Not for me; I want to enjoy the game, not be bombarded by incessant advertising and, for some games, mind-numbing half-time “entertainment.” Just the game and nothing but the game. And, I’m able to watch the games in about half the time it would normally take. My exceptions are the World-Series, the Super Bowl, and the college championship game, if I’m not at work or traveling.
The challenge, of course, is to avoid hearing the score before I watch the game. My staff has strict, friendly instructions to never discuss game scores and outcomes in front of me.
IMO, the only way to really watch a ballgame is with a crowd, a scorecard, and a sub-par hotdog. Or, sitting outside on a lovely summer night listening to a baseball game on radio. (Yes! I’m outing myself as a baseball fan of a certain age.)
But truly, I’ve never enjoy watching a game so much as when I’m in a noisy space with fans and everyone is just living in the moment.
With all of that, I agree! I was only referring to watching games. I try to attend games when I can (though tickets, parking, and food are getting high!). And, as for baseball, I think it is wonderful to listen to on the radio. I can listen to a football game on the radio, but there is something special about baseball on the radio.
Actually that NY Times article talks about how it’s also a problem for bars too. With blackouts and everything, it becomes difficult for them to show every game.
Sports are over inflated in their value because they are the only things that people watch live TV for now. So every service is getting a piece of the pie. But you are right, ideally the streaming service should be every game for one price or one base line price and then you can subscribe to individual teams.
This would only work for college sports (because Public Universities being government actors), but I would make it a law that every college game featuring a public college MUST be shown on an over the air TV station so that all residents of a local market can get every game of their hometown team for free. Nationally they can be streamed wherever they want. Disney already does that with Monday night football. It’s on ESPN nationally but the ABC affiliates of the hometown team.
This doesn’t solve the NFL problem as a private company but it would set a precedent.
You yougins! Back in my day, baseball was on the radio. I remember gathering around the locker of the guy with the transistor radio in high school between classes to get the score. Those were the days. (I remember us all listening to the Bud Harrelson - Pete Rose fight!)
And this somewhat belies the argument that not being able to watch the game will result in fewer fans. Growing up there were the local TV stations for the home teams, but most games were day games, and not televised. The only national game was the Saturday Game of the Week (which was often the only time to see a team from the “other” league). Even so most all the kids in school were baseball fans. I remember watching the Saturday games with my Grandmother, a die hard Phillies fan. And she grew up before TV and even before radio was common.
And when you only had two NFL games each Sunday, it was appointment viewing. In the New York City area, where I grew up, you got the Giants and the Jets. And for most of my life they were awful teams (but we’d get food and drinks and watch anyway). Thus Monday Night Football was a must watch (even if you had to listen to Howard Cosell). Now I have a minimum of six NFL games each week (Thursday night, two 1:00 pm Sunday, one (sometimes two) 4:00 pm Sunday, Sunday night, Monday night). And I can pick a (hopefully) good game to watch. Supply is much greater than demand.
Add all the other sports programming available on TV and the supply is even greater. Add in all of the other entertainment options these days and it is easy to see why young folks are not as fanatical about sports as my generation was. The TV fragmentation certainly doesn’t help.
We actually had teachers who would come listen as well!
A story only marginally related to the original topic and MPU. We played Strat-o-Matic Baseball in high school. And one day at the start of English class, when we had just gotten the playing cards for the new season and were chatting away about it, the teacher walked in and called for us to settle down. We kept chatting so she had to repeat her request. Just then the math teacher appeared at the door and asked to speak with us. She said ok. And he said, “I need a starting pitcher. Who wants to trade one for an outfielder?”
Don’t tell anyone, but there were a few occasions when I’d have my transistor radio in my pocket and earphones snaked through my sweater so I could listen to a game during class. Fortunately, for my education, that was a rare occurrence.
At my school, in 1980, teachers rolled televisions into the classrooms to allow the kids to watch the Phillies’ parade after they won the World Series (for those of us not at the parade).
Unfortunately (especially for those of us who grew up in the big league bleachers), this is the best alternative if you still want to be around other people. I think we hit a lifetime low of 1 regular season game last year and all in was ~$350 for a family of 4, with no souvenirs. Long gone are the days of loading up the station wagon with as many kids as would fit and not having to take out a second mortgage. It’s not really a game without some unhealthy grub and a least one spilled beer.
I lost track of how to watch games on TV years ago.
And, I’m able to watch the games in about half the time it would normally take. My exceptions are the World-Series, the Super Bowl, and the college championship game, if I’m not at work or traveling.
Or, sitting outside on a lovely summer night listening to a baseball game on radio. (Yes! I’m outing myself as a baseball fan of a certain age.)
It’s all the TV I had Pre Streaming.
Fortunately, for my education, that was a rare occurrence. 
