I’m currently sat at 40,000ft on an RAF Voyager heading back from Cyprus to the UK. It’s not a particularly long flight (4 hours 40 minutes), but it’s one that requires some entertainment to keep a brain stimulated. Books, magazines, podcasts and films are just some of the options available, watching baseball is not.
All the major US sports have an app which allows users to stream the live games, they also all allow you to watch the game (in full) as a “recap”. Only one allows you to download those recaps, the (otherwise rather average) NFL Gamepass. This gives users the opportunity to watch the games, even when they don’t have an internet connection. So why doesn’t MLB do this? What would their response to the question be?
I wrote the following e-mail to MLB.tv customer service department, I wanted to write to the Commissioner of Baseball, Rob Manfred, but he has no e-mail address listed. Probably for the best. Anyway, the e-mail:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for taking the time to read my e-mail. I would like to start by saying how much I enjoy your product, as a baseball fan based in the United Kingdom, it gives me the opportunity to watch baseball almost whenever and in almost whatever situation I want to. As a member of the Royal Air Force, this is an invaluable application for me, as I spend many nights away from home so being able to pickup my iPad and watch a game is so important. However, there is one occasion when I cannot watch my favourite sport, that is when I don’t have an internet connection.
NFL Gamepass isn’t half the application that MLB.tv is, it isn’t as stable, requires multiple resets and commonly doesn’t recognise my country during the location check requirement. Gamepass does however, allow me to download games from the previous day and watch whenever I want. Would this be something MLB would consider to be available for fans?
I’m not sure of the ins-and-outs of technology and legality, but once a downloaded video is played for the first time on Amazon Prime, the application provides a “48-hour window” to complete that viewing, unless an internet connection is made. This is a reasonable amount of time to view the video and if you don’t achieve it, the deleted is deleted until an internet connection is made.
I tweeted the idea of being able to download games a few weeks back and considering my small following, for those that responded they were 100% in favour of such an idea. In a world where baseball is trying to gain the attention of young new fans and re-attract the attention of older fans who used to love the game and now no longer have the time. This could be a quick fix to gain some interest and attempt to fix those who are currently sat on the fence and wavering.
Please consider my words and my idea, I’m not sure I’m the first to request the change and I’m sure I won’t be the last.
I eagerly await your response.
It’s been nearly two weeks now and I have yet to receive a reply.
Come on MLB, let us know what you think. Is it an option? Will it be coming in the future? Maybe others who read this could also write to MLB and ask them similar questions?