This is a huge deal that broke at the MLB Owners Meetings in Dallas today. Commissioner Rob Manfred has announced that MLB and Fox Sports have completed a three-year agreement that allows Fox to stream the 15 local teams for which they have the rights in-market. That means fans who watch on Fox-owned RSN’s can see their team’s games on any device (computer, mobile, smartwatch and tablet) provided that they authenticate their cable or satellite log-in on the Fox Sports Go app.
MLB and Fox had been discussing in-market streaming for years, but could not get together on which platform to use (MLB At-Bat or Fox’s), money, manner to sign in and which infrastructure to use (MLB Adavanced Media or Fox’s). It was all a mess at one point.
But as Eric Fisher and John Ourand wrote back in August in Sports Business Journal, the two sides finally agreed that Fox could put games on Fox Sports Go and use MLBAM to manage the streams.
Fisher tweeted out details of the agreement today.
Manfred: formally announced 3 yr deal w Fox for in-market streaming
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) November 19, 2015
But what this does for 1st time is provide in-market games on device of one's choosing. That by itself is a big step forward for sport
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) November 19, 2015
This would be an authenticated stream through Fox Sports Go, distributor portals, for 15 clubs in Fox local RSN portfolio
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) November 19, 2015
Fox's MLB teams w local rights: ATL, CIN, CLE, TEX, DET, KC, LAA, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYY, AZ, SD, STL, TB
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) November 19, 2015
MLB has been working on in-market streaming for 6+ years, and over that time has been one of league's thorniest media/content issues
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) November 19, 2015
So for the Fox-affiliated clubs, you’ll be able to watch your team in-market without any blackouts on the Fox Sports Go. You will need to be subscribed to your cable or satellite provider to watch the games.
Agreements still need to be hashed out with NBC for the Comcast SportsNet RSN’s (both Chicago teams, Philadelphia, Oakland, San Francisco), AT&T for the Root Sports teams (Colorado, Houston, Pittsburgh and Seattle), team-owned RSN’s MASN (Baltimore and Washington), NESN (Boston) as well as the Time Warner-managed SportsNet LA (Dodgers) and Comcast/Time Warner-operated SNY (Mets). But Fox was the biggest domino as it had rights to the largest amount of teams.
MLB joins the NBA and NHL in allowing in-market streaming.
