I wrote an item for my Friday newspaper column on my visit to the MLB.com offices Wednesday.
It was for a demonstration of the enhanced version of MLB.TV Mosaic, and an announcement of an extension of MLB's deal with a company called Ensequence that does the technological stuff I don't understand.
The premium version costs $119.95 for the season and features amazing resolution for computer video. The regular version costs $89.95.
The recent trend in streaming video, from "Amen Corner Live" at The Masters to "March Madness on Demand'' at the NCAAs is ad supported rather than fee supported.
Bob Bowman, the head of MLB Advanced Media, says baseball is not ready to go that route. "We believe firmly in charging for premium content,'' he said.
The percentage of subscribers who opt for the $119.95 level, which features clearer pictures and the ability to watch six games at once, has risen from about 20 percent to about 65.
Overall, Bowman said, the service had about 400,000 subscribers last season and is growing at 20 to 30 percent per year.
Comments (5)
Did Mr Bowman say anything about the poor quality of Mosaic this year? Last year it worked great. This year it is so balky and freeze-prone I seldom use it.
On a more serious note did Bowman say (or did you ask) about the slimy tactics they and Sports Illustrated use, according to your fellow journalist Phil Mushnick. People who buy the mlb.tv service find themselves getting issues of "Sports Illustrated" and getting charged on their credit cards for it. I had this happen to me. I had to cancel the SI charge and I am still considering canceling the mlb.tv
subscription.
On two more notes since your website limits my posts 1) nice to hear mlb.tv will add more vintage games. 2) Jason Whitlock is a very good writer. But that's to be expected from someone who stands up to Mike Lupica and gets blacklisted from "ESPN Sports Reporters" for it.
Jim Clark is correct. Mosaic does not work properly, not just from day to day, but minute to minute. MLB charges a premium price but the product is still in a beta stage. They had "full screen" views last year but rarely do this year. There is no mute button. And most importantly, the video streams often do not work. Look at the Mosaic Message Board to see the myriad of complaints and problems. Bowman talks a good game, about the greatest game, but has yet to deliver the online program that he has advertised.
400,000 subscribers and how many people have posted problems on the message board 100 ? maybe less maybe few more? Mosaic works great for me.
I am wondering if local games will ever be available to watch online. I would pay double the fee if I can watch the local teams on mlb.tv. Why cant they work out something for this and pay the local outlets for this ability??
"We believe firmly in charging for premium content."
Doesn't surprise me. My first two years of college in Pittsburgh, I listened to WFAN/Mets games at mets.com online for free. Then MLB and Bowman took over all teams' sites and you had to pay to listen to the radio feeds. Without a credit card, I was screwed.
I haven't spent a penny on anything MLB.com has to offer since out of spite, and never will. If the team was happy giving fans a live radio feed for free, they should've been allowed to. But Bowman and Co. put an end to that.
Thanks, Bob.