NPB on U.S. TV?

I live on the west coast, but didn't know NPB games were televised. Can anyone let me know what channel airs these games?

They're not.

I think even if you get a TV Japan station or whatever on cable or satellite, you may be lucky to see one game a week. I don't even see any games on their July schedule on that site.

I'm also on the west coast and the only way I see NPB games is over the Internet, though I have been under the impression that some places, like Southern California, have a lot more Japanese TV stations than we do up here in the Northwest. Maybe someone from there can enlighten us.

I did see the USA-Japan Women's Softball World Cup match on ESPN2 yesterday, if that counts!

The only NPB games I have seen in Vancouver are broadcast summer weekends by TV Japan, a cable channel that costs about $15 extra per month. Try googling that name and you should find their website, which is maintained in both English and Japanese. The channel is widely available throughout North America, and a subscription includes a monthly magazine with schedule of mostly NHK programming in both English and Japanese.

These are not shown live, but are replays a day later. I have still found the most satisfying way to see NPB games outside of Japan, alas, is to call friends in Osaka and have them mail me a package of VHS tapes.

But I think soon you should be able to subscribe via Internet to a lot of NPB games (it may be possible already for Chiba Lotte fans). Hope someone on these pages will keep us all updated on that development.

Because I've never tried them I'm not sure what the image quality is like at 500-768 kbps, but both the Hawks and Eagles do free Internet broadcasts of all their home games.

I have always believed there could be a niche market for an all-baseball cable channel (not a 24-hour schedule, though). It could show the U.S. minor and independent leagues, NPB and the Mexican League. Even college games could be aired.

A taped game or two a day could be shown in the winter. Some of us are demented enough to want to see a Pawtucket-Richmond game in December.

I currently reside in Southern California. There are only 2 Japanese stations I get on my dish. One is a local channel and shows Asian programs. The Japanese shows run on the weekends. You get news, some dramas, DOTTCHI cooking, samurai shows, Anori, Hey, Hey Music Champ, Fountain of Trivia, and other various programs.

The other channel I get on my dish is a 24-7 anime channel.

I know Fox Sports World (for dish subscribers) shows some Japanese baseball occasionally. Granted it's at 3 am in the morning though. Not worth the extra 15 bucks for the expanded sports package IMO.

Fox has re-named Fox Sports World. It's now Fox Soccer Channel, and it's soccer and infomercials only.

I like the idea of a baseball network. It could broadcast A, Double-A, Triple-A, Major League, Nippon Pro Baseball, Korea Baseball Organization, etc. All Professional.

Scott Boa
Ingersoll, ON

I took a quick look at the schedule this month and the next game that I see is September 9th, the Giants vs. the Swallows. I can't wait to watch!

I have been reading through the threads and saw a link to the Internet broadcasts for games. I took a look at them and had to stop. I don't have a proper grasp of the language to move through the pages properly. Is there a way for someone to walk a user through the setup or a place where these pages are translated? I would love to see the games, but am stuck at this point. Thank you.

- I would love to see the games, but am stuck at this point.

At the current moment, unless you live in Japan, you can't see the games as there blacked out outside of Japan.

At the behest of MLB?