By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former editor of 4 TV magazines. Author of TV Dot Com.

TV Answer Man, I was going to sign up for the Major League old players donation so I could get the MLB TV discount, but it looks like they are only letting existing members do it now. Is that true? — Harold, Sacramento, California. 

Harold, for the last few years, the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association has offered 50 percent off MLB TV for everyone who makes a contribution of $25 or more. (MLB TV is the league’s package of out-of-market games.) This year, that would bring the MLB TV regular price of $149.99 to just $100 when you add $25 for the MLBPAA donation. That’s a 33 percent savings overall. (You can also deduct your MLBPAA contribution on your taxes.)

But the MLBPAA has recently changed the qualifications for the 50 percent discount. Now, only renewing or active members of the MLBPAA are eligible for the 50 percent deal.

“MLB.TV 50% discount can only be utilized by renewing/active members,” the MLBPAA site now states. “Members will receive information to redeem a unique discount code. One unique code per member provided during the calendar year upon renewal. Available while supplies last for active MLBPAA members only.”

My educated guess is that too many people were using the MLBPAA donation perk to get the MLB TV discount so the players association was forced to restrict the eligibility. (The discount for all was available in February of this year.) The league likely concluded that it was losing significant revenue from the MLBPAA discount offer.

So if you didn’t get MLB TV through MLBPLAA last year, you’ll now have to pay full price for the plan.

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.