MLB Network struggles in Tampa Bay debut

January 1, 10:55 PMTampa Bay Rays ExaminerRob Quinn

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The clearest picture I've seen of the MLB Network set. 

Always a brightly shining beacon of innovation, Major League Baseball is at it again. At 6 p.m. eastern time tonight, MLB became the first sport to launch its own television channel – the MLB Network.

What’s that? The NFL already has a channel? Well, MLB became the second sport to launch its own television channel.

The NBA has one too? Wow. Maybe MLB is not that innovative after all. At least they have the pathetic, nearly non-existent NHL beat.

NO WAY!! Even the can’t-get-out-of-its-own-way NHL has its own television network!?! Well then, there you have it. Tonight, MLB became the LAST of the four major professional sports leagues to launch its own television channel.

For Rays fans here in the Tampa Bay area, if your cable provider is Bright House Networks, you can watch the MLB Network on channel 159. If you have DirecTV, then you can find the MLB Network on channel 213. If you have none of the above, then you are out of luck for the time being.

I am a Bright House customer myself, and I have been flipping to the MLB Network during commercials of the Orange Bowl. Apparently there is a problem with the feed Bright House is getting because the picture I am receiving is terribly scrambled and unwatchable. No audio either. I did see Harold Reynolds on there a couple of times. After a few seconds it just goes to a black screen.  Just terrible.  This is almost as embarrassing as TBS airing the Steve Harvey Show instead of the first inning of ALCS Game Six.

I am e-mailing Bright House Networks to tell them to get their feed straightened out. If you are having the same problem with the feed from Bright House, click here to let them know they need address the situation.

Former Rays’ TV color man Joe Magrane is now one of the analysts for the Network, and the Rays are still looking for a replacement. I always enjoyed Magrane’s work with the Rays and I am looking forward to watching him on the new Network.

The Network will broadcast a total of 26 games this season and its featured program will be MLB Tonight which will supposedly be a quick-hitting jaunt throughout the league that airs from 6 p.m. eastern until the end of action Monday through Saturday.

Find all the information you need to know about the MLB Network by checking out their website here.

Hopefully the network becomes watchable in Tampa Bay soon. Even the NHL Network comes in for crying out loud!

As always, comments are appreciated and I can be reached via e-mail at raysexaminer@live.com