MLB.TV used to be the gold standard for streaming live sports—especially for passionate baseball fans like myself. Launched in 2002, it was revolutionary, offering reliable, live access to every out-of-market Major League Baseball game. Fans who once had no way to watch their favorite teams from afar now had instant access. MLB.TV didn't just stream games; it innovated relentlessly, constantly raising the bar in digital sports entertainment.

Fast forward to 2025, and things have dramatically changed. MLB.TV is no longer the shining example of product excellence it once was. Instead, it's become another generic sports streaming app, stripped of its unique features and plagued by inconsistent experiences.

What Made MLB.TV Stand Out?

MLB.TV distinguished itself early by catering deeply to hardcore baseball fans. One standout example was the "Mosaic" feature introduced around 2006, where you could simultaneously watch six games on a single screen, complete with real-time player alerts, pitch-by-pitch data, and audio controls. It transformed watching baseball into a dynamic, interactive experience, not just passive viewing.

By 2009, MLB.TV was streaming games in HD quality, offering DVR controls long before they became standard. In 2012, the product introduced groundbreaking features like Gameday overlays on iPad, letting viewers see pitch locations, speeds, and live stats seamlessly layered over the live video stream. It didn't just meet user needs—it anticipated them.

Peak Product Experience

Throughout the 2010s, MLB.TV was exceptional at consistency and user experience. You could effortlessly move between devices—pause on your phone, resume on your TV—and select multiple audio streams (like stadium ambiance instead of commentary). It understood user context and provided rich interactive data directly within the video interface. MLB.TV became a textbook example for product managers of how to blend real-time data with high-quality live content, delighting fans and even attracting tech giants like Apple to feature it prominently in their product keynotes.

The Decline: How MLB.TV Lost Its Way

The first signs of stagnation began around 2020. MLB stopped pushing boundaries. Mosaic never returned; augmented reality features, teased but never fully realized, quietly disappeared. Feature parity across devices deteriorated—what worked beautifully on Apple TV was often absent or broken on mobile or Roku.

A significant turning point came in 2023 when MLB.TV redesigned the "Watch" tab. The intent was clarity, but it inadvertently stripped core interactive functionalities fans loved. The mobile experience suffered the most dramatically: by 2025, it had devolved into little more than a basic video stream with no live stats, no pitch overlays, and no interactive content. Fans accustomed to deep engagement were left disappointed.

Even more concerning, MLB explicitly confirmed removing these beloved features was intentional, signaling a concerning misalignment between product direction and user expectations.

Product Management Missteps

From a product management perspective, MLB.TV's downfall comes down to several key missteps:

1. Ignoring Core Users: MLB.TV’s primary audience—die-hard fans, fantasy baseball players, and data enthusiasts—valued depth, not simplicity. MLB prioritized broad appeal and simplified UI at the cost of valuable interactive features.

2. Platform Fragmentation: Rather than ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience, MLB allowed platforms to diverge significantly, resulting in confusion and frustration among fans.

3. Feedback Disconnect: Despite vocal user feedback through, MLB appeared indifferent, making no meaningful adjustments and eroding trust.

4. Innovation Fatigue: After early successes, MLB seemed content to coast, abandoning its once-ambitious innovation roadmap and leaving fans without meaningful updates for years.

Hope Amid the Decline

Not all recent developments are negative. In 2024, MLB reintroduced Multiview on Apple TV—a polished, effective throwback to Mosaic. But this success underscores MLB’s broader issue: Multiview remains isolated to Apple TV, with no timeline for broader deployment, reinforcing product fragmentation.

What Product Managers Can Learn

The MLB.TV story provides critical lessons for product managers:
- Continuous innovation matters, but maintaining core features users love is equally crucial.
- Consistency across platforms reinforces trust and user satisfaction.
- Active listening and rapid response to user feedback are non-negotiable.

MLB.TV was once a beacon of product excellence. Its current state serves as a cautionary tale that even industry leaders can fall behind if they lose sight of user-centric innovation. For product teams everywhere, it's a clear reminder: the moment you stop actively evolving, your product’s decline begins.

Notes

The Decline of MLB.TV

The Decline of MLB.TV