Baseball Fans Disappointed By Satellite Radio Talks

Sports play-by-play never translates well to other sports like basketball, football, or hockey.

Whether you're listening to Vin Sculley call a Dodgers game or the late, great Jack Buck call Cardinals' games, baseball on the radio is as old as the game itself.  

For fans whose teams aren't in the local markets, hearing all 162 games presents a problem.

Satellite radio offers baseball fans a chance to catch all home and away games broadcast from their favorite sports play-by-play and color commentator.

As the 2009 Major League Baseball regular season rapidly approaches, satellite radio subscribers—and baseball fans alike—both expected to hear MLB on SiriusXM, but they may be shocked to discover no deal has been reach between MLB and the recently merged company.

Albeit, XM subscribers can still hear all baseball games without interruption as they have been since MLB began broadcasting exclusively on XM during the 2005 season. But if you're a Sirius subscriber who purchased the "Best of XM" package, you've already missed a few Spring Training games. You may also be in danger of not hearing live baseball play-by-play in time for Opening Day.
 
Fans can listen to the MLB Home Plate channel, both on Sirius and XM, but no official word has been given as to when Sirius subscribers can expect the games to be available on their outdated receivers.

Baseball fans remain hopeful that MLB inks a deal soon with satellite radio to provide play-by-play for both Spring Training and regular season games, but negotiations appear stalled due MLB requesting more money from radio executives for its now exclusivity to both satellite radio services.

Previously, XM paid a hefty price for the exclusive rights to MLB play-by-play on their airwaves, but now with the merger, most baseball fans owning a Sirius subscription may experience zero benefit for upgrading their service to the "Best of XM" package.

Unfortunately, MLB's contract never included broadcasting games on Sirius, and unless the satellite radio suits ante up more money, fans will likely be unable to hear their teams' games for another season.

So, if you're a Royals fan who doesn't live near Kansas City or outlying areas, you'll be out of luck.

Then again, you're a Royals fan.