Q. Now that Major League Baseball has delayed the 2020 season because of the Corona virus, will there be refunds for MLB.TV and Extra Innings on DIRECTV and Dish? — Ike, Amarillo, Texas.
See: Why MLB.TV Should Issue Refunds!
See an update on this story here!
Ike, as you note, Major League Baseball has suspended all play, including spring training and the opening of the 2020 season, due to concerns over the Coronavirus outbreak. League officials have not said when the regular season will begin, but many baseball writers have speculated it won’t be until mid-April at the earliest.
I’ve received several e-mails today from subscribers to the league’s pay package of out-of-market games, MLB.TV (online for $121) and MLB Extra Innings (available for around $183 on pay TV services such as DIRECTV, Dish, Comcast, Verizon and Charter.) They are already demanding refunds for the entire season, or at least, a partial refund for the first two weeks of games.
It’s likely that both the league and the pay TV ops will issue refunds at some point for missed action. (The league and TV companies have not addressed the issue yet, but they have said they won’t issue refunds for game tickets until it’s clear the games will be affected.)
However, the problem with giving a refund now is that we don’t know how many games will be missed.
How would MLB or the pay TV services calculate what the refund should be at this point? If they say they will refund 10 percent for let’s say 16 games (roughly 10 percent of the season) that are not played, they could have to turn around and issue another refund later if the league decides to suspend play further.
Then if the second deadline for the season opener is not met, they would have to do it again. And maybe then again.
It could get quite ridiculous.
Obviously, it makes sense for everyone to wait and see exactly how many games are not played. Then MLB and its pay TV partners can issue one refund that will definitely cover what a subscriber missed.
Make sense?
As for subscribers to the NBA League Pass package of out-of-market games, it’s less likely there will be a refund because the league is now promising to play out the rest of the season when teams return. That could change, of course, but that’s the current plan.
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My MLB-TV is through Amazon Prime at the $123 rate. It renews for 2020 on 3/20. Will be interesting to see if they do the renewal or hold off unti season start is decided. I am watching archived games to feed my baseball addiction so I guess it is fair to do the renewal. Guess I’ll find out and report next week.
I’ve already been charged $121.00 for mlb.tv for the whole season. They need to refund ALL of it. Then IF the season resumes people can decide if they want to renew. As it is the greedy mlb is making millions in interest off our money. I could use that money in these uncertain times. I will NEVER subscribe again.
I completely agree with a complete refund immediately. Then subscribe again if you chose to. Obviously, they won’t do that because probably such previous subscriber’s second subscriptions would not match or succeed the current level. Though maybe because of a hunger for MLB they would virtually match, or pass the current or normal level of subscribers.
Regardless of that analysis, or guesswork, obviously the simplest and fair path for current subscribers is a complete refund. Then in the future they could decide to subscribe or not.
Melvin, I’m with you on this. We subscribed to watch live, regular season games. If I don’t get my entire fee of $121.99 (paid Feb 28 via PayPal) I never use this money grabbing outfit again. I was a repeat subscriber.
I agree with this 100%. I have been a subscriber for years and MLB TV will lose my business indefinitely if they don’t issue a full refund for the 2020 season. This is a pandemic with no end in sight and MLB TV needs to do the right thing and refund us all now!
I agree with Melvin. They should issue refunds now and then when the season resumes, we can decide on whether or not we want to renew based on how many games are left – that would be the best good faith move on MLB’s part – Now I am unemployed due to the coronavirus and could use the money more than ever
I totally agree with refunding the money to all that have already paid. This does not look like it’s going to be resolved any time soon. We should get our money back and then decide for ourselves to sign back on to the service IF/WHEN then season begins. Please MLBtv, do the right thing…
If you paid with a credit card, call them and have them do a charge back as simple as that. We didn’t get what we paid for. The credit card company will take the money back from mlb.
No it doesnt make sense repay all of it and give people the opportunity to make a decision if and when the season starts. You guys sit on you hands with this one your going th o loose alot of buisness IMO
FYI….I called MLB at 866-800-1275, hit 3 for billing and spoke to a very nice lady who chatted it up with me for a bit about my favorite team. She said the refund should show back up on my CC in 5-7 days – simple as that (hopefully) I will check back with them if not 🙂
So did you get it?
Yes I did get it credited back on my credit card about 5 days later
Just called MLB at 866-800-1275 and the lady said she “would submit my full refund request, however there is no guarantee MLB will honor it because it was more than 5 days since purchase”. This is an abominable position MLB has taken against its loyal customers! We should not even have to call for a refund!!! MLB sold us a product that they did not provide, and to withhold money from their fans during times of financial hardship like this is beyond cruel and heartless. It was bad enough they did nothing to remove the Houston Asterisks championship, but this shows they don’t give a damn about their customers. To hold onto our money during this virus crisis, when so many people are jobless & suffering, and MLB isn’t even providing the product they sold us, is simply UNFORGIVABLE. Had they refunded everyone IMMMEDIATELY upon deciding to postpone/cancel the season, every fan would have been dying to pay to watch games whenever they resumed playing. But now… everyone should be really pissed at MLB for their ruthlessness & greed.
I got the same comment which is total BS. There are no games. If they don’t refund I will never buy it again. I will call my credit card and see if I can get a charge back if they don’t refund me.
I did get my refund but I should not have had to call to get it and they should not have tried to resist giving it to me with that it’s after your 5 days for a refund crap. I will not be getting a whole season anymore.
If we don’t get full refunds, I for one will never subscribe to this service again. They will lose a customer who’s been with them since day 1 of their existence. MLB Do The Right Thing NOW! Or lose us for Life!
I sent an email request for an update on refund policy and prorated partial refund question… I got an email 30 minutes later telling me that they have processed my entire refund. It is in process now showing up in account.
No it does not make sense even if it’s not mlb fault I did not get what was contracted for under the terms of the agreement. The contract was breached. I need my money back yesterday
I ordered the MLB extra innings package through my provider, Spectrum. The nearly $200.00 was to be paid over 4 moths. I got my cable bill with the 1st month added to my regular bill of $201.10, I only paid my regular monthly amount, as there hasn’t been any games played!!! They left a message to call them, witch I did. I was informed if I didn’t pay the full amount, service would be disconnected. I said I would pay the extra amount as long as knew there would be a refund, once the games started. I was informed there are no refunds, I asked to speak to a supervisor… I am still waiting. Joan 4/27/20
I sent an email requesting a refund to customerservice@website.mlb.com. Gave them my username and details. Received a refund to my PayPal account the next day, not bad. Beats waiting on hold.
That email address didn’t work for me… It said: The address “customerservice@website.mlb.com.” in the “To” field was not recognized. Please make sure that all addresses are properly formed.
https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/help-center/contact-us
MLB TV needs to wise up and understand there is so much to enjoy about the seasons you’ve already taped and which everyone will get with the subscription. They can drop the price now for people who are interested in re enjoying entire seasons. The world needs to discover the Rays for instance. They have the greatest announcers and the greatest brains in the game. We need to have people who share MLB TV and live who knows how far apart from each other watch a game together and tell a potential audience which game they’re going to watch and these couples or teams of people we’ll enjoy a game together and there will be people that will turn into hear this and they will pay some they will pay for a subscription at a discounted base but it’s better than nothing. We need to meet we need the Hot stove league to be as big a deal as the regular season. Who won is a football mentality. We are capable of enjoying a game just because it’s baseball.