TV Answer Man, I got MLB TV last year but the price seems a bit high this year. I am not sure about renewing my plan. I might cancel the auto-renewal. Do you think they will discount the price? Should I not subscribe this season? — David, Dayton, Ohio.
David, MLB.TV, which streams around 100 out-of-market MLB games every week during the regular season, is a terrific package. Although the plan doesn’t deliver the games of your in-market teams, it does provide both the home and road broadcast of every other team as well as other convenient features such as archives of past games, spring training games, and new this year, 7,000 minor league games. You can also stream the games on roughly 400 different devices, including your TV if it’s connected to the Internet.
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But MLB TV announced yesterday that it will raise the price of the 2023 plan by $10 to $149.99; the 2022 regular season price was $139.99. In addition, there are no pre-season discounts, which have been available in past years.
Which brings us to the issue of the auto-renewal.
Earlier today, we noted in this article that MLB TV has had a policy of auto-renewing subscribers every March 1 at the previous year’s price. That would be $139.99 for 2022. The league even has a web page that says this:
“Your subscription will automatically renew annually approximately March 1 each year at the previous year’s regular full yearly price.”
However, it appears that MLB TV this year has updated the policy to state that you will be auto-renewed at the current year’s price, not last year’s rate. Here’s the web page for the new policy which states:
“By clicking “Buy and accept terms,” you agree to the MLB.com Terms of Use and the MLB.com Privacy Policy. You also agree that your subscription to MLB.TV Yearly or Single Team, as applicable, will automatically renew annually on or about March 1 at the then-current year’s regular full yearly price. You can cancel your automatic renewal any time before the billing period.”
This may cause some confusion since the league now has dueling web pages offering different explanations of how the auto-renewal works. But since one page says it’s the ‘current policy,’ we have to assume that’s the current policy. MLB TV has not responded to the TV Answer Man’s inquiries to clarify this situation.
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Consequently, if you are concerned about the $10 increase, you might want to cancel your auto-renewal here before March 1. Otherwise, you will be on the hook for the $149 after that date.
The TV Answer Man will update this article if we get a response from MLB TV.
David, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
@tvanswerman
I’m still waiting on MLB and Bally to say who is carrying what games. I would consider signing up for MLB but not if I can’t watch my local team((Braves). Blackouts are. A game changer. Don’t need FUBO, DirecTV Stream if I can’t watch MY team. Does anyone know what’s going on when we will?
I got the renewal email and it states “There is no action required for you to continue your MLB.TV Yearly subscription. The payment card you have on file with us will be charged $149.99 on or about February 28, 2023. Your subscription will automatically renew annually on or about March 1 at the then-current year’s regular full yearly price.”
Web site says last year’s price. They have some explaining to do.
Story updated to reflect MLB TV has two different web pages with conflicting policies on auto renewal.
So is MLB is trying to hash out the default on payments to the owners?