Toronto Blue Jays fans hoping to watch tonight's game against the Yankees on Sportsnet are out of luck once again.
Sportsnet issued a programming alert confirming tonight's matchup will be shown exclusively on Apple TV, a familiar frustration for a fan base used to having virtually every game on its usual channel.
Fans without an Apple TV subscription still have options to follow along, just not by watching. The game will be available for free on FAN590, the Sportsnet app, and sportsnet.ca.
That's a real distinction worth noting, radio and streaming audio coverage remain accessible without any extra cost, even though the television broadcast requires a separate subscription.
Toronto sits at 53-60, last in the American League East, while the Yankees enter at 68-53, sixth in baseball overall, fresh off a tough 0-1 loss to Seattle and clearly one of the stronger teams in this year's American League field.
That gap in the standings doesn't make tonight's game any less frustrating to miss on the usual channel, especially for fans wanting to watch this rivalry matchup live.
Why these streaming exclusives keep frustrating fans
This isn't the first time this season Toronto's schedule has included one of these streaming carve-outs, and it likely won't be the last given ongoing rights agreements around select matchups.
Missing the visual broadcast of a rivalry game like this one stings more than a routine midweek matchup against a non-contender might otherwise.
It's a bit like being told your favorite radio station is airing the big game, but the TV broadcast requires a whole separate subscription just to actually watch it.
Does this kind of streaming exclusivity actually grow the audience for Blue Jays games, or does it simply push loyal fans toward radio and app coverage instead of paying for another service?
For fans without Apple TV already, tonight becomes a choice between signing up for the service or following along through audio instead, with Toronto and New York getting underway as scheduled either way.
Should Blue Jays games always be available on Sportsnet regardless of streaming exclusivity deals?
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