Frustrated Nationals fans find themselves shut out of watching Opening Day on TV
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Verizon Fios subscribers experienced difficulties accessing the Washington Nationals' new broadcast channel on Opening Day, with some told they needed more expensive packages or that the channel was unavailable on any package.
- Nationals games have shifted to a different Verizon tier this season, following the team's move from MASN to MLB's internal broadcast arm, which manages production and distribution for 14 MLB teams.
- Customer service miscommunication and last-minute negotiations between MLB and TV providers contributed to confusion, leaving many fans unable to watch the game and requiring subscription adjustments.
- The shift reflects broader challenges in sports broadcasting amid cord-cutting trends, with regional sports networks losing subscribers and MLB taking over local broadcasts to maintain rights fees and viewership.
- Some fans resorted to streaming services or experienced added costs for equipment upgrades, highlighting ongoing frustrations with access and pricing for baseball telecasts.
