Baseball TV (MLB network) in Canada

[a1g77luvvy]

is this coming to canada or is it just in the states?


EDIT BY HUGH

from August

In Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-171, the CRTC has approved an application from Rogers for a national, English-language Category 2 specialty station devoted to the coverage of baseball called Baseball TV.

[Jaymeister]

I like all the ads posted in the ballparks during the post-season, touting the MLB network coming January 1, 2009. I can't think of a time to be more excited about baseball than in January.
/sarc

[leaffan1967]

It will give them a month or so to get the bugs worked out before spring training opens, plus with the World Baseball Classic this year, stuff is bumped back a bit.

[PlayitSimple]

Rogers has approval for a Baseball channel- both an SD and HD version. The MLB Network in the US launches on Jan.1, 2009 so I would expect that Rogers' channel will launch at some point in the first half of the year if they want to be on the air by the time the new MLB season starts. Here is a link to another thread that discusses Baseball TV: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=90323

[a1g77luvvy]

thanks guys

[avt1998]

Does anyone know if the new MLB Network, launching JAN 1, will be available in Canada?

[musimax]

Rogers owns a licence for a channel called Baseball TV in SD and HD. It all depends of whether or not Rogers wants to launch it or not, if Rogers doesn't, then don't expect MLB Network from the USA in Canada for at least 3 years when the licence will expire. But there's always the chance another Canadian company could launch one though, but Rogers would be the most likely candidate since they own the Blue Jays.

[Crawler]

I remember reading that it is in Rogers' plans, and would be operated in the same manner as how MLSE operates Raptors NBA TV - some Canadian produced content centering around the Blue Jays to satisfy CanCon requirements, and the rest would be content from the MLB network (in the same way that Raptors NBA TV uses a lot of stuff from NBA TV in the US).

[tdti1]

It's actually up in test mode now, not sure if it will be available in Canada.

[Sportsman]

Any word when Baseball TV(MLB Network) is going to start?

[Metsfan]

Has Bell announced they are going to start offering the channel?

[emcee]

Rogers has the rights to operate and broadcast the Canadian version of baseball TV. It will draw from the US baseball channel like Raptors TV & NBATV. Was hoping they would get it going for the start of the season, but with the current economic conditions it appears to be stalled for the time being.

[PlayitSimple]

Last news from Rogers was they were planning to launch the channel *IF* they could come to an agreement with MLB. There has been no news since, so presumably they are still negotiating a deal with MLB? They recently announced a deal with MLB for Sportsnet so I don't see why they couldn't come to an agreement for this baseball channel?!

My understanding is that if they can't reach a deal with MLB then the channel will probably not launch. Without MLB, I don't think they will have very much content to fill an entire channel, what are they going to air- Blue Jays stuff 24/7?! Would be interesting if they could get access to Expos-related content, that would be a boost for the channel and perhaps help them get distribution in Quebec.

[AMRivlin]

As I understand, they (Rogers) have an agreement to carry it, but just don't. And since they own the rights no one can.
http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/0...49th-parallel/

A darn shame if you ask me. I would pay to watch this channel.

I guess I will just continue to stream the content when I can.

MLB.tv would do us a service to air the content on their site/apps

[mismag]

Technically I don't think there is anything preventing anyone else from applying to the CRTC for a baseball channel nor preventing the CRTC from approving it.