New rule leaves fans in the dark
Someone smarter than myself is going to have to come up with the rationale behind this rule. Is it just me, or are the suits who run Major League Baseball actively seeking to alienate their fan base?
The Astros-Braves game was not broadcast in Houston on Tuesday night on TBS because of a new provision in Turner Sports' agreement with Major League Baseball.
Under the new rules, Turner spokesman Greg Hughes said, Braves games on TBS are blacked out within a 100-mile radius of the opponent's stadium, regardless of whether the Superstation is showing a home game or an away game.
"The blackout radius is a new element of our MLB contract that kicked in this year," Hughes said.
The TBS blackout applies even when the opposing team's television carrier is not showing the game -- the case with the Astros on Tuesday night.
So, let me get this straight...the Astros were on the road in Atlanta, but the TBS telecast had to be blacked out within 100 of Minute Maid Park in Houston? What jackass came up with that piece of contractual brilliance? All I wanted to do last night was to watch a baseball game. My team's on the road, so no problemo. Right? Not exactly. There was no local broadcast because of the TBS feed. The only possible result of this rule is preventing fans from watching their team play when they're up against the Braves.
In case anyone ever gets the urge to accuse Major League Baseball of actually having some business acumen, you might want to keep this travesty in mind. Jackasses....
