Major League Baseball still barking up Sling Media's tree

While some broadcasters are actually utilizing the Slingbox and appreciating its benefits, leave it to Major League Baseball to further alienate its dwindling fanbase. After cable customers were just barely able to get back in on the Extra Innings love, it appears that Sling Media is still being blacklisted in the eyes of MLB, as a recent interview with Michael Mellis, Senior VP and general counsel of MLB Advanced Media's offices reinforced the friction between the two. Most recently, Mellis and friends seem to be mulling a lawsuit against Sling, as he claims that the Slingbox "allows viewers to circumvent geographical boundaries written into broadcast rights deals," and moreover, had no shame in admitting that profiteering was at the forefront of their minds by suggesting that "if the league can't protect the rights it sells, that doesn't bode well for future contracts when it wants to resell the rights at higher margins." Reportedly, the CEA has indeed come to Sling's side by proclaiming that this case is a "classic instance of copyright owners trying to suppress innovation purely because it empowers consumers." Of course, we hope you don't let Mellis' words get you too riled up -- after all, he also stated that "there's no guarantee that Slingbox would be around next year as it's just a startup." Let the snickering commence.

[Via CNET]

[Mark @ May 30th 2007 6:02PM]

Snicker, snicker.

[Blake @ May 30th 2007 6:03PM]

Looks like MLB is pulling a RIAA.

[Miguel @ May 30th 2007 6:08PM]

Screw Major League Baseball. I love the game, and I am a diehard fan of the Seattle Mariners, but the way the whole confederation is run is irritating in the extreme. First I get back Extra Innings (yay!), but now when my hometown team (the Seattle Mariners) don't have a partner broadcast on a local network and I try to tune into the game on Extra Innings--meaning I'd have to put up with the opponents' affiliate commentary--I can't get it due to MLB regional blackouts. Damn them. I will not be buying Extra Innings next year.

[Josef F @ May 30th 2007 6:22PM]

I still haven't forgiven MLB for the strike. Fuck those greedy mother-fuckers (players *and* owners).

[James @ May 30th 2007 6:42PM]

Major League Who?

[Tim @ May 30th 2007 6:44PM]

I'm a huge MLB fan, and a Slingbox owner, and love the convenience it provides me. On a recent weekend trip, I was able to glance at my phone whenever I wanted to catch a couple of minutes of the Red Sox games...everybody who saw the setup loved it.

The Monday after my trip, I heard NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on WEEI in New York with Mike Francessa and Chris Russo. The subject of broadcasting came up because an overtime hockey game got bounced off of NBC because of a horse race. Bettman went on to comment how he has a Slingbox, DirecTV and a Motorola Q (same setup I enjoy) and can watch his local TV/NHL wherever he is.

scroll down to 5/21 for the interview if interested

http://www.wfan.com/pages/119297.php

[Phillip Donley @ May 30th 2007 6:42PM]

Doesn't satellite radio do the same exact thing? I can listen to a broadcast from Boston on my Sirius Radio in Seattle.

You can only watch one thing at a time on Slingbox anyway.

Only one person can connect to a slingbox at one time.

Who is going to make money broadcasting baseball games from one side of the country to the other.

That is just MLB getting their panties in a bunch.

Go WhiteSox!!!

[LC @ May 30th 2007 8:58PM]

"Doesn't satellite radio do the same exact thing? I can listen to a broadcast from Boston on my Sirius Radio in Seattle."

The difference being that MLB signed a contract and is getting a cut from the satellite provider. BTW, isn't it XM that airs MLB?


In any event, I don't see how the MLB can win. It reminds me of when TV and movie companies tried suing VHS. The Slingbox wasn't solely designed to stream Baseball. If anything, they could put a disclaimer not to stream Baseball while the rest of us do a *nod *wink and say sure.

[chris @ May 30th 2007 10:21PM]

go white sox indeed :)

[paul34 @ May 30th 2007 6:44PM]

wow... SOMEONE needs to lay off the steroids!

[Handle IT @ May 30th 2007 6:48PM]

Major League Baseball has a lot more to worry about then fans watching thier home team when they travel... Steriods and HGH anyone?! Just like most of the MLB brass Mr. Mellis is out-of-touch with what the public wants.

[randy @ May 30th 2007 6:54PM]

As a baseball fan, I try to do what I can to stay abreast of the latest "geographical boundaries written into broadcast rights deals".

Where can I review this document? I need to catch up on the latest version. I will devote a couple hours this evening to understand its stated policies and procedures.

Pffft. LOL. MLB executives are flaming idiots.

[Ryhan @ May 30th 2007 9:54PM]

*snicker snioker*

I don't hold a ery high opinion of the MLB, and though SLingbox has it's flaws, I can safely assume that it will be still going strong next year...

*still snickering*...

[Dave @ May 30th 2007 9:55PM]

I purchase MLB Extra Innings *only* because I can watch it via my Slingbox. I travel 45+ weeks/year, Sunday through Thursday. I think mlb's gripe is because they sell a "tv over the web" package of their own. So, if there were no Slingbox, I'd have to buy that in addition to Extra Innings, putting money in their pockets twice. No thanks. The Slingbox is the clear winner, as it lets me supplement crappy hotel cable when there's no game on.

[Alex @ May 31st 2007 12:19AM]

People still watch MLB?

[Eric Glassman @ May 31st 2007 12:24AM]

"A classic instance of copyright owners trying to suppress innovation purely because it empowers consumers."

The Internet's glorious power, the future of it's freedom, youtube, and DRM, summed up in one sentence.

[Ryan @ May 31st 2007 9:51AM]

This is ridiculous. If anything I would suspect that Slingbox is causing MLB to gain more revenues by allowing out of market fans to stay attached to their respective teams and buying more merchandise, taking a road trip or two, etc...

This is the case for me. I live in Harrisburg, PA and let me tell you whenever it comes to sports it's geographical hell for blackouts. I am a native Pittsburgher and whenever I moved here 4 years ago I was still able to enjoy my local sports teams due to Comcast Cable providing FSN Pittsburgh. Well 2 1/2 years ago they yanked it.

I decided to suck it up and get the MLB Extra Innings package as well as the NHL Center Ice packages. The first season of MLB was fine and part of the NHL was fine too until FSN Pittsburgh realized what was going on.

Harrisburg is blackout central. It's termed a secondary market and can be designated a secondary market for as many teams that are within a 300 mile radius. So for MLB, that means I'm unable to see Pittsburgh, DC, Baltimore, or Philly (when not on CSN Philly) and for the NHL, I am unable to see Pittsburgh, DC, and Philly (when not on CSN Philly). I called to bitch to my cable operator but they cannot do anything.

So in the end, it's all about the all mighty dollar and the fans truly do get screwed.

I'm contemplating about getting a slingbox, but I don't want to be restricted to my PC for watching sports. That's why I purchased a HD screen in the first place!

[Deniz Sari @ May 31st 2007 1:04PM]

I think I'm like most people, we would sling MLB everyday if we actually wanted to watch baseball.

[LC @ May 31st 2007 1:29PM]

Dave brought up a good point. He travels most of the year and purchased MLB extra innings to watch the games. If the slingbox prevented him from doing it he would probably cancel his subscription and they would have a definite loss of revenue.

It's not like some guy in California is going to fly to NY set up a slingbox on someones TV then fly back to CA to watch the Yankees or Mets. If you are in a hotel on vacation or traveling for business, it's not like you can subscribe to MLB to get your home team there, so how exactly is MLB being hurt by this anyway?