MLB Contemplates Instant Replay

Major League Baseball, the pro league instant replay holdout, is considering joining the likes of the NFL, NBA, and NHL and could enforce video replay as early as August according to the Associated Press. After a month that has seen a number of blown calls by umpires, the league seems serious about instituting instant replay on disputed home run calls. "It's all still premature," MLB spokesman Rich Levin said Friday. "A final decision has not been made." Fact is that the league will require an agreement with it's umpires' union before it can take action. Umpires, however, are adamant that they do not want video replay to be used to review close plays on the bases or ball-and-strike calls. Seems fair.

Public curtain raised on Joost

Joost, the video dream site of Skype's Janus Friis and Kazaa's Niklas Zennström opened it's doors to everyone today, shedding it's beta status. Up until now the free, advertising supported, site was available only to those who could score a private invite. With content providers like Viacom, who brings MTV, BET, Comedy Central, and a limited selection of movies from Paramount, and CNN and MLB on board there is content worth looking at. ars technica's Jacqui Cheng thinks they have a challenge on their hands, particularly in signing on more content providers and finding a hardware partner to move the shows to the TV. This may be true, but it seems to me that the folks who know the television model will be all over this as it's virtually what they have now... easier for them to wrap their heads around than many of the newer ad models.

Major League Law Suit

Major League Baseball (MLB) has had it's day in court to appeal a lower court ruling in favour of Internet based fantasy baseball companies. An earlier ruling by the courts said that the online companies did not have to pay royalties to compensate MLB for the use of players names. While MLB lawyers argue fantasy games exploit players the judges don't seem to be convinced. "MLB is like a public religion. Everyone knows (the players') names and what they look like," said U.S. Judge Morris Arnold. "This is just part of being an American, isn't it?"

The Globe and Mail has the entire story.