Fans Sue MLB Over Blackout Policy

Jonathan Papelbon of the Philadelphia Phillies leaves the field as fans react after he gave up a three run home run to the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on May 7, 2012.

By Joe Lucia, Awful Announcing

The opening salvo has been fired: a group of baseball fans has filed a class-action lawsuit against MLB (as well as DirecTV and Comcast) in regards to how the MLB divides up TV markets of various clubs, and the litany of blackouts that plague fans for local games.

Here at AA, the MLB's blackout rules are something we have talked about time and time again. It's a situation that we, along with nearly every baseball fan in the country, absolutely despise and hope gets taken behind the woodshed.

The official wording in the lawsuit states that MLB and its teams are an "illegal cartel" that make "agreements to eliminate competition in the distribution of games over the Internet and television." The lawsuit then goes on to go after the cable companies, saying their goal is "to divide the live-game video presentation market into exclusive territories, which are protected by anticompetitive blackouts. Not only are such agreements not necessary to producing baseball contests, they are directed at reducing competition in the live-game video presentation market, involving and protecting third parties who operate only in that separate market."

Perhaps the more important part of this lawsuit is the calling of MLB's anti-trust exemption into question. MLB apparently doesn't want to have to resort to that though, because they don't want to go down that road and possibly have the exemption, which is unique to MLB among the other pro sports leagues, come under question. The NFL's request for a broad anti-trust exemption was denied in 2010. The same thing happened with the NHL in 2008.

Whatever happens with this case, it will be one that fans across the country are going to keep their eyes on. The end result of this case could affect more than blackouts when all is said and done, however.

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Comments

[bushywhacky]

11:45 AM on 05/25/2012

Back in the day the picture was small, black & white and began rolling when a plane flrw over the house but you know what ?, it was free !

[brunswicker]

12:56 PM on 05/20/2012

As always, it comes down to the MONEY. So sad. How much is enough? We just want to be able to see our favorite teams without going broke in the process. Would think that the astronomical cable/sat costs are enough. Guess not. Greed is NOT good.

[Richard Goings]

11:30 PM on 05/16/2012

I'm with the Baseball Fans, 100%. I was going to purchase "MLB Extra-Innings" at the start of this season,(When the TV rights were still screwed- up, to follow my favorite team, LA Dodgers. When I asked the DirecTV what the price would be for MLB Extra-Innings, they informed me, that it would be 4 installments of $59.95. That's enough, to make any sports fan, think about GIVING IT ALL UP!!!!! I hope that whatever comes out of this "Class - Action Lawsuit" that the "MLB" has to PAY OUT, BIG - TIME BUCKS. (Or... Big - Time Money, for ALL you little guys, that don't understand me).

[rico0707]

07:48 PM on 05/16/2012

Hope they win

[Helen o ke kai]

03:31 PM on 05/16/2012

The bottom line will ALWAYS be "How much money can we owners squeeze out of every fan?" The owners want a piece of any action. If games are blacked out they are hoping fans will go to the game.
In this economy no family can afford parking, ticket prices, stadium food (sushi at $15 a tray?) Can't take food into games, even diapers, bottles for grand baby...everything searched. They've taken fun out of game. The players are unapproachable..Cal Ripken Jr used to sign autographs..anyone recently?

I would expect to see in the future that MLB owners will somehow be able to tax any food we consume at home while watching games on TV. I pay $120/month for basic cable. That is 10% of my income as I am on social security. How much more can you squeeze from fans? Enough!

[Evil Twin Rove]

12:40 PM on 05/16/2012

Hopefully the Fans will win.... not the money

[lisaman]

12:14 PM on 05/16/2012

Not sure about their case with MLB but the cable and satellite providers follow the rules MLB provides them with. Suing them is ridiculous.

[mhuff255]

12:12 PM on 05/16/2012

monopoly,,,baseball is a monopoly,,,so it is a public trust...

please learn this words...monoploy's are against public policy and can work against the public good....that's why they aren't relished or allow...

monopolys don't have oversight and without that an competition well after yet another banking crisis j.p. do you trust people ...right...

so the public does have a voice,,,what ty you against the unvarnished truth being spoken by the consumers of baseball,,,against the free expression of ideas ,,,, here's a thought i heard in the nfl blackoust policy,,fans in buffalo..we're being punished because we have the biggest staduim 80000 ...not 60000 like most ,,,the smallest market and popoulation and the worst weather...care to comment on there thoughts...20,000 more seats to fill...when things aren't working we speak up so someone knows there a problem, we do that so we can make things better you thing the nfl want to piss off its customers no way...because its money...they'll listen and decide which gives em the most...hahahhahahhaha because there greedy bastards like the whole country....so these guys that file suit will win if the nfl wants they to...

[ty111]

11:49 AM on 05/16/2012

Do you have any idea what litany actually means?
Hint: "the litany of blackouts" doesn't cut it

[ruffdeezy]

10:08 AM on 05/16/2012

Watching MLB games isn't a human right. These people are buffoons.

[butchcliff]

05:53 AM on 05/16/2012

Blackouts only hurt the fan base. Not every fan can afford to/or attend every game. If you won't televise the game, some fans give up on their team. Why follow them if they won't let you watch them? Frustrates

[Blackspeare]

05:55 PM on 05/15/2012

It's the search for more money!