At Bat app for iPhone to offer a la carte MLB broadcasts

Major League Baseball announced its At Bat 2009 application for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch will now enable users to view all live out-of-market games for 99 cents each. The league previously limited mobile access to out-of-market [1]tilts to subscribers of its MLB.TV and MLB.TV Premium services--in addition, MLB.com will continue to make up to two free games per day available for all At Bat 2009 subscribers, subject to blackout restrictions. The application also features live audio broadcasts without blackout restrictions, a live scoreboard, MLB.com Gameday functionality, real-time video highlights and short-form video recaps.

At Bat 2009 users can view games either over WiFi connection or carrier network--MLB.com's servers detect the strength of the device's connection and adapt the quality of the video accordingly. That functionality remains the subject of some controversy: Nonprofit media reform organization Free Press is challenging iPhone operator partner AT&T's decision to allow At Bat 2009 to stream mobile video across its 3G network after prohibiting 3G support [2] for placeshifting technology developer's Sling Media's SlingPlayer Mobile video app.

For more on At Bat 2009's a la carte offering:
- read this MLB.com article [1]

Related articles:
MLB.com [3] to stream live baseball games via iPhone
ESPN inks multi-platform deal with MLB [4]
MLB [5] slides into iTunes