Toronto Blue Jays fans looking to watch tonight's game against the Red Sox on Sportsnet are out of luck 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 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.
This isn't the first time this season Toronto's schedule has included one of these streaming exclusives, and it likely won't be the last given ongoing rights agreements around select weeknight matchups.
For a fan base already frustrated by a rough season, missing out on watching a game live adds another layer of annoyance during a stretch that's tested plenty of patience already.
Toronto enters this series against Boston at 46-54, last in the American League East, while the Red Sox sit at 52-49 and firmly in the postseason picture.
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Why these streaming exclusives keep frustrating fans
Games like tonight's carry real stakes too, with Dylan Cease facing Sonny Gray in one of the better pitching matchups Toronto sees all season during this same series.
Missing the visual broadcast of a game like that stings more than a routine midweek matchup 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.
Either way, the game goes on as scheduled, just not in the format most Blue Jays fans are used to watching it in.
Should Blue Jays games always be available on Sportsnet regardless of streaming exclusivity deals?
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