A big element of this year’s MLB Postseason is how all the games are supposedly available for legal streaming (if you have a cable subscription). However, that doesn’t always mean the streaming options work. And a whole lot of people ran into issues with TBS’ app Wednesday during the AL Wild Card game between the Oakland A’s and the New York Yankees:
It took almost no time for TBS to remind me of why their MLB playoff coverage is just a total nightmare. Throw TBS into a volcano. pic.twitter.com/xgdAOnMOFb
— rich ? (@rich_roberts) October 4, 2018
Uhhh is anyone else trying to stream through TBS and getting a message that the content is blacked out?
— Antifausto Carmona (@greatstuffTM) October 4, 2018
According to @tbs's website, the #ALWildCard game is unavailable to stream in Michigan. According to their Roku app, they are "having trouble loading content right now." What in the actual fuck, TBS?
— amelia! (@amelianewburg) October 4, 2018
Lol the Yankees game is blacked out on the TBS streaming app in NYC. not great bob pic.twitter.com/8bvLlMcNYG
— Woody Wilder (@Woody_Wilder) October 4, 2018
Bang up job by MLB and TBS to force me into an illegal stream because of their insane local blackout rules for streaming. pic.twitter.com/my9xoWQwwR
— Bhavinho (@bhavinho_) October 4, 2018
Holy shit, this game is fucking blacked out in NY from streaming on the TBS app? Are you fucking kidding?!
— Bhavinho (@bhavinho_) October 4, 2018
The watch @TBSNetwork app is telling me the nationally televised MLB playoff game is unenviable in my area… are you kidding me…. TBS fix your garbage app before the playoffs start. Advertisers should ask for a refund! I want to watch baseball and commercials!
— Garrett Brock (@gmbrock2012) October 4, 2018
Is anyone else in New England getting blackout restrictions on he TBS app?? I’m in CT and getting the error that the game isn’t available in my area… @TBSNetwork
— Divided ⭕️ Shane (@DividedShane) October 4, 2018
Hey @MLB_PR @MLB @TBSNetwork … you both have proven that you truly don’t care about fans. Not allowing subscribers to watch on MLB app or TBS app is asanine and ridiculous. You are losing a fan. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 15 times, shame on me.
— Arthur Anymoredonuts (@DSMeneley) October 4, 2018
You stink MLB!!!
Trying to watch on mlb app or tbs app. Have TWO different cable subscriptions and I’m getting it’s a blackout game.
I live in Pennsylvania, how could that be blacked out.
Totally LAME— GratefulDave (@lovelyventures) October 4, 2018
Tired: Complain about TBS broadcast
Wired: Be forced to bypass TBS because of a weird blackout notice from the app and listen to the radio instead
— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri) October 4, 2018
We can confirm that into the third inning, there was still a “Sorry, we are trouble loading content right now” screen (as seen above) on the TBS Roku app in California. Fortunately, it was fixed by the fourth inning. And the game was also available on actual cable and satellite. But if you’re not at the location with your cable or satellite, that’s definitely problematic. And it raises questions about how well these streaming strategies are actually working.