# MLB Blackout Rules - A Question Regarding Today's Yankees - Orioles Game **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174 "2009-04-06T21:46:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174/1 "2009-04-06T21:46:27Z")
The Baltimore Orioles are the local American League market where I live. I usually understand the blackout rules of MLB, but today I’m stumped. This is a nationally televised game, being shown (supposedly) on ESPN. My channel guide shows ESPN programming this game right now, but instead, I have Sports Center. I thought nationally televised games were, well, _nationally televised_? At first I thought maybe it was a rain delay, but going online I see the game progressing as I type this. Anyone have an idea why it’s not being shown? I’m in Charlotte, NC, btw. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174/2 "2009-04-06T22:01:38Z")
Hey, neighbor. Charlotte is traditionally a Baltimore-blackout town. I know it seems nuts with Atlanta closer by more than 100 miles, but that’s been my experience. Go Braves! ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174/3 "2009-04-06T22:12:59Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Hey, neighbor. > > Charlotte is traditionally a Baltimore-blackout town. I know it seems nuts with Atlanta closer by more than 100 miles, but that’s been my experience. > > Go Braves! Hey **KtK** , how are ya? Yes, I know the Orioles are the local American league team here, but I thought national games (ESPN, etc.) weren’t subject to blackout rules. I guess I was wrong. I know that I cannot watch the game today on the [MLB.tv](http://MLB.tv) subscription I have online because of the blackout. I assumed if it was blacked out there it was available on ESPN. It has to be available _somewhere_. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174/4 "2009-04-06T23:14:03Z")
According to [this map](http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/tools/med/2006/06/ipt/1150742098.jpg), Charlotte is subject to blackouts of Orioles, Braves, Reds, _and_ Nationals games. Oh, and I’m good. Hope y’all are. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174/5 "2009-04-07T02:46:23Z")
MLB’s contract with ESPN give them an exclusive rights to a Sunday night game each week, but otherwise ESPN gets blacked out in favor of local outlets. Here San Antonio, TX tonight the Astros-Cubs game on ESPN2 was blacked out in favor the home broadcast on Fox Sport Southwest. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174/6 "2009-04-07T12:02:16Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > MLB’s contract with ESPN give them an exclusive rights to a Sunday night game each week, but otherwise ESPN gets blacked out in favor of local outlets. Here San Antonio, TX tonight the Astros-Cubs game on ESPN2 was blacked out in favor the home broadcast on Fox Sport Southwest. Ah, that explains it, thanks. I just assumed all games on ESPN were exclusives. So yesterday’s game was probably showing on MASN, which Time Warner doesn’t carry in my market. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-blackout-rules-a-question-regarding-todays-yankees-orioles-game/492174/7 "2009-04-07T12:45:18Z")
SportSouth sometimes carries Orioles games, too. Edit: It’s been a whole off season. I’m not even sure there is a SportSouth any more. OK, I looked. TWC says its still on channel 60.