MASN Tries To Make It Easier To Watch The Washington Nationals...

by Patrick Reddington on Jan 13, 2009 11:53 PM EST

I know there have been a lot of complaints in the last few years about the tv coverage of the Nationals in the DC Metro Area...and there have been reports in the national media about the complete lack of tv viewership for Nationals' games...Well, I got an email from MASN Sports' Todd Webster this morning about a press release announcing MASN's partnership with DC50 to, "simulcast Nationals games over-the-air in 2009", which reads, in part:

"MASN, the local leader in live sports entertainment, has partnered with WDCW-TV, DC50, in a multi-year agreement to simulcast 20 Nationals games on the over-the-air broadcast network each season. Nats Xtra, MASN's exclusive pre and post game show, will also air on DC50 immediately before and after each game, allowing for a seamless simulcast of the entire MASN production."

The press release also promises, "The new agreement will make it even easier for fans to find Nationals games on television." Alright? What is going on down there that they have to write a sentence like that? Is the change promised in this announcement the kind of change you were looking for? I'm sure MASN and Mr. Webster would like to know what you think/ want/ want changed/ are happy with/ look forward to?

Maybe someone can provide them with a better response than I can since I don't live in DC, and I watch all my games on MLB.tv...(It's the MASN broadcast though!:)...

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The issue

The issues was that for the last 4 years, when the game was on DC20 (i.e. broadcast over the air) it was blacked out on MASN. This exclusivity may have been good for DC20 by forcing people to watch the game on their station, but was confusing if you’re used to watching the game on MASN/MASN2’s cable channel.

Because it’s now a simulcast – apparently the game will be available in 2 places – on cable and on broadcast.

by JoeBeercan on Jan 14, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions

Hmph...'Been here for over a year and a half and I've never even heard of DC50

As I remember it, the complaints in the W. Post last year primarily dealt w/the fan’s frustration from not being able to find out WHAT CHANNEL the game was coming on.

This year w/the introduction of the MLB Network (MLBn), MLB.com did one hell of a job getting the word out to prospective fans about what “channel” the show would be on. Regardless if a fan had Comcast, Cox or DirecTV, all a fan had to do was go to MLB.com, click on the MLBn link, enter their zip code of where the fan resided in the window provided and they could find out what channel MLBn was on respective to their cable / satellite provider.

Here’s a link to MLBn that shows you exactly how MASN could do it.
http://mlb.mlb.com/network/

I certainly remember being frustrated by not being able to find out WHAT CHANNEL the game was on last year. I hope it gets easier this year.

"The two most important things in life: good friends and a strong bullpen." - Bob Gibson

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Jan 14, 2009 11:38 AM EST reply actions

Dammit, I just figured out how to tune in DC20!

Now I have to figure out how to point my antenna to get 50?! This might drive me to finally get cable. It is nice to get the pre- and post-game shows, which they didn’t broadcast on 20 (although as anyone who was around last season (Hi, Lou!) knows, I much prefer the Nats’ radio team of Charlie and Dave over the TV crew, Hall-of-Famer-Don-Sutton notwithstanding…).

"Next year we'll make it better." -- Mannyger Acta

by Doghouse on Jan 15, 2009 8:29 PM EST reply actions

52 inches baby!

52 glorious inches of Panasonic Flatscreen HDTV!

When you get done screwing around w/that rabbit ear’d device you call television, c’mon over to my place in Alexandria to watch the game. I do it up right. Free pizza, wings and beer. Bring a big appetite and a small attitude. Sure, I’m gonna catch some games @ the park (in the cheap-o-seats) but I’ll be watching mad games, I mean mad games here @ the crib.

*Chigliak, you’re invited too. BUT I AIN’T PAYIN THE FARE INTO REAGAN-NATIONAL!

" Where I'm from, throwing up in your mouth is affectionately known as a mustard burp. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Jan 15, 2009 10:20 PM EST up reply actions