Feb

9

Is Coverge of Major League Baseball Changing?

February 9, 2009 | by Keith | Categories Television | 1 Comment

I am one of many who feel that the month-old MLB Network (MLBN) is doing some good work.  They spared no expense in designing their studio (HD compliant), building their audience (50 million homes at the time of their launch), and landing big name talent (Bob Costas).   This past weekend it may have also been an influence into how big stories within the league will be covered going forward.  Let me explain.

When news broke Saturday from Sports Illustrated that they had corroborating evidence of Alex Rodriguez testing positive for steroid use in 2003,  the league-owned network took advantage of its resources to suspend normal programming in favor of discussing the breaking news.  MBLN was able to quickly get Costas in studio to talk with SI reporter Selena Roberts who co-authored the A-Rod piece.   It was quite a coup.

The aggressive work by MLBN put much of the other sports media outlets on notice that it would not just be a mouthpiece for the league.  It wants to be a player in terms of reporting the news.

Who has the most to lose by this?  ESPN.  I have little doubt that the powers at be at the WWL were taken aback by MLBN’s coverage…that for one day they were out-hustled on coverage of a major sports story.  That doesn’t usually happen in Bristol.

So how did ESPN react?  With added vigilance to make sure the next chapter of this story would be theirs.  I am sure ESPN put all hands on deck making sure it got the first interview with Rodriguez, which it secured today.

Now that MLBN is a player in competing for stories, I would expect that baseball fans will see more comprehensive coverage of their sport.  ESPN may no longer have a stranglehold on the big stories coming out of Major League Baseball.   And that’s not a bad thing.


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. dyhrdmet on February 9, 2009 7:50 pm

    I liked what MLB Network did on Saturday. I need to get in the habit of having this place to turn to for MLB news.

    One thing I would have liked to see on the screen is a graphic saying either “Live” or “Previously Recorded” over Saturday’s coverage.

    The interview and commentary from Bob Costas was top-notch, exactly why he was a good hire (and good timing that they got him in time for this).

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