Tell me about MLB.tv

[Mizzou]

Is it worth the money? Is the picture clear? Does it freeze up often, if at all? Does it open in Windows Media Player? Since I quit smoking, I have some extra cash to throw around, so I'm thinking about signing up for that, but I'd like to find out more about it first.

[satxcubfan]

Mizzou,

 

I've been using mlb.tv since the 2003 season. The feed comes through very smooth and clean using a cable modem. You have a choice of using either WMP or RealPlayer. Personally, I like the feed better using Real. I have a S-Video out port on my video card and run a 50' RCA/S-Vid cable from the computer to my 36" TV, and the picture is just as good on the TV as it is on the PC. And, for the $79, I feel it's a much better deal than subscribing to MLB Extra Innings package ($169). It really works more for me because I travel a lot with work, so I can watch it on the laptop in my hotel.

 

I'd say, try it for a month and see for yourself!

 

C.

Edited July 25, 2005 by satxcubfan

[CubinNY]

I had it last year and the year before and I have it this year. I don't think I'll get it next year.

 

first, you really have to have a high speed connection. Next, you probably shouldn't have any other programs running b/c it will be real choppy.

 

Yes, it opens with Media Player. I thought the technology would get better but it hasn't. As far as I can tell they haven't done anything to improve the performance. Normally I have to start and stop it several times over the course of a game. Now I just listen via MLB.radio.

 

Not having WGN on cable sucks.

[moorecg]

I have it...and I'd have to say its worth the $$. The picture does freeze up somewhat regularly, but the audio is almost always clear...and the Picture is good the vast majority of the time. For me here in St. Louis, it comes in very handy as it allows me to follow a lot of games I'd never have the chance to see. I think you might get frustrated if you just sat down and all you did was watch the game solely on MLB.TV...but if your in a game thread, or in your room/house/wherever and its there in the background its nice.

[JGalt73]

Is it worth the money? Is the picture clear? Does it freeze up often, if at all? Does it open in Windows Media Player? Since I quit smoking, I have some extra cash to throw around, so I'm thinking about signing up for that, but I'd like to find out more about it first.

 

I love it - worth every penny. I don't have cable TV, but get to watch any game but the national blackouts. Also, you can flip between games pretty easily if you're bored and get broadcasts of almost any game.

 

I've got DSL at home and the stream is fine (my work T1 is even better!). The picture is very clear if you open it in the normal window size (I prefer Real Player, but Windows Media Player is fine). The picture starts to lose clarity quickly if you start moving to a 2x picture. That said, I've watched a few games in full screen, but you're definately looking at a so-so picture. Even then, it's still o.k. In fact, I've checked out the projection capabilities in a lecture hall and would have been glad to watch a few games on the big screen!

[moorecg]

Is it worth the money? Is the picture clear? Does it freeze up often, if at all? Does it open in Windows Media Player? Since I quit smoking, I have some extra cash to throw around, so I'm thinking about signing up for that, but I'd like to find out more about it first.

 

I love it - worth every penny. I don't have cable TV, but get to watch any game but the national blackouts. Also, you can flip between games pretty easily if you're bored and get broadcasts of almost any game.

 

I've got DSL at home and the stream is fine (my work T1 is even better!). The picture is very clear if you open it in the normal window size (I prefer Real Player, but Windows Media Player is fine). The picture starts to lose clarity quickly if you start moving to a 2x picture. That said, I've watched a few games in full screen, but you're definately looking at a so-so picture. Even then, it's still o.k. In fact, I've checked out the projection capabilities in a lecture hall and would have been glad to watch a few games on the big screen!

 

I'll second that...the t-1 here at work is much much smother than my cable modem at home....of course a lot of times at home I'm playing poker and in a game thread, while also having the game on...I think that explains a lot of the times of my picture freezing.

[satxcubfan]

Is it worth the money? Is the picture clear? Does it freeze up often, if at all? Does it open in Windows Media Player? Since I quit smoking, I have some extra cash to throw around, so I'm thinking about signing up for that, but I'd like to find out more about it first.

 

I love it - worth every penny. I don't have cable TV, but get to watch any game but the national blackouts. Also, you can flip between games pretty easily if you're bored and get broadcasts of almost any game.

 

I've got DSL at home and the stream is fine (my work T1 is even better!). The picture is very clear if you open it in the normal window size (I prefer Real Player, but Windows Media Player is fine). The picture starts to lose clarity quickly if you start moving to a 2x picture. That said, I've watched a few games in full screen, but you're definately looking at a so-so picture. Even then, it's still o.k. In fact, I've checked out the projection capabilities in a lecture hall and would have been glad to watch a few games on the big screen!

 

I'll second that...the t-1 here at work is much much smother than my cable modem at home....of course a lot of times at home I'm playing poker and in a game thread, while also having the game on...I think that explains a lot of the times of my picture freezing.

 

Yeah, you do want to limit your bandwidth as it will degrade your connection. Full screen mode on the PC is not as clear (blocky/pixelated), but as I said before, try transferring the feed to your TV.. makes a big difference!

[Mizzou]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I think I'm gonna go ahead and sign up for it.

[Proven Veteran]

Is it worth the money? Is the picture clear? Does it freeze up often, if at all? Does it open in Windows Media Player? Since I quit smoking, I have some extra cash to throw around, so I'm thinking about signing up for that, but I'd like to find out more about it first.

 

I love it - worth every penny. I don't have cable TV, but get to watch any game but the national blackouts. Also, you can flip between games pretty easily if you're bored and get broadcasts of almost any game.

 

I've got DSL at home and the stream is fine (my work T1 is even better!). The picture is very clear if you open it in the normal window size (I prefer Real Player, but Windows Media Player is fine). The picture starts to lose clarity quickly if you start moving to a 2x picture. That said, I've watched a few games in full screen, but you're definately looking at a so-so picture. Even then, it's still o.k. In fact, I've checked out the projection capabilities in a lecture hall and would have been glad to watch a few games on the big screen!

 

I'll second that...the t-1 here at work is much much smother than my cable modem at home....of course a lot of times at home I'm playing poker and in a game thread, while also having the game on...I think that explains a lot of the times of my picture freezing.

 

Yeah, you do want to limit your bandwidth as it will degrade your connection. Full screen mode on the PC is not as clear (blocky/pixelated), but as I said before, try transferring the feed to your TV.. makes a big difference!

 

I think I may do that for next season...I use MLB Radio, because most of the games are while I am at work.

[satxcubfan]

The other nice thing is, if you miss a game, you can always watch it later because MLB archives the feeds.

[Mizzou]

The other nice thing is, if you miss a game, you can always watch it later because MLB archives the feeds.

 

Yeah I had a question along those lines... is it possible to save the games to your computer? I wouldn't imagine so, but I don't know.

[CubFanPhilly]

I've used it since it came out. It's been much better the last two years than the first. I have a DSL connection and the feed is not quite TV quality, but not bad either. I switched from WMP to Real this season. The trade-off between the two seems to be- WMP gives better picture quality but freezes periodically. Real player rarely ever freezes, but is a bit fuzzier (particularly when viewing full screen).

 

Another annoying aspect of WMP is the fact that when watching archived games, the feed drops every few minutes and I have to relink to it and find my spot back. So far I haven't had that problem with Real Player.

 

Definitely cheaper than MLB Ei and you get more of the Cub games.

 

CFP

[EricG]

I have used the MLB Audio the last few years. The last 2 years I have just signed up for SI and got it for free and cancelled my subscription.

you can watch the highlights online so I don't bother with sportscenter.

• Perez's grand slam: 56K | 350K

[Mizzou]

I'm watching the Red Sox game and there is a VERY big delay between audio and video... the audio for the commercial came on before the final pitch of the inning was thrown. Is this normal?

[wekse]

I'm watching the Red Sox game and there is a VERY big delay between audio and video... the audio for the commercial came on before the final pitch of the inning was thrown. Is this normal?

 

nope, doesn't do that on mine

[JGalt73]

I forgot to mention that you get treated to Chicago commercials on Cubs-based broadcasts. That Bob ROOOARMAN commercial brought back memories!

[CubFanPhilly]

No, the A & V should sync. You may need to tweek your settings. In RealPlayer go to TOOLS, PREFERENCES, CONNECTION - make sure the connection speed matches your DSL/Cable speed. (It's similar in MediaPlayer.)

 

A little trial & error should help.

[Coach C]

FWIW, usually my Gameday is at least 1-2 pitches faster than MLB Radio, for the most part on my end.

 

Not sure about MLB.TV. I might try that option next year if I do have high speed connection.

[satxcubfan]

FWIW, usually my Gameday is at least 1-2 pitches faster than MLB Radio, for the most part on my end.

 

Not sure about MLB.TV. I might try that option next year if I do have high speed connection.

 

mlb.tv has about a 30 second delay from actual time.

 

Mizzou, Dont know why you're having sync problems.. I've never encountered that before on streaming media. Did you try other feeds?

[HerbalK]

I can regularly go entire games without having to reload the broadcast, and with minimal rebuffering. I am also constantly refreshing the game thread, talking on irc, and whatever else I may do. I think it's a great value, and with my (as if I invented it, ha) blackout workaround, I can watch any game I want.

[Marco4]

I can regularly go entire games without having to reload the broadcast, and with minimal rebuffering. I am also constantly refreshing the game thread, talking on irc, and whatever else I may do. I think it's a great value, and with my (as if I invented it, ha) blackout workaround, I can watch any game I want.

 

Exactly what he said. Its a Godsend in the UK, although it does mean I'm very tired in work because I don't like the idea of....

 

The other nice thing is, if you miss a game, you can always watch it later because MLB archives the feeds.

 

Is it possible to save the games to your computer? I wouldn't imagine so, but I don't know.

 

I've played around a bit, but I can never get round the authentication idea. I'm sure there'll be programmes out there that can do it, though.

[Mizzou]

FWIW, usually my Gameday is at least 1-2 pitches faster than MLB Radio, for the most part on my end.

 

Not sure about MLB.TV. I might try that option next year if I do have high speed connection.

 

mlb.tv has about a 30 second delay from actual time.

 

Mizzou, Dont know why you're having sync problems.. I've never encountered that before on streaming media. Did you try other feeds?

 

I did, and I watched the entire Cubs game with no problems at all. I was downloading a couple songs when the audio and video were off, so that might have had something to do with it. It works great now though!

[AFCubsFan]

I used MLB.TV for a couple years while I was stationed in Germany. There were times I had a lot of trouble with it blocking up and losing the feed. Then I got rid of Norton Antivirus and switched to ZoneAlarm for my firewall and antivirus program...I hardly ever had any problems after that. Last year I even I got a new computer and ran the video out to my new 61 inch TV...it exposed some of the weakness of the signal, but overall it looked good enough. It also carried all of the hard to get WCIU games! I'm actually a little frustrated now that I have the MLB Extra Innings package because I don't get as many games as I did before...of course, the picture quality on Extra Innings is better though.