/Selig may be counting a little too heavily on their baseball channel and ESPN may be discounting how baseball fans are perceiving their coverage and these petty disagreements...they both need each other...

[silverdsl]

ESPN should have the right to decline ads that advertise other stations if they're not contractually obligated to do so, and as a media outlet they should also have the right to report the news in the way they want without MLB threatening to restrict their access if they don't fall in line and do what they want.

[chisox]

Selig should talk to Gary Bettman about the folly of thumbing your nose at Bristol, CT. If any league needed ESPN badly it is the NHL. But no......Bettman gives the deal to Comcast ( Versus) who just happen to own the Flyers.

[b-ball-lunachick]

ESPN should have the right to decline ads that advertise other stations if they're not contractually obligated to do so, and as a media outlet they should also have the right to report the news in the way they want without MLB threatening to restrict their access if they don't fall in line and do what they want.

I understand what you're saying on one hand, but if MLB has a contract with someone else giving them exclusivity rights to something, and ESPN knows that and reports on something anyway, MLB's hands were tied on that one...they had to show that ESPN can't just do what it wants..

[The Comic Book Guy]

So, who else can't wait for the launch of the Baseball Channel in 2009?

[BillBuckner]

Screw em'. At least we don't have to listen to their garbage announcers tear apart everything the Yankees do, win or lose. Watching a regular season game where the announcers are openly rooting for the opposition is one thing, but when it happens during the Playoffs it really lessens your enjoyment of the telecast. At least Sutcliffe can binge drink and not go on the air this October.

Amen Tino.

[Yanksagain]

So, who else can't wait for the launch of the Baseball Channel
in 2009?

It cannot come soon enough. Once it does, I will only watch ESPN for live games as Baseball Tonight has been garbage for years now, but is the only show dedicated exclusively to baseball so I watch it more than I want to.
Sportscenter is 75% football and the rest of sports falls into the 25% balance.

[26 and counting]

So many people complain about not getting the NFL Network. Isn't that what ESPN basically is now?

[Sam18]

I'd rather watch a baseball game on the food network than on espn.

[TheDynasty26]

I'd rather watch a baseball game on the food network than on espn.

Bobby Flay and Rachel Ray announcing.

with Giada in the locker rooms!

[sousuffer]

Just wait until Versus offers a boatload of cash for the rights to MLB games. Versus indicated a while back that they would like to challenge ESPN at some point for sports programming...well here's their chance- they pull this off, and, not only with viewership increase, but all ESPN will have left is the NFL, college sports and the fluff like poker and strongest man competitions.

[flymick24]

Bobby Flay and Rachel Ray announcing.

with Giada in the locker rooms!

wow, i'd blow my brains out by the 2nd inning

"a-rod is delishhhh!!!"

[xenadanielle]

wow, i'd blow my brains out by the 2nd inning

"a-rod is delishhhh!!!"

You know, I actually pondered a baseball game being covered by the Food Network for a minute (yes I am weird) and laughed at this but then remembered that Rachel Ray is a major Red Sox fan. Bleh.

[chisox]

You know, I actually pondered a baseball game being covered by the Food Network for a minute (yes I am weird) and laughed at this but then remembered that Rachel Ray is a major Red Sox fan. Bleh.

Is she from New England????

There she is at Fenway
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/images/...r_rn_pitch.jpg

[xenadanielle]

Is she from New England????

There she is at Fenway
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/images/...r_rn_pitch.jpg

No. She is not. I believe she is from NY actually!

I still think a game being covered by the FN would be sort of fun though.

And more I sort of enjoy "30 Minute Meals."

["The Straw"]

I'm happy to know that I can watch Baseball without ESPN breaking in to the game repeatedly with Tiger Woods,O.J. and Michael Vick updates Damn them! Damn them to Hell!!!! ESPN and their Tabloid sports reporting has gotten way too big for their britches so I'm glad they got cut out.I'm pretty sure TBS is available in every market so what's the problem?

[26 and counting]

Why is ESPN showing World Series of Poker during the last week of the season? Since they're not doing the playoffs, can't they at least show some important pennant race games in HD?

ESPN is pathetic.

[26 and counting]

I'm pretty sure TBS is available in every market so what's the problem?

The problem is that almost nobody is going to get TBS HD. So that means that for those of us who live in the New York area and get every Yankee game in HD, we're going to have to watch them in standard definition for the first round of the playoffs.

["The Straw"]

Not getting a couple of games in HD isn't really a big deal is it.

[26 and counting]

Not getting a couple of games in HD isn't really a big deal is it.

It is when you're treated to every regular season game in HD. Once you've watched HD, you don't want to go back to regular TV. And especially not for the playoffs.

[Yanks1976]

At least Sutcliffe can binge drink and not go on the air this October.

Being on the air never stopped him before...

[26 and counting]

Michael Kay just said that there will be extensive pregame and postgame shows on YES HD for the Yankee playoff games. So hopefully we should be able to get plenty of highlights in HD, as long as YES is able to get the TBS HD feed.

[NewEraYanks2527]

Screw ESPN, I hope they never report anything about baseball again.

[BillBuckner]

You know, I actually pondered a baseball game being covered by the Food Network for a minute (yes I am weird) and laughed at this but then remembered that Rachel Ray is a major Red Sox fan. Bleh.

I never thought it was possible for her to become any more annoying, but there ya go.

[IronCaballo4]

it's not like ESPN ever mentions baseball anyway....Sportscenter is basically footballfootballfootballfootballfootballfootballfootballsomeone-hit-a-round-object-with-a-stick-and-wonfootballfootballfootballtigerwoodsfootballfootballfootbalfootballlebronjamesfootballfootball

[yankeebot]

ESPN should have the right to decline ads that advertise other stations if they're not contractually obligated to do so, and as a media outlet they should also have the right to report the news in the way they want without MLB threatening to restrict their access if they don't fall in line and do what they want.

Why shouldn't MLB have the right to restrict their access? As much as we don't want to admit it, sports is not news, it's entertainment. There is no public right to know. As much as ESPN has the right to control their advertising, MLB has the right to restrict access to their investment.

[Martini6196]

Will the games be broadcast in HD on TBS? If not that will suck. Also, will the Yankees play any games on TBS?