New Twins Channel Debut Revealed Along with Broadcast Enhancements
For the past year the Minnesota Twins have made it incredibly difficult for their fans to watch games. Sure, it was becoming easier and cheaper to buy tickets at Target Field. But if you were looking to watch the game via stream or on television, good luck.
Bally Sports, renamed to FanDuel Sports Network, is no longer a Twins’ problem. Twins.TV ushers in a new era of viewing experience for MN Twins fans. Details of the new service have trickled out sparsely since being announced a few months ago. On February 11, though, the opportunity for local market fans to purchase Twins.TV goes live.
Minnesota Twins streaming package is available for purchase
On February 13, Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. Then on the 22nd, the team kicks off their Spring Training schedule against the Atlanta Braves. Starting tomorrow morning, however, fans can sign up early and receive half-off tickets, reports The Athletic’s Dan Hayes.
“The team is offering blackout-free baseball on Twins.TV to viewers throughout the five states comprising Twins Territory — Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and western Wisconsin — at $99.99 for the season or $19.99 per month, with discounts offered to season-ticket holders. Subscribers who purchase a direct-to-consumer package before April 1 also will receive an offer for 50 percent off tickets for April and May home games.”
Dan Hayes on Twins.TV (The Athletic)
The pricing structure was unveiled earlier this offseason. This Twins.TV package is an in-market option for fans throughout Twins Territory, and operates separately from the nationwide MLB.tv bundle. Eligibility requirements can be found through a FAQ produced by the Twins.
If you are a cable subscriber, a channel will be available to carry Minnesota Twins action. The organization kept the entirety of the broadcast team intact. That allows for bookending game content. The channel details there are not yet certain.
This never gets old…. especially with a packed house 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/AQMJk50KTn
— Audra Martin (@Audra_Martin) June 15, 2024
Unfortunately, with no true studio outside of Target Field, road games will no longer have pregame shows. That could lead to significant information dumps by either the analysts or on-field reporter Audra Martin, prior to first pitch. Road postgame shows are also now just 15 minutes.
Related: Twins Release Spring Training Non-Roster Invite List
As an additional expansion of coverage, it sounds as though something like 15-20 games this season can be expected to show on local channels as well.
Broadcast enhancements coming for MN Twins
In a recent appearance over Twins Fest weekend, analyst Cory Provus talked of new broadcast enhancements coming to the production of games. He mentioned two specific camera angles that now have a bit more definition. Both wide-angle and intimate play-specific cameras will be introduced.
“It’s really going to bring fans literally closer to the game,” Twins.TV executive producer. With a (remote) camera, you’re going to be field level at certain parts of the game. And with the wire cam, we’re going to be able to show you more than you’ve been able to see before… We do hope that even though it’s technology, it is technology that can really connect the teams and the players with the fans.”
“There’s funky angles, every stadium’s different and it’s really hard to capture certain parts of the game,” Fleck said. “This camera gives a wide perspective of a large portion of the field. … You can see much more of what’s going on.”
Trevor Fleck, Twins.TV executive producer (The Athletic)
It sounds as though the additional camera angles will provide fans with a viewing experience unlike anything we have come to know with traditional cable television. Apple TV has been the gold standard when considering in-game production value to this point, and Twins.TV will now attempt to rival that.
Of course the baseball is truly the selling point in and of itself. For diehard fans, the ability to consume 162 games this season is something that escaped many last year. The Minnesota Twins will be hoping the preseason projection systems are accurate and that they can play relevant baseball throughout the summer.
Related: Cory Provus Unveils More Details Behind New Twins TV Broadcasts
Rocco Baldelli has the vast majority of his roster back from a season ago. If they can stay healthy, the MN Twins should be among the better teams in the American league. The first Twins.TV game of the spring will be held on Mach 16th against the Boston Red Sox.
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