Sadly, the rumours have been confirmed. After over a decade of bringing us insightful and entertaining coverage of MLB, Five have decided to drop the ‘Baseball on Five’ show for the 2009 season.  The news is made worse for British baseball fans as no other free-to-air channel has picked up the rights (as yet).
The chances of being able to watch the Braves-Phillies game next Sunday if you don’t have an ESPN America or MLB.tv subscription appear slim.   Â
While many of us were basically resigned to the news, that didn’t make it any easier to read Jonny Gould’s message to the FantasyBaseballUK players:
Welcome Fellow-Baseball Nuts……. God I’m going to miss saying that.
I’m sure most of you have heard the rumours. Five TV have ended their association with our beloved sport, or at least they have not committed to another season of Baseball on 5 every Wednesday and Sunday night. The rumours have been many and mixed, and I’m sorry that I’m not in a position to fully clarify the situation for you. What I can tell you is that if this is the end, it has been one hell of a ride. Understandably many of our hardcore viewers are pretty pissed off with Five, but rememeber they have made a 12-year committent and for that alone we should all be very grateful.
So what’s next? Well first and foremost the movers and the shakers in UK Baseball are still committed to finding a home for Baseball on UK television. There is no guarantee as to when or even if that will happen, but we are committed to keeping the Baseball family intact. To that end we are continuing the Fantasy League this season regardless of whether my Baseball TV career has legs. So get your Fantasy Caps on tilt because it’s time to play ball!
For all the details go www.fantasybaseballuk.com and sign up now.
Baseball – it’s a Hardcore thing!!
Jonny Gould
The second main paragraph provides a glimmer of hope. Of course, we expect nothing less than for Jonny, Josh, Erik and the rest of the team to be doing all they can to get the show back on the road. Unfortunately, their passion and skill can only go so far. They need a willing TV partner to give them an opportunity to continue their fantastic coverage of MLB.
The first paragraph also suggests things may not be quite so black-and-white in regards to Five. It is possible that they will broadcast some games without the studio element, most likely the Wednesday night games (‘Sunday Night Baseball’ being available on ESPN America). As mentioned previously, that would be better than absolutely nothing, but it would be a poor substitute to the coverage that we have enjoyed for many years.
The news is a massive blow on many levels.Â
The ‘Baseball on Five’ team certainly do not deserve to have their show cancelled when judged on the high quality of their coverage, but we all know that it is other factors (primarily financial) that have influenced the decision.Â
‘Baseball on Five’ was committed to fostering a baseball community and their support and promotion of British baseball events and teams was invaluable.Â
As a loyal viewer for over ten years, I will greatly miss watching the programme and I know many others will as well.Â
But perhaps most importantly, it was Five’s coverage that got me hooked on the sport back in 1998. They’ve made me a baseball fan for life and for that I will always be grateful. Now, potential newcomers keen to discover if baseball is for them will not have a free-to-air option to watch games, accompanied by Jonny and Josh explaining and entertaining along the way.Â
Everyone in Britain with an interest in baseball can only remain hopeful that the team will return at some point. If they don’t, it will be a very sad loss.
205 comments
Sad times. Like many British fans, I was coaxed into the game by Josh and Johnny. It’s safe to say I would have fallen through the gaps had it not been for their banter and analysis. Now I have the choice – MLB TV or ESPN America? Can I really justify the extra cost for MLB TV? If only Five hadn’t forced me to have to choose. Sic transit gloria mundi.
I worry that this will lead to a decline in newcomers expressing an interest in British Baseball, which could be very harmful over a sustained period of no ‘free to air’ option on the TV.
Sorry to hear this guys. On saying that, I’m an ex-pat in Canada and have never had a free option for baseball. Canadian TV doesn’t give a damn. If I want anything other than bloody Blue Jays games I have to get Sportsnet. Even then if the damn NBA playoffs (which seem to last years) are on, you can forget seeing baseball so you get no real consistent baseball until they’re over. Then there’s games joined “in progress”, bumped from the schedule entirely etc…
And I get to pay about $35 a month for the pleasure.
NFL? Sorted. Free to air stations show at least 2 games a week.
Baseball? Nobody here gives a damn, and TSN, the only sports channel you get in the basic cable package ($25) where I am, assume you only give a crap about the Blue Jays and that’s all they show.
Blue Jays games on MLBTV are actually BLACKED OUT for me. Yep, 2000+ miles away and they’re blacked out. Good job I hate them…
So while it really does suck you guys have lost your free to air baseball, there are far worse fates than MLBTV.
It’s people like my Dad who suffer. He’s interested enough to watch on Five, but not enough to get MLBTV so now he’s without baseball.
Maybe the Beeb will step in.
Yep, that’s the big thing. Those of us already following the sport have other options, even if they do involve finding some extra money. It’s the casual fans and the people who aren’t yet baseball fans, but could become one if they happened to catch a game or two, that will be lost.
And without them, the sport won’t grow in this country.
It’s a purely financial decision by Five and I know it’s one that the Sports people there didn’t really want to take. Everyone needs to find ways to save money right now. Losing the studio show and replacing it just with the footage, or with repeats of other programmes, will save them money so that’s the decision they’ve made.
While I am one of the people Jonny describes as being “pissed off” about it (as is every other baseball fan here I guess), Five have stuck by the sport for many years even though it’s hardly a big money spinner. There’s no point in being too harsh on them and maybe they will bring it back in a couple of years when/if the economy is in a better state. Hopefully an alternative (or a new permanent home) can be found before then.
I’m extremely disapointed to hear of the cancellation. I always wondered how it was possible to pay for this coverage, and the presenters and behind the scenes team, as there were never any adverts. Perhaps there is a baseball nut with some influence with a corporate sponsor?
This is the worst news ever!! There must be something that we can do to change their minds, a petition, a protest, i dont know!!
big love to JG and JC.
will miss you guys!
It’s sad day losing live baseball coverage from free-to-air tv. I’ve been watching it on five since 2001 and find 2 games a week just about manageable to watch as a mix of live/recorded.
Lets hope it won’t be too long before baseball is back and JG/JC are at the helm. Until then I’ll have to use mlb.com to keep abreast of the latest happenings as ESPN America and mlb.tv are not really viable options.
I’ve seen Five’s coverage once and it was really good. I loved not having to suffer commercials in the middle instead having them to do stuff from the studio. That was awesome.
One thing that stopped me watching baseball on Sportsnet was the endless commercials. Sickened me. MLBTV isn’t a bad trade off. I wish they’d just leave the cameras on at the stadium instead of going to their “Break in the action” screen.
Really hope you guys get it back. Didn’t I read something about MLB offering it to the BBC for free?
That was the rumour, although obviously the studio element would require funding from the BBC. They’d also have to be willing to give up the broadcasting space on late night Sunday and Wednesday. Looking at the schedules, that wouldn’t be a problem to my eyes, but then I value MLB much higher than most Brits, probably including the BBC schedulers!
lets just all watch bullsh#t reality tv!What a goddamn joke,Im gonna miss it.
Come on Beeb! Step up to the plate! Is this not what we pay our licence fee for? To see the programmes we want to see? Hopefully they will realise that there is a growing market and following in the UK for Baseball.
Fingers crossed!
Also have to comment on JG/JC. They have done a fantanstic job and I will really miss the banter. Let’s hope we will see them back on soon.
this is bullsh*t, Jonny and josh were the main reasons why i watched baseball in the first place, its so much better than watching in on NASN (ESPM America)…….
miss you guys, sad day!
One word GUTTED.
Cancelling a program which has been on air for 12 years and has a big following just does not make sense to me, especially when there is so much crap on.
This could also be a massive blow to Baseball in the UK, Jonny and Josh attracted many new fans to the game every season and now that they are gone so will many of the new fans.
If it is studio costs that are too much surely there could be compromises. Why can’t Ch5 show the games and have Jonny and Josh commentating or have a simultaneous webcast with Jonny and Josh or have the whole show on the internet, I’m not a techie but a couple of web cams and a internet connection can’t cost that much! Hell I would even pay a small subscription to see these guys every Sunday and Wednesday on the net.
Thanks Jonny and Josh and lets hope we see you and our wonderful game on our screens soon.
This is a real shame. I can only echo what has been said already. I used to work as an assistant producer when, for a brief moment, we broadcast baseball at sky sports. I might get back in touch with them, the curent NFL producer was my flatmate, maybe they can ressurect something…
This is bad news indeed. The 5 baseball show was a really worthy effort at conveying the game to UK audiences, you rarely sports TV presenters with such natural characters and genuine joy at what was happening in the field, it is fair to say that they will be sorely missed.
I hope that 5 retains its other sports coverage, if the NFL is lost from free-to-view tv then there is not much left for people to watch if you don’t have Sky or Setanta. Think about it, most of the ftv sports are “crown jewels”, which are annual events.
Hi Joe. I believe the decision is that all North American sports are being stopped. NFL are probably the most likely to receive a reprieve, but that would depend on sponsorship/funding etc being forthcoming.
Absolutely heartbroken. Have been following baseball on Channel5 for a good 9 years, and am devastated to learn the news. Have been watching the listings for the start of the season game, and only just realised that it’s not happening on Channel 5 any more. Very, very sad, and any new programming HAS to include JG/JC! Would not be the same without them.
Hi Christine. It’s terrible news. In past years we’ve often had to wait until the TV listings came out before we knew for sure that Baseball on Five was with us for another year. Sadly this time they are going to draw a blank.
I want to remain hopeful but it seems that we cannot watch live baseball (on free tv) anymore. Next best would be its availability on a freeview channel. Even if the BBC could put it on BBC3 it would be a bonus.
To be honest what annoys me more is that with 5 it was always a year to year thing, with the yearly goodbye being a ‘see you next year, I hope’.
The least that 5 could do is at some point release a ‘best of’ DVD or something with JG/JC etc there were loads of memorable moments, my favourite was the uniqueish unassisted triple play by Furcal of the Braves.
“Gutted” does not sum it up. It has just dawned on me that my planned ‘Baseball boys night in’ will not be going ahead, unwilling as I am to subscribe to ESPN America. A sad loss from the schedules – agree with te suggestion of sticking coverage (with JG and JC of course!) buried deep into late night ITV2/3/4 or BBC3 . How much could it possibly cost!
And the sad thing is that these comments, and those on many other forums/blogs/message boards, show that there is a loyal audience out there.
Surely someone can save the day?!
Hi all.
After hearing this sad news I wanted to get NASN/ESPN but don’t have sky. It is part of the Setanta package. Here’s what to do to get ESPN without sky
1) Get a sky box (normal one) off ebay or a friend (many people have upgraded to Sky +)
2) Get a freest from sky card
http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/ use this number, not sky sales
You can get a dish + box if needed)
3) Call Setnanta and sign up for about £13 a month – no sky fees apart from about £20 for the card
ITV is strapped that’s the trouble. TV is out I suspect at least for the forseeable.
JG JC Erik Dave Gooner Doddy and the crew – Pat the Bat…Yogi…Todd…what can I say it’s been part of my life for 12 years. What a bummer. We’re all gonna miss you.
MLB International should care about the loss of this show if they don’t because their whole European operation has just been set back 12 years. Interest isn’t sustainable without a regular broadcast presence. It’s worth some investment.
Here’s a suggestion *try radio* – Radio 5 Live perhaps. They do late night sport. An audio feed would be cheaper surely. Better suited to late nights as well. Not so good for novices though who don’t know what’s going on although that could be overcome with a web site explaining it all with graphics.
[…] the news that ‘Baseball on Five’ will not return in 2009 slowly starts to sink in, and more and […]
I have been watching the show since 1999, I am greatly dissapointed. Johny and Tod introduced me to the game, followed on by Josh et al. Every year exitement built up to a maximum by the first week in April. I have just looked at next weeks Radio Times eagerly expecting to find the first show on Sunday night, nothing, that has brought me to this website. I hope, along with everyone else I am sure, that some one soon takes up the option. Fingers crossed.
Does anyone know if you can get ESPN America on Virgin/Freeview through the Setanta package? (obviously paying for the Setanta card).
Or what about MLB.TV on the internet – anyone had any luck.
Sad times, I have been a baseball viewer on channel 5 since it began…
Does anyone recall what I think was the first ever full game shown on British TV? It was on channel 4 waaaay back 1992 I think – Montreal Expos Vs Chicago Cubs. Found the VHS of it the other day at my parents – Harry Caray was the commentator, and in the studio was that guy who presented NFL on C4, used to be a kicker for the Atlanta Falcons. Showing my age now…
MLB.TV actually works rather well provided you have a reasonable broadband connection, I’ve just been testing this year’s feed on my 8Mb link and the quality is superb. I used to watch it on the 1Mb link for some years, quite acceptable.
It costs $109 for the year, not a pittance by any means but does get you every game you feel the urge to watch (no blackout restrictions in the UK).
Being a Red Sox fan I’ve got rather fond of the Remdawg and Don’s commentary when they use the NESN feed.
Doesn’t mean I won’t miss Johhny & co, I loved their style and their coverage which didn’t asusme life long knowledge of the game taught me enough to enable me to appreciate the game properly.
Same feelings for me as everyone else. I hibernate through the winter and only come alive when Jonny and his various colleagues over the years make life worth living again. I’ve been a fan of the show since the 90’s and have come to love the whole history and culture of the game (performance enhancing drugs notwithstanding)through it. Knowing that Gouldy’s knowledge and love of the game was developing alongside one’s own was a major part of what made the show so successful. Now what am I going to do? A move to the U.S. might be the best option. 🙁
Everything has been said, I just cannot believe five are canceling this show. I started watching Baseball on five when the angels won the world series and I have barely missed a game since. JG and JC will be a massive miss from TV as they had the right personalities to get you watching their show and most importantly raising the profile of MLB in the UK. I think it could be worth emailing BBC to let them know there would be interest in them showing baseball with JG and JC hosting the show. Not sure if anyone will listen but MLB in the UK will take a big hit if it is not shown on free to air tv.
I too have been scouring the Radio Times with mounting excitement awaiting the start of the new baseball season, and cannot believe it’s not going to be on. Johnny, Josh, Dave Lengel etc made the game so interesting and compulsive viewing. We became big fans of the sport because of them and were lucky enough to see some live games in the States whilst on holiday. I agree with all the previous comments made, and I will be emailing the BBC and ITV to see if we can persuade someone else to show it, with the usual crew! I never thought I would be interested in baseball, but it’s a fascinating sport and I will really miss it.
Just another voice in the wilderness, very saddened at this news. I would think the biggest single factor in encouraging interest in Baseball in this country has to be live broadcast coverage. Such a shame to lose it.
I suppose we have to be grateful to Channel 5 for keeping it going as long as they did, though. Hardly a money spinner for them.
I’ve been a mlb.com subscriber for the last few years. The quality nowadays is very good, if you have the bandwidth. But as others have said, thats only an option if you can afford it and are already hooked. It’s not going to bring new people to the sport.
And there was an extra ‘event’ factor watching J & J present the game. There was a sense of being part of a community watching together instead of feeling like a lonely geek eavesdropping over the internet. That was to the Ch 5 team’s credit. They will be missed.
A good cheapo option for experienced baseball nuts is ESPN GameDay Audio. It costs about a tenner for the year and it accepts Paypal so job’s a goodun. Newbies will need video obviously.
It’s a lot better than nowt if you’re strapped.
(If you don’t have credit/plastic get a pre-paid card like Splash Plastic or sommat.)
I really wish 5 had held off releasing the Sunset and Vine team if that’s what they’ve done; surely they can manage a half hour magazine format once a week with J+J.
How about we team up and get an internet radio network for British baseball? We could start raising our own tradition of baseball broadcasters. Just charge a small sub for the year. Only thing is how much would the hosting cost? Anyway just thought I’d mention it.
shep
This is awful news. Again, I can only echo the sentiment of sadness that potential future fans of baseball in the UK are not going to get the chance to be hooked like we all did because of Five’s excellent coverage, and JG and JC’s ability to entertain.
At least a few friends and I managed to get out JG and JC drinking game email read out one night, that made us pretty happy it has to be said. Despite how drunk we all were.
After having an upgrade on my Virgin Media account, the man at the end of the line told me that last week VM had signed a deal with ESPN America and will become part of the top package for nothing extra soon. But when is soon?
Argh. I’ve just heard. Although I’ve been watching since day 1 (yes, I remember Tommy Boyd – and I never got round to emailing in) I hadn’t actually realised how hooked I was until the awful reality of Sunday nights without it began to sink in.
Just when it was going so well. I’m also an F1 fan, and as Bernie Ecclestone has said many times, no non-mainstream sport can hope to prosper without free TV. The possibility of Five showing odd games is something, I suppose, but I hope for the sake of the game’s future in the UK a more permanent solution can be found.
Good luck to you all.
Hi All
Just found this discussion and I’m gutted too. I got into 5’s coverage when my son was born in 2001. He wasn’t the best baby for sleeping so I used to sit up in the wee small hours discovering baseball and cuddling my baby!
If any of you have an iPhone, you can download an app called MLB At Bat 2009 for £5.99 which gives you full audio coverage over your iPhone of every single game this coming season. I know it’s only audio but it’s something at least, and whilst listening, you can watch the scorecard on screen.
Here’s hoping the beeb step in and save us this season!
cheers
Greg
Noooooooooooooooooooo!
Quite simply a brilliant show. I never thought for a second that the show was still in danger and I was complacently looking for it in the scehdules when I became more and more alrmed as I couldn’t find it.
Thanks must go to all the S & V team – especially Jonny/Josh/Todd/David/Erik – and five for bringing us the show for 12 years. The enthusiasm, passion, and good-guy personalities of the presenters have been as important to me as the action, and they won’t be quickly forgotten (if it is the end for their tv baseball careers).
I’ve never before posted comments/opinion on the internet as the idea simply doesn’t interest me, however, the programme made such an impact that I felt had to say thanks and join in the collective grieving.
A petition is up online. Not that it’s going to make much difference, but I recommend that everyone here sign up to it.
Bring back the show we love!
I’m a recent convert to the game after going to a Rays game on holiday last year. I’d previously been unaware of Five’s coverage but soon became hooked on the show.
To have it snatched away so soon after becoming aware of its existence is a huge shame and given TV budgets at the moment I’d be amazed if any free-to-air channel picked it up.
Judging by Jonny Gould’s email it could be that there is some sort of coverage of post-season and/or the World Series if Five think it’s worthwhile.
Sadly the show seems to be another casualty of the economic downturn.
I’ve only caught fleeting glimpses of NASN coverage. Two questions – is it worth paying for and how much is it a month? (I’ve got a Sky dish)
I am SOOOO disapointed. Both me and my sister have been watching Baseball on five for at least six years and couldn’t wait to the ’09’ season. Being the only channel to air Baseball here without being charged obscene amounts of money to do so, was a wonderful treat and for many, their only source of Baseball action. I was very upset yet equally annoyed to find out that whilst American Football, Basketball and Ice Hockey are all continuing, Baseball has been cut to no doubt save money. Do they not realise that Baseball is getting more and more popular here?
I know five has bought us Baseball for 12 years but why stop now when it’s as popular as it has ever been, maybe even more so? I feel that baseball fans in the UK have been let down terribly by this decision especially when they are continuing to air other American sports. One group has been ostricised and cut out when clearly there is a loyal, deicated fanbase for this programme, after all, isn’t that what we pay our tv licence for!!!! Not only was the programme itself a great source of Baseball news and action, but Johnny and Josh are what made it as popular as it was, they are what kept old fans coming back for more and enticing new ones to check it out too. They had such a way with the audience that we really were one big baseball family. They explained everything clearly and concisley without bombarding us with too much info, treating us with respect without being condasending. For newcomers to the sport, they are a wonderful introduction into the world of MLB, for us regulars, their banter & intelligent discussions was a welcome break from the rest of the tripe on tv nowadays inlcuding FIVE.
I truly hope that five come to their senses and realise that a decent portion of their audience only watch their channel because of their coverage of North American sports and that cutting out Baseball is a huge mistake.
Please bring it back to those who have followed all these years!!!!
JG and JT, we’ll miss you big fella’s.
Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone at Five for giving us the very best live sports coverage and presenters on free to air TV. I’m realistic enough to appreciate that financial constraints are behind the decision, not least the obvious reduction in advertising revenue the station must be suffering. Many of the breaks between their daytime and late night shows seem to carry nothing but trailers for upcoming shows/films and fill-in music. Let’s all hope for a financial upturn sooner rather than later and an early return of our favourites. Meanwhile has anyone got any suggestions what I can do on Wednesday and Sunday nights to fill the void?
Hugely disappointing. This would be the perfect opportunity for the BBC to spend license fee money on something which is not available elsewhere on terrestial tv, but don’t hold your breath – what we’ll get is more gardening/cooking/property/reality tv drivel. The one bonus is that I never have to watch anything on Channel 5 now.
awwh man!!! i just heard..i went on fives website to see what time the ame starts tonight.and there was no listing and then i found this and read there wont be on five this year…not happy at all!!!! :(:( pure crap!! Baseball is the only sport i like and the fact i cant be able to watch it is makin me sad, av been looking forward to it for months!!! and i dnt have sky…i have freeview..and i know it wont show on any of those channels!!!! please1!! someone has to do something!!!! i have five for doing this…
I’m almost too devastated for words. I LOVED this show, the guys have been like good mates of mine for the last dozen years.
Five have been wonderful for the time the show was on, so I can’t really have any complaints, but PLEASE someone else pick up this brilliant sport?
Sad times indeed
i know!! it sucks big time!! i really wanted to watch tonights game.was looking forward to this season 🙁
Oh Noooooooooooooooo!
Great disappointment, not just for the loss of the live games, but also the wrap around show which was always presented with great humour – and with great chemistry between Johnny and his various foils.
I’m sure Phil Jupitas would have something to say on the matter
Oh my God Sunday night looked in the schedules and just read all the posts and realised no Five Baseball. I’ve had mlbtv for a few years but always loved fives coverage, got me into the game, can only echo many previous posters when I say thanx to Johnny, Josh, David etc. They felt like family and I will miss the show like mad. Seriously upset, please find another home somewhere as you will be sorely missed.
What am i going to do for my fix now. I’ve been counting down the days and now no baseball on five. Ow. gameday audio just isn’t the same. Here’s hoping that the gang can pull off coverage some how. Come on Cards.
I’m gutted, totally gutted!
I was all geared up for a hardcore night! Like jonny n josh would say,
Can’t understand channel 5,
I will truly miss all the team! The best show on tv has gone!
Good luck in the future jonny n josh, I will always wonder if josh
Got that degree? Wat jonny would have thought about Chelsea this
Season? And would eric ever give a hotdog a ten!
We will never know!
Baseball wasn’t bad eithier!!
End of an era!!
Really gutted,just found out the news while searching like a mad man on the sky guide 4 mlb planning my night watching whilst feeding my baby boy. Can still remember that wierd fish graphic and tommy boyd that 5 had when baseball started. Man we need it back,was looking forward 2 seeing the new Yankee Stadium!
Can only concur with everyone else. A major blow to American sports fans. Will be sadly missed.