Roku, maker of the the $99 box that brings high quality broadband video to the television set, is now providing all Major League Baseball games as one part of the MLB.com premium subscription of $34.95.
While MLB.com has found success with its online subscription business and has recently added the iPhone and iPhone Touch to its live platforms, this is the first time that high quality broadband video of baseball games will be delivered from the Internet to the TV screen.
This is a big breakthrough for Saratoga, Calif-based Roku and for baseball fans who don't subscribe to cable or satellite but want to see games live, in a big-screen television experience.
Sounds too good to be true? There is a catch: You can't watch local games live on your Roku. If you are in New York, you can't watch the Yankees and Mets live, you have to wait for 90 minutes. In addition to live, all the games are available on demand for seven days.
A couple weeks back I interviewed Roku's Jim Funk at the Blip.tv news event. A number of Blip.tv shows will soon be available via Roku.
Andy Plesser, Managing Editor
