MLB TV

DiamondKing · Post by **DiamondKing** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:20 am

I have not noticed any time given towards roto/fantasy baseball yet.With a 24 hour station you would think some time would be put into such a large portion of the MLB fanbase.

billywaz · Post by **billywaz** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:32 pm

I agree, but I imagine there will be some in early March.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:38 pm

I seriously doubt that you see any fantasy programming by the MLB Network (at least for now). This IS the league's network and they are totally against OUR brand of fantasy and fantasy games. Certainly you have seen the lawsuits...they don't want it going on, and if they can't get it muzzled then they will try and control it themselves...but they would rather it didn't exist, so they won't contribute to it with Their channel.

billywaz · Post by **billywaz** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:16 pm

Perry,

The NFL network has fantasy "info" on it, I don't see why the MLB wouldn't.

Or is MLB more "stuffy" about fantasy?

Keep in mind, I'm new to this whole bases and diamond thing!

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:35 pm

Originally posted by Captain Hook:

I seriously doubt that you see any fantasy programming by the MLB Network (at least for now). This IS the league's network and they are totally against OUR brand of fantasy and fantasy games. Certainly you have seen the lawsuits...they don't want it going on, and if they can't get it muzzled then they will try and control it themselves...but they would rather it didn't exist, so they won't contribute to it with Their channel. If this is truly the case...anyone who supports them is a piece of **** .

To purchase their product is to be a tool.

Let them die off with no market money.

Is that too much to ask?

~Lance

NorCalAtlFan · Post by **NorCalAtlFan** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:05 pm

The network has been on for 2 days!! Let's let them get their feet wet. My guess is that even though the powers that be may not support the fantasy market, the network will have a fantasy segment at some point. Maybe they'll use Geeko's youtube clips:P

DiamondKing · Post by **DiamondKing** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:52 am

Originally posted by Captain Hook:

I seriously doubt that you see any fantasy programming by the MLB Network (at least for now). This IS the league's network and they are totally against OUR brand of fantasy and fantasy games. Certainly you have seen the lawsuits...they don't want it going on, and if they can't get it muzzled then they will try and control it themselves...but they would rather it didn't exist, so they won't contribute to it with Their channel. I know MLB tends to snub roto.As if your being a fan is somehow tainted by being a fantasy ball guy.They did come around on MLB.com.So I tended to think they would know the need to program some fantasy on the station.

I have never understood the animosity many broadcasters and upper baseball people feel towards fantasy baseball.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:15 am

MLB is "stuffy" about the way fantasy players view baseball.

Being from Colorado, the situation is a lot like skiiers and snowboarders. When snowboarding became popular the skiiers wanted nothing to do with them and even got some of the ski areas to ban them. The ski areas soon realized how much money they were missing out on and now snowboarders are just as welcome as the skiiers.

Money, as in most everything, will be the deciding factor. MLB will soon not only recognize us, but like the NFL, they will soon embrace us.

MLB owners are the slow kid on the block when it comes to being progressive in pro sports. Their MLB.com site does have a fantasy link so we are being recognized there. It won't be long until the MLB channel, as well as MLB itself, will be asking all of us for a group hug.

Catch · Post by **Catch** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:18 am

Unfortunately, us Dish Network subscribers have no mlb network.

We can do something about it by simply calling da Dish and wanting to add the channel via a "program request form" that can be done by phone. Hope we can get it by opening day if not sooner.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:43 am

Originally posted by DiamondKing:

I have not noticed any time given towards roto/fantasy baseball yet.With a 24 hour station you would think some time would be put into such a large portion of the MLB fanbase. At the SportsBusinessJournal conference in Manhattan in November, I asked the executive director of the MLB Network if there would be a fantasy show there. He said no they didn't have any plans for anything special for fantasy players. He said nightly highlights would have stats for fantasy players, but there would not be any fantasy related show.

I told that to Matt Berry of ESPN at lunch that day and he couldn't believe that a baseball network that has 24/7/365 wouldn't devote a show to fantasy baseball each day. He mentioned that in the next panel discussion and it got picked up and he was quoted by SBJ. He was just being honest and anyone involved in our industry should be shocked that both the NFL Network and the new MLB Network still don't have shows devoted exclusively to fantasy sports. Heck, ESPN will probably have one before either league network does.