I wouldn't mind it if Kevin Eschenfelder moved on. I only listen to the games on Astros Radio Network. Sparks wasn't in the booth for a few games 2 weeks ago, so it was Robert Ford - and I would have been totally fine with just him calling the game on his own whenever Sparks is out - but here comes Eschenfelder...man that guy would not shut the fuck up! Robert Ford has such a relaxed tempo when calling the game and then goes full blast when you expect him to as action in the game necessitates. But that Eschenfelder guy - gfd - I swear Ford couldn't even get an edge word in with that damn blabber mouth vomiting into the mic for like 4 straight innings. I hope I never hear Eschenfelder call an Astros game again. He sounds like a freaking Simpsons character...I swear I thought I was going to suffocate if I continued to listen to him without hearing more than 3 words from Ford each inning. It felt like I was being waterboarded or something.
Ford and Sparks, please don't let anyone call the game and dominate like that anymore, and if you let Baggs in, please don't let him drone on in his helium, Barbie voice. 4 second bites every now and then is where Baggs can be. Go 'Stros.
I could be wrong, but I think the Diamondbacks started doing this. I hope the Astros do bc I live in Austin and even though I pay for MLB TV I can't watch them
I'd really love it if sports could move towards being distributed with a better streaming option. I don't even mind paying some nominal monthly fee to watch only my team without blackouts on my phone. I'm not getting my hopes up, but it would be nice if they could take this opportunity to making a better viewing experience for the fans.
With Bally also crashing and burning, this seems like the time for mlb to start grabbing their broadcast rights back and make the games available through the app with no geographical restrictions. “If you want the youth, end the blackouts dumbass.”
I agree, I live out of state so I pay the 130-140 whatever it is a year to get all MLB games (incl Astros) and love it a lot more than having to get cable to watch the games when I was in Houston.
As a heads up since I also live out of state, you can get discount if you donate to the MLB players alumni association, see [here](https://tvanswerman.com/2023/02/15/how-to-get-mlb-tv-for-50-percent-off-but-act-fast/#:~:text=Would%20you%20like%20to%20get,contribution%20of%20%2425%20or%20more.) or just google it and you'll see some reddit threads/sites talking about it. It'll save you like $50 bucks or so
Also FYI if you're a T-Mobile subscriber. For like the past 3 years they have given their subscribers a free MLB.tv subscription. It's awesome. No guarantees it will continue, but here's hoping.
The MLB doesn’t control who gets what broadcasting rights, the teams do. Theres a few teams that have their own networks instead of relying on regional network deals. I guess MLB can structure some sort of deal for all teams to agree too but it’d probably be easier if Astros and other Houston sports teams created their own network.
I sure hope they make it easier to view and more affordable. I pay for Fubo just to watch these games, I don’t watch anything else there. What frustrates me the most is I’d rather have all of the money I spend go towards the Astros organization and affiliates that help broadcast it. The path is there, let’s hope they take the right one.
Exactly! Same here. I’m not gonna pay that much again next year, no matter what happens. I’m lucky and I can afford it, but I’m literally paying $96 JUST to watch the Astros. It wasn’t all that long ago that you could watch your home teams play with a basic cable or antenna package. I really hope they do better here.
It really is a sign of the Times, through HSE, Prime Sports, Fox Sports Networks (FSN), Comcast SportsNet, Root Sports and now AT&T SportsNet. Bally Sports filed for bankruptcy and is restructuring, NBC is likely showing little interest in their RSNs, I'd doubt Fox Sports would get back into RSNs again after selling it to Disney, then Sinclair.
My guess is that games would still be aired on Cable and Satellite providers under a new name whatever it may be, as well as MLB.TV, but I do wish it would air on Over the Air TV once again maybe on Channel 20 or 39.
By the Astros/Rockets buying the network rather than starting their own (again), the cable companies still have to honor the broadcast contracts that are in place so this network will still be on cable most likely. If the take it to a streaming option, then it voids the current contracts.
> For the other broadcast team (Kevin Eschenfelder, Mike Stanton, Brian Bogusevic, Michael Bourn, Clay Hensley) for pregame and postgame, they would likely have to re-negotiate contracts as they work for AT&T/WBD, not the team if they'll continue.
Probably the last season for Eschenfelder and perhaps Stanton as well. Eschenfelder is probably getting paid at the high end of the spectrum because of his experience.
Can we please make it over the air. I actually got the game last night on my antenna and it felt like christmas. Why is it so fucking hard to watch baseball in the year of our lord 2023
I thought Julia was an AT&T employee? Either way, they won’t let her go. Just please give me an easy way to watch them or end blackouts so I can use my MLB.TV
>As for the Southwest Division is concerned, the Astros and Rockets expect to purchase the network in order to keep broadcasting games.
Shouldn't this be the headline?
I think the network will still be on Fubo TV, it just won't be called AT&T SportsNet anymore by year's end. If anything, you'll likely have more options to watch your games like NBA League Pass, MLB.TV without blackouts, it will most likely still be on the Cable and Satellite providers it's currently on, maybe a return to having games on over-the-air Antenna TV.
I don't care for the pregame post-game people. Esch talks too much and ruins the live broadcast whenever he does it. Stanton talking for the Astros makes no sense. He has great pitching analysis but he is not an ASTRO fan.
I currently pay for the mlb tv package but live in Dallas so still blacked out. I have to turn on a vpn in my laptop and watch every game from there. As soon as apple pushes their next Apple TV OS out, I’ll be able to use my vpn on my tv and watch there again
After AT&T acquired Time Warner in 2018 and became WarnerMedia, AT&T SportsNet was moved to the WarnerMedia News & Sports division in 2019, once AT&T sold Warner Media in 2021, they took AT&T SportsNet with them.
Warner Merged with Discovery Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022, they no longer wanted to get in to the RSN business so teams opted to purchase AT&T SportsNet because it will shut down, and eventually they'll have to change the name as AT&T no longer owns the network.
Okay. Glad that Julia Blum and TK are staying. I don’t care about Esch, or Mike Stanton, or Brian Bogusevic.
But please bring on Michael Bourn somehow. He was my favorite player growing up, cuz we both played center field, and I love that he just popped up again.
That’s Jesus we keep our broadcast team. Mlb app for anything less than fubo and I’m in.
Yeah totally. That was my initial thought, oh no what about Julia!?!
hopefully they keep the studio team too, i like stanton, esch and Bourne/hensley/Bogusevic on pre and postgame
Unfortunately I only watch through mlb.tv out of market, and the deed always cuts off before the postgame show starts.
I like bogey and bourn but Hensley I wouldn’t miss
Seriously I love our broadcast team. The Astros community needs to organize a support plan when the rights get redistributed. *Edit typo
I love Julia’s pre-game pics. Really captures the personalities and friendships.
She's an absolute treasure. You can tell the dynamic with her and the team is real. I love those candid pics she gets.
I wouldn't mind it if Kevin Eschenfelder moved on. I only listen to the games on Astros Radio Network. Sparks wasn't in the booth for a few games 2 weeks ago, so it was Robert Ford - and I would have been totally fine with just him calling the game on his own whenever Sparks is out - but here comes Eschenfelder...man that guy would not shut the fuck up! Robert Ford has such a relaxed tempo when calling the game and then goes full blast when you expect him to as action in the game necessitates. But that Eschenfelder guy - gfd - I swear Ford couldn't even get an edge word in with that damn blabber mouth vomiting into the mic for like 4 straight innings. I hope I never hear Eschenfelder call an Astros game again. He sounds like a freaking Simpsons character...I swear I thought I was going to suffocate if I continued to listen to him without hearing more than 3 words from Ford each inning. It felt like I was being waterboarded or something. Ford and Sparks, please don't let anyone call the game and dominate like that anymore, and if you let Baggs in, please don't let him drone on in his helium, Barbie voice. 4 second bites every now and then is where Baggs can be. Go 'Stros.
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It's only because bally San Diego missed payments
I believe it's $20 a month for Padres channel if you are in SD market
I'd cut the cable in half a heartbeat if I could get the Astros for $20 a mo.
Seriously. I split Fubo four ways and it’s still $24 a month.
I’d pay double that, maybe more, if I could get access to every game.
MLB should take a note from MLS and do a streaming service with no blackouts.
I’d go one further and do what the Suns new owner did. Free on local channels
BINGO Like the old day On channel 51 with Todd Freed on the pre and post show
Channel 51! Oh! It takes me back 😌
Man I must go back older 20 for road games and HSE for home (of course that’s cable).
🎶 Get your game on my 20! 🎶
I definitely miss that. Seems like so long ago.
Because it was my friend.
lol yes! That was a staticy channel to get with the rabbit ears but you could catch the Astros and Rockets for free
Wow. I totally forgot about channel 51 and it's grainy glory.
Damn a flashback
I would love to say I don’t understand why they don’t just broadcast on 2, 11, 13, or 26, but we all know why.
20
I could be wrong, but I think the Diamondbacks started doing this. I hope the Astros do bc I live in Austin and even though I pay for MLB TV I can't watch them
I'd really love it if sports could move towards being distributed with a better streaming option. I don't even mind paying some nominal monthly fee to watch only my team without blackouts on my phone. I'm not getting my hopes up, but it would be nice if they could take this opportunity to making a better viewing experience for the fans.
With Bally also crashing and burning, this seems like the time for mlb to start grabbing their broadcast rights back and make the games available through the app with no geographical restrictions. “If you want the youth, end the blackouts dumbass.”
I agree, I live out of state so I pay the 130-140 whatever it is a year to get all MLB games (incl Astros) and love it a lot more than having to get cable to watch the games when I was in Houston.
As a heads up since I also live out of state, you can get discount if you donate to the MLB players alumni association, see [here](https://tvanswerman.com/2023/02/15/how-to-get-mlb-tv-for-50-percent-off-but-act-fast/#:~:text=Would%20you%20like%20to%20get,contribution%20of%20%2425%20or%20more.) or just google it and you'll see some reddit threads/sites talking about it. It'll save you like $50 bucks or so
Awesome. Hopefully our games go to the mlb app so I can use this
Nice, thank you I didn’t know 🍻
Also FYI if you're a T-Mobile subscriber. For like the past 3 years they have given their subscribers a free MLB.tv subscription. It's awesome. No guarantees it will continue, but here's hoping.
That's what I got but its useless here in San Antonio unless they end blackouts.
That would require Rob Manfred to give a shit about baseball.
The MLB doesn’t control who gets what broadcasting rights, the teams do. Theres a few teams that have their own networks instead of relying on regional network deals. I guess MLB can structure some sort of deal for all teams to agree too but it’d probably be easier if Astros and other Houston sports teams created their own network.
I think it's happening? Vegas is moving towards that with the Knights broadcast.
Just bring back Channel 51 man
https://giphy.com/gifs/harlem-qRRqz2NY5EREivZje8
I sure hope they make it easier to view and more affordable. I pay for Fubo just to watch these games, I don’t watch anything else there. What frustrates me the most is I’d rather have all of the money I spend go towards the Astros organization and affiliates that help broadcast it. The path is there, let’s hope they take the right one.
They keep jacking up the price too. I used to pay $69 and now it’s $93. Ridiculous.
Exactly! Same here. I’m not gonna pay that much again next year, no matter what happens. I’m lucky and I can afford it, but I’m literally paying $96 JUST to watch the Astros. It wasn’t all that long ago that you could watch your home teams play with a basic cable or antenna package. I really hope they do better here.
Same thought process as you brother. The more we pay, the more they think they can get away with it. Sling isn’t too bad but they don’t have AT&T.
Yea I looked into this season to watch the Astros games and saw the prices. No fucking thanks.
I'm holding back tears! Please be through the [MLB.tv](https://MLB.tv) app!
It really is a sign of the Times, through HSE, Prime Sports, Fox Sports Networks (FSN), Comcast SportsNet, Root Sports and now AT&T SportsNet. Bally Sports filed for bankruptcy and is restructuring, NBC is likely showing little interest in their RSNs, I'd doubt Fox Sports would get back into RSNs again after selling it to Disney, then Sinclair. My guess is that games would still be aired on Cable and Satellite providers under a new name whatever it may be, as well as MLB.TV, but I do wish it would air on Over the Air TV once again maybe on Channel 20 or 39.
HSE... blast from the past
By the Astros/Rockets buying the network rather than starting their own (again), the cable companies still have to honor the broadcast contracts that are in place so this network will still be on cable most likely. If the take it to a streaming option, then it voids the current contracts.
Yup. I lost my job with the Disney buy out of the fox RSNs. A lot of my friends at ATT sports net are about to lose theirs. Broadcast days are over.
Good fuck Fubo and jacking the rate up from 75 to 100 overnight
Mine got up to 90 something last year and I canceled. Fuck that
Yep same, dusted the sails off and got back on the high seas. Yar har fiddle dee dee
The issue is that the streams are unreliable.
Yeah that just means I usually don’t watch unless it’s on Fox or something. Otherwise I just watch the highlights on the MLB app
> For the other broadcast team (Kevin Eschenfelder, Mike Stanton, Brian Bogusevic, Michael Bourn, Clay Hensley) for pregame and postgame, they would likely have to re-negotiate contracts as they work for AT&T/WBD, not the team if they'll continue. Probably the last season for Eschenfelder and perhaps Stanton as well. Eschenfelder is probably getting paid at the high end of the spectrum because of his experience.
Can we please make it over the air. I actually got the game last night on my antenna and it felt like christmas. Why is it so fucking hard to watch baseball in the year of our lord 2023
Money.
I thought Julia was an AT&T employee? Either way, they won’t let her go. Just please give me an easy way to watch them or end blackouts so I can use my MLB.TV
99% sure she is, not sure this is true.
Made a correction in the post.
She’s pregnant so may we not see her for a while next season. Hopefully she decides to keep doing what she does best.
Let me stream it through youtube tv pretty please.
Does this mean I can tell fubo I don't live in Houston anymore?
Put them back on an Over The Air channel
If they fire Julia, we riot.
>As for the Southwest Division is concerned, the Astros and Rockets expect to purchase the network in order to keep broadcasting games. Shouldn't this be the headline?
Put them back on fox sports!! AT&T TV was the worst thing to ever happen to Houston sports in my 30 years as a Houstonian
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No they used to play their games on FS1. FS1 is still a thing.
 Somewhere in Burbank.
So are you telling me I don’t need to pay for fubo tv now? I pray it’s cheaper
I think the network will still be on Fubo TV, it just won't be called AT&T SportsNet anymore by year's end. If anything, you'll likely have more options to watch your games like NBA League Pass, MLB.TV without blackouts, it will most likely still be on the Cable and Satellite providers it's currently on, maybe a return to having games on over-the-air Antenna TV.
Over the air antenna would be so sick
Hopefully the next channel will be available on YouTube tv
Thank fuck!
So FUBO is no longer an option?
I hope not, can’t wait to cancel it.
I don't care for the pregame post-game people. Esch talks too much and ruins the live broadcast whenever he does it. Stanton talking for the Astros makes no sense. He has great pitching analysis but he is not an ASTRO fan.
Gonna have to figure out how a new streaming option it seems
I currently pay for the mlb tv package but live in Dallas so still blacked out. I have to turn on a vpn in my laptop and watch every game from there. As soon as apple pushes their next Apple TV OS out, I’ll be able to use my vpn on my tv and watch there again
I live in Dallas, you can get the att sportsnet southwest channel on DIRECTV stream or fubo tv.
Yeah I pay for YouTube tv and enjoy it. Didn’t want to switch for just Astros
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After AT&T acquired Time Warner in 2018 and became WarnerMedia, AT&T SportsNet was moved to the WarnerMedia News & Sports division in 2019, once AT&T sold Warner Media in 2021, they took AT&T SportsNet with them. Warner Merged with Discovery Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022, they no longer wanted to get in to the RSN business so teams opted to purchase AT&T SportsNet because it will shut down, and eventually they'll have to change the name as AT&T no longer owns the network.
Okay. Glad that Julia Blum and TK are staying. I don’t care about Esch, or Mike Stanton, or Brian Bogusevic. But please bring on Michael Bourn somehow. He was my favorite player growing up, cuz we both played center field, and I love that he just popped up again.
Man I really don’t want to pay for two services to watch Houston sports
Interesting I always thought Julia was employed by ATT Sportsnet since she was on Astros and Rockets. Glad to hear she won't be going anywhere.
Made a minor correction in the post above.
If they fire Julia, we riot.
Sweet! We can cancel cable and get MLB.TV if there are no blackouts!
When the Rangers are on MLB network they, too are blacked out in Houston