MLB.COM streaming quality

[Glengoyne]

So I've been using my apple tv for all things streaming, and have been heartily recommending it to friends and family. So now when my sister was looking for a way to stream MLB.com to her tv, I didn't hesitate. However once we got hers set up, the MLB picture quality is terrible. When there is any action, it often loses all clarity and just blurs all the action on screen. She says that is similar to what happens when streaming through her computer.

So is the quality of the streaming just that poor compared to Netflix or heck even YouTube streaming? If so I'm wondering if Direct TV is paying MLB.tv to dumb down their streaming option. Or do I just need to look for some option on the apple tv or with the MLB subscription?

[markprior22]

I got MLB.tv this year because 1) it is a little cheaper than cable and 2) cable doesn't offer much HD for Extra Innings. I haven't been impressed with the picture quality either. I've used my laptop and streamed through PS3 and haven't been overly impressed. Heaven forbid I try to view mulitple games (mosaic) on the computer...both games suck big time then. I'm glad to have the ability to view all these games but do wish the picture quality was better.

[stevew]

Her Internet connection has to suck.

[Glengoyne]

I'll do a speed test later today, to see what her connection is like. A google search on MLB streaming picture quality brought me to a couple of good threads on the subject. One of those on apple's site. It seems folks are pointing to MLB as the source of the trouble, quoting the stated 3000 kbps maximum quality, which apparently works well enough streaming to a desktop, but will cause big time issues on a TV. Netflix by comparison streams at a rate of 6000 8000 Kbps(6-8MBPs). Another poster said that his NBA package delivered a great picture through his apple TV box, but had the same troubles I've described with MLB. A few others have described a locking up problem, but to date we haven't seen that. In any case I think her only hope is to hope that MLB upgrades their streaming capabilities or to switch to Direct TV.

[stevew]

Hmm, I watch it all the time on my Dad's Roku, and the quality is nearly as good as regular TV. It might be because he has a 720p TV, instead of a 1080P one, for all I know.

[PilotMan]

Yeah, I get 720p (the max) on my laptop, and it's good on my Roku player, but it's a 20mg download. My guess is a slow internet connection.

[stevew]

Might even be the router.

[Terps]

No problems with video quality on my laptop, PS3, iPad, or even my phone. Laptop, PS3, and iPad are all in HD.... This is with 20 meg internet.